Evening star., 1897-01-16

Dof1ing my soldiers hat, / went in. The
evening sun streamed through rich and an
cient loZenges. Colored marble of deli
catest inlaid work glittered with gold and
silver. Lapis laZuli and veined porphyry
overlaid the tawny travertine of the pillars
like jewels on brides neck.
A great procession was sweeping up the
aisle toward the altar-the Cardinal Car
rara, prince of the church, nephew of the
pope, bowling his keen, ascetic, church,
mans face over his princely scarlet. Foster
son of the hereto Wadense valleys as l
was. Gallo in any religion as the red shirts
of Sicily had made me, | soon found my
self on my knees. All, l am wiser now. /
think more of religion and it's utilities now
than l did in the sixties. Religion comes
TO most healthy men with the stiffening
joints, or the first touch of lumbago in the
back.
l leaned against a pillar and watched. AS
the sun sank, it shone more directly in
through the great western window. The
broad golden stream put out the candles,
so that 1t was only in the chapels that one
could see them dot the gloom with their
pale silver flakes. The organ pealed out.
The young voices in the choir mounted
higher and higher, each as it were climbing
up on the shoulders of the other till they
seemed to break way through the seven
heavens up to the throne of very God.
Then deeper voices somewhere in the dusk
behind chanted the 'Miserere," and a wind
scented with incense passed over the
bowed heads of the worshipers. All these
when one is half asleep, till my eyes rested
ON man who stood by the next pillar to
that against which l leaned.
Accustomed to command as I was knew
as soon as my eyes rested upon the man
that mere before me stood man accus-
toned from his youth to the ma stery of his
1elioWs A mere peasant he seemed-taIl
swarthy, with strongly arched, well-based
rather thick Roman nose of the PROVINCES
dark eyes that flashed dangerously from
beneath fushy eyebrows which almost
joined in the midst, strong hands which
grasped the pillar as though like Samson
TO bring the Temple of the Phiistines about
our ears He was dressed in dark cordu-
roy and in the hand nearest to me he held
piumed hat, whose eagle feathers swept
the floor.
When once / had permitted my ewes to
rest upon the man l could look at nothing
else. SO greatly did his personality impress
me.
But as continued to gaze 1 saw that the
strong, rugged face outlined against the
pillar was cOnvulsed. He was not watch
ing the priests as they moved to and fro
peIore pS, tne altar; The red-robed priest of
Holy Church sat throned above him, and
ne never glanced his way. But the mans
eyes were on the great hanging cross and on
tne agonized figure Of the Crucified on the
altar.
His lips moved. His hands twitched con-
vuislveiy His plumed hat dropped un-
| noticed on the floor. Clearer and clearer
rang the voices of the choristers.
The Duomo darkened. The night was SET
tlins In gloomily, with cloud and wind,
from the gulf. The splashed purple and
scarlet from the west window had been
quickly dried up The tawny travertine
darkened to brown. hundred wax lights
shone upon the reredos. There was vet
deeper gloom behind, where the prince ca r.
alnai and the white and golden priests
shan Nere sn,ined In a mellow glow, which
shohe out also softly down the aisle and Ia Y
upon the heads of the kneeling worshin.
ers -f
All the while never did for a moment 1ift
my eyes from the man by the nilIar 7
could see the great drops of sweat swell
anu pieak on his brow. His hands worked
convulsiyely. What could the man hea
as ne a peasant, unaccustomed to the
pomp and processioning of a great Duomo
"a conScience-stricken penitent nerbans
| though OF truth he looked little like one
| from the dusk of the choir a voice rose
knoue :" was ,s.t mat they We're singing? 1, who
| MO" SO little of either music or church
| craft could not tell, but knew that loved
| .ne souhd OF 1t, for the sweet singing
| otCugn' So,s the tears to my eyes
some one was telling so II soa,,oa -
pity Tor the sinner-pardon nerbans 81
the coh'iite. Mlserere' chorused the broth
ren In united, sonorous bass. "Misararl,
| niiserere came signing back from the folk :
| In the aisle. VIC ioiAs
confess your sins-make confession
-, iake ne confession. He is faithful and tust
10 forgive iniquity.' '"''
| words like these the strong, clear voice
| Npsh, iiSlfiS I'D through
| low, chanted misereres like a dove sos r;ne
| on strong wing 's &
| nuodehiy saw that the place by the
piiiar s., was vacant: The man had left his
A RS sitioh. he strode toward the high altar
me kHeenng crowd lifted their heads and
rooheo U, AT MN Some started away in fear
Could 1t be that he would XIII the Prince
| Oh Hoiy church as he sat in his high seat
would ne commit sacrilege in the very
| place of prayer? '
He stood for moment at the foot of the
altar steps The clear voice ceased. The
choristers almost forgot to continue their
| chorus. Ae.A
suddenly stronger voice than any was
heard over all the Duomo. 1t was that OF
the man by the pillar ',
| u confess. he cried, 'I am a murderer
| Hear me, holy fathers! Hear me- o people
| OF Atrani! l am Leo Perrone and MUIR
| dier Giovanni Lupor'
And he threw himself down, grovelira
with his face on the altar steps. =
Inc service went on to Its close. The