Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-01-27

not numbering more than twenty or
thirty, were seated in the space ap-
portioned to them near the altar,
which was divided from the EiCre
sight-seers by means of siiken rope
that crossed the aisle. / exchanged
greetings with most Of these persons,
and in return received their congTatu-
lations; then | walked with a firm de-
liberate step up to the high altar and
there waited. The magnificent paint
ings on the wall round me seemed en-
dowed with mysterious life--the grand
heads of saints and martyrs We're
turned upon me as though they de-
Must thou do this thing?
Hast thou no forgi veness?"
And ever my stern answer, Nay; il
hereafter / am tortured in eternal
flame for all ages, yet now-now while
| live, | will be avenged"
A bleeding Christ suspended on His
cross gazed at me reproachfully with
long-enduring eyes of beautiful ar
guish-eyes that seemed to say, "Oh,
erring man, that tOrmentest myself
with passing passions, shall not thine
own end approach speediIy?-and
what comfort wilt thou have in thy
last hour?"
Ana inwardly | answered, None!
No shred of consolation can ever again
be mine-no Joy, save fulfilled re-
vengel And this / will possess
,h- 11- nd
the earth split asunder! For once a
womans treachery shall meet with
punishment-for once such strange un
common justice shall be done!"
And my spirit wrapped itself again
in somber meditative silence. The
sunlight fell gloriously through the
stained windows-blue, gold, crimson,
and violet shafts of dazzling radiance
glittered in lustrous fickering pat
terms, on the snowy wilderness of the
marble altar, and slowly, softly, ma
jestically, as though an angel stepped
forward, he sound of music stole on
the incense-laden air. The unseen
organst played a sublime voluntary
of Palestrinas, and the round har-
monious notes cln.e falling gently on
eod'snci ;oore etain shrdlu shrdlsh
one another like drops from fonn-
tain tricking on flowers.
| thought of my last wedding-day,
when | had stood in this very place,
full of hope, intoxicated with love and
joy, when Guido Ferrari had been by
my side, and had drunk in for the
first time the poisoned draught of
temptation from the loneliness OF my
wife's face and form; when |, poor
fool, would as soon have thought that
God could lie, as that either of these
whom adored could play me false. |
drew the wedding-ring from my pocket
and looked at tit was sparklingly
bright and appeared new. Yet it was
old-it was the very same ring | had
drawn off my wife's finger the day be-
fore; it had only been FURNISHED afresh
by skilled jeweler, and showed no
more marks of wear than If 1t had
been bought that morning.
The great bell Of the cathedral
doomed out eleven, and as the last
stroke swung from the tower, the
chapel doors We're flung more widely
open: then came the gentle rustic of
trailing robes, and turning, | beheld
my wife. She approached, leaning
lightly on the arm OF the Old Cheva-
ler Mancini, who, true to his creeds OF
gallantry, had accepted with alacrity
the post of paternal protector to the
bride on this occasion, and | could not
well wonder at the universal admira-
ton that broke in suppressed murmurs
from all assembled, as this most fair
masterpiece of the deyil's creation
paced slowly and gracefully up the
aisle She Wore a dress OF clinging
y hite velvet made with the greatest
simplicity-a lace veil, priceless in
value and fine as gossamer, draped
her from head to foot-the jewels |
had given her flashed about her like
little scintillating points of light, in
her hair, at her waist, on her breast
and uncovered arms.
Being, as she deemed herself a
widow. she had no bridesmaid her
train was held up by a handsome boy
clad in the purple and gold costume
of a sixteenth century page-he was
the youngest son OF the Duke di Mar
ina. TWO tiny girls OF i've and six
years OF age went before, strewing
white roses and lilies, and stepping
daintily backward as though in at
tendance on a queen: they looked like
two fairies who had slipped out OF a
midnight dream, in their little loose
gowns of gold-colCred plush, with
wreaths Of meadow dafodils on their
tumbled curly hair they had been
wen trained by Nina herself. for on
arrival at the altar they stood demure-
ly. one on each side OF her, the pretty
page occupying his place behind, and
still holding Up the end OF the velvet
train with a charming air OF hauteur
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