The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-11-10

called Tor water. But IL was not WAFER ne
got. How he struggled! He cried for
mercy, and can still see the wretches as
| they held him down. A foul-looking bag
| placed her knees on his chest, she looked
| towards the sky for moment, as if invok-
| ing spirit to sacrifice, and the moonlight
shone on face that was hardly human.
| Then she stopped down, and with relent-
| less hand plunged the knife she held into her
| victims throat. But all this, which should
have hardened my heart, did not affect me
! az the scene / had just quilted. After all,
what l had passed through was done when
| the blood was high with excitement. Here,
| however, was another thing. / had watched
| the end of being beautiful and pure, who
| was born to adorn life, and yet what was her
story? Fallen into the hands of. an incar-
| blinded, to die like reptile! It was too
horrible! Surely God must have slept whilst
this was done. Surely the after life ought to
be to her, in an inverse proportion to her
| sufferings on earth. But why any such in
| Fiction on one so helpless? Mystery of mys-
| teries and cannot solve it. And yet she
was able to forgive. At the lasA she could
condone. What were my wrongs to those
she had endured? After all had health,
strength, and the world was wide. Why
waste my time in running after the morbid
shadow of revenge? If got it, would it sat
isfy? Would it heal my wounds? Thinking
| in this way, called to mind sermon of the
Prior OF ST. Mark'sI heard when last in
Florence l came in the suite of Paolo Vi
tell ag Citta del CASTILLO, and at the time
Savonarola had left the Duomo, and was
preaching at st. Marks. His subject was
forgiveness, and his text, Vengeance is
mine, saith the Lord" came back to me
with vivid force. rose from my seat and
paced the room, my whole soul was on the
cross; had all but resolved to forego my
scheme of revenge, when heard knock at
the door. At first did not answer. but it
| was repeated.
"Come in" cried, and Ceci entered. In
the state in which was, I had half mind
to bid him BECOME there and then, and only
controlled myself with an effort. I could
zee, however, that, in his way, he had formed
a friendly feeling towards me, and, remem-
bering my plans, forced myself to greet him
with civility, and Offering him seat began
| the conversation.
''That was strange finish to the Con
| faloniere's speech" l said, in allusion to the
death of the man at the hands of the mob.
"He was fool, and deserved to die"
| "Do you know his name"
| Ceci hesitated for moment, and I saw he
was lying when he said "No."
| II gather" added, chat you are of the
Bigi, the party that favors the return of the
Medici."
"Signore, spoke words in my excitement
| that may well be buried. An old tongue like
mine should have known to be still; but it is
not that l have come to speak of. Do you
know we have death in the housew
''That would be no new thing to you"
| "True," he said, stroking his white beard,
"they die here like rats in their holes"
81 suppose so; but as a matter of fact I
did know there was death, and very sad
one. know Mathew Corte, but how have
you found out so soon?"
cit is simple. Icame, bach. but. a few min
utes ago, and although it was late, thought
1 might call for the rent of the room Corte
occupies, as he has not paid anything as yet.
When l came in, Corte simply pointed to the
body of his daug hter, that was all the reply
] got. She was very i'll when she came; l
wonder indeed she lived SO long. Of course,
did not press him, and if it is a loss, Messer
Nobili is rich enough to bear this. But it is
dreadful the way these people owe."
I WINGED little, thinking of my own di-
nlinished purse, and Ceci continued: II
thought 1 would come and see you as 1 went
down. 1t is on my way. The body must be
removed tomorrow"
"You will find some difficulty in persuad-
ing him to give it Christian burial
"How! Is he hereto, or a pagan-if sol"
81 did not say that. believe the man to
be mad"
81 will see him tomorrow" said Ceci. 81
think ne will yield to reason. Poor child!'
He went out, and down the stairs with the
step of young man, and marveled at the
contradictory nature, which could show the
kindness it had towards affection, and at the
same time coldly plan to remove fellow
creature from the world, as one removes a
bud from tree, with touch of the knife
But Ceci's words had also reminded me again
of Corte's need. stood at the door listen
ing until his footsteps died away, and knew
he was gone for the night. Then pulled
out my purse, and looked at its contents;
there were two gold crowns left, and few
pauls. hesitated for a little, but the need
of the man upstairs was greater than mine
Drawing off my boots so that there might be
no sound, 1 stole up softly, like thief, and
gained the landing of Corte's room. The
door was partly open, and stood before il
for a short while, half afraid to enter
Plucking up heart, crept in gently. The
dead girl lay with her hands crossed on hel
bosom, still as if cut out of marble, and OF
her face was fixed sad little smile. Cort,
sat on a stool near the table; his head wa
buried between his hands, and he had give1
way to silent despair. The dog lay asleeI
in a corner. 1 meant to have profered thu
gold had with me, as loan to Corte, bu
I did not dare to address him in his grief
So placing the coins quietly on the table il
s,;ch manner that when he raised his hea(