The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-10-26

desta, chanced tho venture, and. part,v bv
holding on TO the tough broom roots. partly
clipping, and aided by Providence and Our
Lady OF San spirito, 10 whom I hurriedly
cast up q prayer. ] managed 10 reach the
bottom, and fell. exhausted and brcathlcss.
into a cistus hedge.
! was too beaten 10 go another yard. and.
had my pursuers only followed 10, must
have become an easy prey. As II was hear
them reach the breach, where they came 10
a stop. all shouting and babblins at the
sarne time. One or two, boldcr than the
others, attempted TO descend the ledge Of
rock, down which ] escaped. but It's steep
hess damped their courage. They, however,
succeeded IN loosening some Of the debris
no that Il fell over the clifI, and a few of the
stones dropped very close TO me: hut BIZ
good hap ] escaped, or else this never would
have been written. One great block. indeed.
just passed over my head, and 4 vowed an
| altar.piece to Our Lady Of San Spirito
who alone could have diverted that which
was coming straight to my dcst tf,iction, and
] may add ] duly kept my word After
time the voices above began 10 grow fainter.
aud to my delight found that tho citizens'
thinking IL impossible should have csco ned
like lizard amongst the rocks, were bark.
ing back, and ranging - the right and left
] waited until all sound died away, and eau.
tiously pecpcd out. The const was clear. I
had recovered my wind, and, without more
waste Of time. ] rose aud pressed on in the
direction Of the hills, determined 10 chance
no further adventures near the towns. In
deed, ] had crowded more incident into the
past few hours than into the previous five.
and.thirty years OF my life and my sole OBJ.
jcct, at present, was to reach Florence
without further let or hindrnncc.
Keeping the vineyards between me and
the town, ] avoided all observation. and.
| at small waysidc inn. filled wallet which
] purchased with food and bottle of the
rough country wine. so that there might he
no necessity for my visiting human habita.
ton during the remainder Of my Journey.
With the wallet swung over my shoulder. an
hour or 80 later ] was ascending the slopcs
OF Mount st. Michele, cursing the fnllcn pine
needles. which made my foo,hold 10 slippery
that slid rather than walked.
IL was late in the evening before I halted
aud ate my dinner under an ovcrhangns
rock. sheltered from the north wind by a
clump oi pines. When finished I rolled
myself up in my cloak, and fatigue. to.
gcthcr with good conscience, combined TO
send Inc To sleep as sound as IL was re.
frcshing. l was up before the sun and con.
sinued my way, determined to reach Flor.
encc by evening. ] took no particular no.
tice OF the view. where I could see to my
right the Prato MaSno. and to my left ali
the valleys Of the Greve; but kept my eyes
before me, intent on my thoughts.
At length. when passing Impruneta. where
the Black Virgin IL, Florence came in sight.
There was slight haze which prevented me
from seeing as clearly as I could wish; but
| plainly made out the houses on the banks
OF the Arno. Arnolfo's tower, the palace
OF the Signory. the cathedral, the Bargello.
and the unfinished Pitt palace, whilst be.
yond rose the convent.toppcd hill. Of
Scenario, where the Servites have their mon.
| nstcry.
As looked shcre was little Of admiration
IN my heart, although the scene was fair
enough but ] could give no mind to any.
thing beyond the fact that ! was at las.
| within measurable distance Of ID Entrangues,
and that in few hours my hand was like
to he at his throat.
With these thoughts there somehow min.
slcd Up the face Of madame, and the scene
Of our last meeting. put this aside, how.
ever. with a strong hand, and determine
to think no more Of her, although no such
recollection could he ANYTHING bn, nIc,.,n,
and sweet. Until I met her 1 had ,nannccj
well enough without womankind. and for
the future 4 would leave bright eyes alone
Yet knew was the better ,nnp for bol,Iiny
the privilege of her friendship. Uowrvcr
she had passed out of nv life. nnJ acros.
the seas 1 would have other things 10 think
O. than the memory of nv platoni. friend.
ship with Doris D'Entrnn.ucs
Il was close upon sunset when I cntcrcd
the San Picro gntc. md found mysclf II,
Florence. and in a difficulty AT The sam.
time, in conscaucucc of INV wearing n swor,I
I luckily, however. remembered that La
Palisse. the French leader. vas then in the
city, and explaipinc that I wa, from tho
army at Arelzo with n message IN him. in.
auired particularly his abode. which I wa,
told was ia the palace of the exiled Medic; In
the Via Lnrga. IL 80 happ.ned that Ia
Palisse was in constant communication with
Tremouile. and this and my coniiJen, b.nr.
ing imposed upon the guards. 1 supple.
mented nv argument with N c,unl, NJ
crowns. and they let me mas, vitbon, fur.
thor rIev n will ,bus h,. ..,, ,h,, ,L,,.
ever the regulations NAV have Lccn ,bcv
we're easily broken. Indeed / fo,nJ ln,c,. az,
Tint they were. even nj ,ba, ,i,nc a ,,.sL
letter, and that the zeal of the guards wn.
merely insured by the prospect of making
something out OF inc. which thew did ON tLis
occasion. I knew Florence very well. having
been there under circumstances ycry differ.
cnt to the present: but as hurried along
the crowded streets. I began 10 feel / wns
somewhat uncertain us 10 whittier m. roads
led. | Judged IL prudent. howcver. no, "a
make inquiries. but Kent INV ewes on Nm.
sharp lookout for n hostel suitable 10 INV
purse, which was timinisbinu ne a fearful
rate. l stopped for awhile nj n street s,nIi
TO satisfy my hunger with A cake of wheat
and a glass of milk. n Wholesome. but nm.
palatable beverage. and entered into couvcr.