The National tribune., 1899-04-20
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fssSSy MA Story Of
" zg--END The Spanish Conquest Of Mexico
Tssssss.#lESS4AsagSV BY R. M. BIRD
BY r. M. BIRD.

"Dost thou think so, indeed, father
said Amador warmly, though in a low
voice.
The father started-'The history of thy
kinsman is not unknown to theeT
| ''What know is but little, save that my
| friend is the unhappieSt of men,, SAID the
novice. But heaven forbid should seei
to fathom the secrets of the confessional
| was rejoiced to hear thee say my kins
man was not so miserable as he deems
himself; for indeed have begun to thinE
there is something in the blood tha'
distemperature, that small sin may
| bring us the pains of deep guilt, and
| light sorrow pave the way to madness"
The knight and the man-at-arms lay IN
Slumber not to be broken by the WINS
pers of confession. THETA retired tG
the remotest corner of the apartment, ano
Don Amador knclt humbly and penlten-
TALLY at his feet. A little taper shed a
flckering ray over his blanched and trou-
bled forehead, as he bent forward to KISS
the crucifix, extended by the confessor.
."Buen PADRE" said he, "the sins nave
to confess, | know thou wilt absolve, ioi
they are sins of hot blood, and not q
malicious heart. have been awroth WIN
those who wronged me and thirsted to sneo q
their blood. For this l repent me. bu.
the sins of pride and vanity are deep ih
my heart. l look about me for those acts
of darkness, which should have caused
the grief wherewth | am afflicted; but, IN q
my self -conceit, cannot find them. AND
yetSthey must exist; for l am beSet Will
devils, or bewitched!'
The father gazed uneasily from the pen
itent to the sleeping knight; but the LOOK
OfSsuspicion was unnotced.
ave are all, as | may say, my son,
beset by devils in this infidel land. Ihey
are worshiped on the altars OF the iaise
1I- IN, i,a
idofaters. But if thou hast no heavy SIN
on thy soul, these are such deviis as
thou canst better exercise with the SWORD
than /, perhaps, with prayers. thlnk,
indeed, thou hast no such gum; anu
therefore, no cause for persecution. :, ~,
holy father, | thought so myself .il'
late. But cast thine eyes on Don Ea.
briel. Thou seest him, once the, noolest
of his species, yet, now, the shadow anu
Vapor OF a mana wreck OF reaSoi,,-
living death,-for his mind hath lett him:
This | say to thee with much ahS II.
could strike another who said it; but II
is true-He is a lunaticl-It is l that
have robbed him OF reason. TINS Is my
sin; and feel that it is heavy"
"Thou ravest, good youth. Thy love
and devotion are well known; ; ana ne
hath out Of his own mouth, assured me,
that thy affection SurpaSSes the love vi
man. Rest thee content. A deeper cause
IMAM tIllS, anu Oiic HllSISiil tbou Ai"DN
part, has afflicted HIM An accident of
war, tortured, by moody imagination
into willful guilt hath turned him into
this ruin"
at was an accident, then, and no muir
der!' said the cavalier, ioyously, though
still in a whisper. 81 thank God that my
father is unstained with the blood OF
woman"
81 may not repeat to thee secrets re-
vealed only to Cod" said the confessor;
"but this much may l say, to allay thy
fears,-that the blow which destroyed a
friend, was meantfor foe; for rage vailed
his eyes, and the steel was in the hands
of a mailman. This will assure thee,
that thou hast had no agency in his
afIiiction, but hast ever proved his truest
comfort"
s9This indeed is the TRUTH" murmured
the novice, -"anti this -convinces me, /" that
by robbing him of his comfort, gave him
up to the persecution of those thoughts
and memories, which have destroyed him.
When l fought by his side at Rhodes,
when l followed at his back through