The Winslow mail., 1900-02-22
CHAPTER VIII.
TEMPTATION.

/ had looked upon death before; 1 had
seen the plague strike down its victims in an
hour; / had been in the hell of a sacked
own, when men, women and children were
given to the sword On the breach at ARK
+ Sismundea, dead, dying and wounded were
piled breast high, when we stormed our way,
through the fog of battle. into Malatesta's
stronghold. Stricken down at San Miniato,
] saw, in the dim night, the death hunters
at their fearful trade, and heard the dull
blows of their daggers, as they murdered
some helpless wretch, sometimes for the
prize Of tag of gold lace, sometimes for the
sheer pleasure of slaughter. Lying unable to
move, by good luck concealed in hollow,
amidst grass which stood yard high, saw
Il man killed not ten feet from me. lie rose
to his elbow as the fiends approached, and
called for water. But it was not water he
got. How he struggled! He cried for
mercy, and | can still see the wretches as
they held him down. foul-looking hag
placed her knees on his chest, she looked
towards the sky for a moment, as if invok-
ing spirit to a sacrifice, and the moonlight
shone on a face that was hardly human
Then she stopped down, and with relent-
less hand plunged the knife she held into her
victims threat. But all this which should
have hardened my heart, did not affect me
as the scene | had just Quilted After all,
what 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-
nate devil, outraged, and then cast forth
blinded, to die like a reptile! 1t was too
horriblel 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 lasS 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 81 heard when last in
Florence. | 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
with a 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, had half mind
TO bid him begone there and then, and only
controlled myself with an effort. could
see, however. that. IN his way, he had formed
friendly feeling towards nc, and, remem-
bering my plans. forced myself to greet him
with civility, and offering him scat began
the conversation.
THAT was strange finish to the Con
ialonicres Speech said, in allusion TO the
death CT the man at the hands of the mob.
- lie was fool, and deserved to die"
do you know his name?"
Ceci hesitated for a moment, and saw he
was lying when he said No"
Il gather | added, that you are Of the
I;igi, tue party that favors the return of the
Medlci.'
''Signore, spoke words in my excitement
hat may well be buried. An old tongue like
lline should have known to be still; but it is
isct that / have come to speak Of Do you
kuow We have death in the house,
Il hat wouiu be no new thing to ycu''
True" he said, stroking his white beard,
"they die here like rats in their holes"
Il suppose so; but as a matter of fact
did know there was a death, and very sad
one. know Mathew Corte, but how have
you found out so soon?"
lit is simple. Lcamei back. but, a few min
utes ago, and although it was late, thought
might call for the rent of the room Corte
occupies, as he has not paid anything as yet.