Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-12

served that the little boy Pedro had, the
day after Amine's first attempt, forgotten
his promise, and narrated to his mother
all that had passed. The widow, frighten-
ed at what tho boy had told her, thought
it right to go to Father Matthias, and con-
flde to him what her son had told her, as
it was, in her opinion, sorcery. Father
Matthias questioned Pedro closely, and
convinced that was tho case, determined
to have witnesses to confront Anime. He
therefore proposed that the boy should OPP.
pear to be willing to try again, and had
instructed him for the purpose, having
previously arranged that they should
break in upon Anime as We have described.
About half an hour afterward two men
dressed In black gowns came into Amine's
room and requested that she would follow
them, or that force would be used. Anime
made no resistance; they crossed tho
square; the gate Of large building was
opened; they desired her to walk in, and
in few seconds Anime found herself in
ono OF the dungeons Of tho inquisition.
A few hours after Anime had been in
the dungeon, the jailers entered; without
speaking to her they let down her soft
silky hair and out it close off. Anime,
with her lip curled in contempt, and with.
out resistance and expostulation, allowed
them to do their work. They finished,
and she was again left to her solitude
The next day the jailers entered her CELL
and ordered her to bare her feet and fol.
low them. She looked at them and they
At her. "If you do not, We must" observ-
ed ono Of the men, who was moved by her
youth and beauty. Anime did as abe was
desired, and was led into the hall Of JUS
tice, whore she found only the grand in
quisitor and the secretary.
The hall Of justice was long room with
lofty windows on each side, and also at
the end opposite to the door through
which she had been led in. In the center,
on raised dais, was a long table covered
with cloth Of alternate blue and fawn
colored stripes, and at the end opposite to
where Anime was brought in was raised
an enormous crucifix, with carved image
of our Saviour. The jailer pointed to q
small bench, and intimated to Anime that
she was to sit down.
After a scrutiny of some moments, the
secretary spoke:
what Is your namef'
"Amine Vanderdecken
"Of what countrys"
"My husband is Of the low countries: I
am from the cast"
"What is your husband?"
uTho ooD%ntp NJ n,,&.h YoJ;o,..~
"How came you heres"
"His vessel was wrecked, and we were
separated.
"Whom do you know hereS'
Father Matthias
"What property have your"
"None; 1t Is my husbands"
In the custody of Father Matthias"
Are you aware why you are brought
heIe?"
How should l be?" replied Anime,
evasively; "tell me what am accused of. y
"You must know whether YOU have
done wrong or not. You had better con-
fess oil your conscience accuses you Of"
My conscience does not accuse me Of
doing wrong"
"Then you will confess nothings"
"By your own showing, have nothing
TO confess"
You say you are from tho east; are you
Christian?"
II reject your creed.'
"You are married to Catholicp"
Eyes, true Catholic
"Who married yolS'
Father Seysen a Catholic priest.'
DID you enter into the bosom of the
church:-did he venture to marry you
without your being baptizcds'
"some ceremony did take place which l
consented to-
1t was baptism, was it notp"
II believe it was so termed"
And now you say that you reject the
creed?"
Since have witnessed the conduct of
those who profess it, do. At the time
OF my marriage was disposed toward it. "
What is the amount of your property
in tho Father Matthias hands?"
Some hundreds of dollars-he knows
exactly"
The grand inquisitor rang bell: the
1ailcrs entered and Anime was led hack
to her dungeon.
Why should they ask so often about
my money!" muscd Anime; "if they re-
quire 1t, they may take it. What is their
power? What would they do with mes
Well, we'll, few days will decide" A
few days-no no, Anime; years perhaps
would have passed without decision, but
that IN four months from the date of your
incarceration the auto-da -fe, which had
not been celebrated for upward of three
years, was to take place, and there was
not sufficient number Of those who were
to undergo the last punishment to render
the ceremony imposing. A few more
were required for the stake, or you would
not have escaped from those dungeons SO
soon. AS 1t was, q month of anxiety and
suspense, almost indispensable, had to be
passed away before Amino was again
summoned to the hall of justice.
Anime, at the time we have specified.
was again introduced to the hall of Justice
and was again asked if she would confess
lrritated at her long confinement and tho
injustice Of the proceedings, she replied:
II have told you onoe for all that I have
nothing ia confess; do with me as YOU
will, but be quick"
win torture oblige you to contest"
Try me, replied Anime firmly "try
me, cruel men, and If you gain but one