Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-01-26


ruined cells.
But the ruin was not absolutely de-
serted. One of the monks. almost a
hundred years old. obtained permission
from his superiors to await death in
the cloister where he had lived. In
his youth be had studied the effects
of herbs and had numerous patients
among the poor He also acquired
knowledge of the treatment of wounds
and made reputation which at last
extended beyond his first limited field.
Silvere, who was suffering from nu-
merous wounds. having heard of the
monk physician. visited him and re-
ceived beneficial treatment. After that
the two met often. Although living
different lives, there grew up between
the lonely old creatures a sincere
friendship. On bright days the sol
der, seated on broken column, told
stories of his battles to his compan
ion. The monk. counting the beads
of his rosary, often interrupted him to
speak of God. When night came, they
bade each other adieu, the soldier-gar
the hermit entered his abode and
stretched himself on mat of PUSHES,
which, with a rustic bench, was the
only furniture in his narrow cell. Dur
ing these visits Silvere came to know
all about the monastery and its most
secret recesses.
One winter night Git was Christmas
eve; the snow had been falling for sew
eral days and made the roads impassa-
ble) the monk insisted that his friend
should sleep at the monastery. Silvere
allowed himself to be persuaded, So
cold was the night, though he would
have preferred his own bed to the hard
couch offered him by his host and to-
this rickety abode. He tried to sleep,
but in vain. The bells of Vienna, call
ing the faithful to midnight mass, came
lightly mufiled by the intervening hills.
Not being able to sleep, he was tossing
on his couch when the door opened.
and there, by the light of torch, he
saw the monk reckoning him to rise
and follow him. Silvere rose, and the
two, climbing over the wreck of clois-
tiers, entered the chapel.
The monk, taking crowbar from
under the altar, pushed aside large
stone running on grooves, which, with
the aid of the instrument, could be
easily displaced. An icy draft, impreg-
mated with the odor Of decaying flesh,
blew In their faces, and they instinc-
| lively recoiled. The monk first recover
ed his equanimity and. followed by
the soldier, advanced to the opening.
BY means of ladder they descended
to a subterranean chapel, the walls of
which were Of rarest marble. At one
end of the chapel was an altar, cover
ed with vestments and such things as
are used in masses for the dead.
crucifix was covered with Grape.
There were also wax tapers and silver
candlesticks. On the farther side of
the choir. placed on oaken supports,
their cowls covering their foreheads,
were a hundred monks, who seemed
to be awaiting the signal of their able
to sing the hours.
Silvere looked upon the spectacle
with establishment, but the odor of
putrid flesh rendered any prolonged
stay In the chapel dangerous. The
monk realized the danger on seeing
! the light of the torch grow dim. Selling
the soldier by the arm, he drew him
quickly to the foot of the ladder, and
both remounted to the domain of the
living. The monk moved the stone
into it's former position and replaced
the crowbar under the steps of the
altar. Then turning to Silvere he
said:
"My friend and brother, when In
sisted on your keeping me company to-
night had grave reasons for doing so.
1t is time that should explain myself.
My years are numbered, and I believe
that death il not far away. You are
courageous and win be faithful TO an
oath. VIII you swear upon the cruel
fix which is before US that when ! am
dead you will take me in your arms
and place me In the empty cell at the
right Of the choir? / have endured 10
live here alone that / might at last
rest there. await your answer"
Silvere. deeply touched by the words
Of the monk and understanding the at
tachment of the hermit for the place
where he had passed his life. gave the
required promise. and when. few
days after, the hermit died he deposit
ed his remains beside his former COM
rades. This is how Silvere came to
know the monastery In all It's various
parts and why he had chosen II as a
rendezvous for the son of Napoleon
and the generals. We shall see later
on what use they made of the subter-
raneous chapel.