Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-10-07

threshold.
did Lot see thee as thou safest with
the fair Ippolita in the arched transept
behind the palms, 60 10! Thou art
gay and forward youth. and wouldst
make an excellent friar."
"But. good father" said |. "where we
sat none but the musicians from their
high balcony could behold US"
by my faith. thou speakest sooth.
Nathless. saw thee, for ! was even
one Of those same musicians. There
fore. my fair son." continued he.
when did see thee in the hall Of jus
tice of the bargello this morning ] laid
the matter before my superiors. and
steps were taken 10 convey thee here"
l naturally felt much behOlden 20
these people and asked the monk 10
Introduce me 10 his superiOrs that /
might thank them for this present scrv-
ice. He rose and whispered me 10 foi-
low him. and did SO. We went out Of
the church on the opposite side 10 that
which we had entered and now found
ourselves In large. open place. which.
my guide said. was the monastery
court. We entered the eloisters at one
end Of the inclosure and. passing along
beneath an arcade. came to a descend
Ing stairway. At the bottom of this
we followed n dark and vaulted gal
Iery, which ended abruptly with a
stout oaken door. Here my conductor
raped smartly three times. and straight
way a small round hole opened in the
panel and a solitary eye looked out at
us. The friar muttered some un-
Ineligible password, and the orifce
closed.
The door at that moment opened, the
monk pushed me before him, and ]
found myself In low but exceedingly
spacious hall. which was indifferently
lighted by a number Of wax candles:
1t was q regular barracks into which
had been brought, for there were at
least 200 soldiers in the apartment.
some of them stretched out upon the
pavement, others conversing together
In small groups and still others lean
ing against the walls or within the cor.
ners.
A few of them were in full armor Of
mail or plate, and scarcely one there
was who had not corselet or gorget
or cuirass or bassinet or solleret or
morton or some such matter riveted or
bolted to his person. Many Of them
had on over their armor sort Of
smock frock. or shirt. called tabard.
upon which were worked in brilliant
colors the heraldic devices Of the own
ers. It was indeed most weird and
picturesque and stately pageant.
turned to the monk for an explanation.
and | was astonished to find that he
had thrown from him his vestments
and that he. too, was clad In knightly
garb.
"Perdio, most fair prince" said he.
"have not arranged for thee soodly
spectacle. and am not in thy esteem
a magician without parallel? Yonder
sanctimonious canonicals were but the
disguise with which l undertook thy
deliverance. and without doubt ! am
not the first friar or priest of thy ac-
Quaintance who In the sequel proved
to be q son of Belial. Thou must know
that this underground chapel of the
abbey is the present headquarters of
the grand old party Of the Elevation
lists and that these gallant warriors be-
fore thee be the head men Of the body.
We are the natural adherents of thy
cause and were waiting but for thy
leadership. In sooth. 1t must seem to
thee that there be a goodly number OF
them here present; but. by my faith.
| thou shouldst see them on meeting
night, when as by reason Of feast
which is then prepared there are twice
| the number. Pardy. most noble Timo-
| teo, cast Off thy priestly disguise. and l
will soon present to thee thy doughty
and faithful vassals."
did as lie bid me. My costly raj
ment had partially dried by this time
so that I doubtless presented quite a
highborn and imposing appearance
Ny guide stood himself at my side and
shouted out to the multitude:
"Ho. comrades at arms and worthy
officers of the Elevationist purity! Gath
er round me and hear my words, for !
have something Of import to acQuaint
ys with"