Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-09-23

height, whose name was Aldebaran
and who had been the war horse OF the
late Arnolfo, and my servant mount
ing a stout and well fed ass. we set
forth gayly toward the encounter OF
ventures as wonderful as any ever en-
gagged in by the knight of La Malcha
and his squire.
The gates of the town were but
mile from my country house, and the
ten or fifteen minutes of our ride were
occupied by my trusty seneschal In de-
scribing great dancing festival or ball
which was to be given by Duke Cas-
truccio in his palace that very night
after the burning of the monk. Learn
ing from Jacopo that all the mobiles and
highhorn ladies Of the duchy had been
asked. that it was the custom Of those
WHO so willed to gOmasked and finally
and this was the most important con-
| sideration--that the dukes daughter
Ippolita, who was to be present, was
more divinely fair and lovely than was
imaginable. | immediately resolved to
attend the function. Clan Jacopo inter
posed q feeble objection on the ground
| of the recent death Of the Signor Ar
nolfo. but | overruled him with the eX-
planation that it would be good politics
thus to appear disguised among my
enemies at a time when they least eX.
pected it. He ended by applauding my
resolution and Offering to conduct me
to the palace Of the duke.
We entered the city through gate
at the southwestern end Of it. My
house. as before remarked. was In the
street of the Lions, and thither we
now repaired. 1t had the air Of being
uninhabited and was gloomy, square
mansion of stone, surmounted by tow
ers and turrets and gables, and at the
extreme top of these towers, singularly
enough, there was dilapidated and
unused windmill.
Entering a great archway which
stood beside the keep Of the castle, we
came to two large doors, one of which
led to the stables and the other to the
dwelling part of the house. Having put
I'D our beasts and given them enough
provender to last for twenty-four hours
If necessary. we now entered the de-
serted hall Of my forefathers. / will
not describe the inside Of it or the con-
tents of 1t further than to say that 1t
was embellished and furnished in the
splendor and taste Of century long
gone by and that the marks of age and
decay were upon everything.
After had given the palace very
cursory inspection and had exhibited
all the Joy which man ordinarily
feels when he finds himself, after long
absence. once more in the house Of his
childhood my trusty vassal fetched n
lamp and. descending with me into
subterranean vault beneath the castle
like mansion, took hold Of ring in the
floor and. lifting out large block OF
the stone pavement. disclosed stair
way leading down into the darkness.
Down these steps followed him, ana
when we had come to the bottom Of
them we went along level passage
way, which seemed to have been cut
out of the solid rock, for distance OF
200 feet or more until we came to an
other stairway leading upward. Mount
ing this, we arrived upon a narrow
platform, and here Clan Jacopo paused
and seemed to undo bar and to press
upon a certain part Of the wall. Sud
denly a large square stone moved out
and away from US. as If it were hung
on pivots and we saw the light of day
and. coming through an aperture fully
two feet square. we found ourselves In
small, unfurnished. strongly built
house, with bare stone walls and mar
row grated windows.
My ancient follower pushed the stone
back into it's place. and. closing with I;
sharp click as of a stout spring. it left
no mark upon the wall to show where
1t had opened.
Behold. Prince Timoteo." said he,
1.-THE house of which spoke 1t faces,
as thou dost see, the public square. and
from the loggla thou mayest behold
the burning of Brother Ambrose with