The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05

not before dreamed of-the ever lncreas- ing loathsomeness of a union that con- sists in guilt.
 Cast it all behind you" said Miriam, detecting his thought ''The deed has done it's office and has no existence any more"
 They flung the past behind them, as she counseled and for a time they were as in fiery intoxication, for guilt has it's moments of rapture, too. They walked with brave and stately step through the streets of Rome as if they were among the majestic and guilty shadows that have haunted the blood stained city through the ages.
 The next morning the two went to the church of the Capuchins, where they had an appointment to meet Kenyon, At no time are people so sedulously careful to keep their trifiing engagements as when some great secret burdens them with : fear of suspicion.
 They intended to look at a famous pie ture, but their eyes were seized by an object in the middle of the nave On a slightly elevated bier with tall candles burning around him, lay the body of a monk. His hands were folded over his breast and his feet protruded from be- meath his habit and were tied together at the ankle with a black ribbon.
 They went to the bier and Miriam, grasping Donatellos hand convulsively, gasped, My God! What is this?"
 Their hands became like ice. Their hearts seemed to pause. The dead face of the monk, seeming to gaze at them through half open lids, was the same face that had glared on them ere it dis appeared over the precipicel
 Kenyon, too, recognized the man. But there was a whisper in his heart which said: "Hushi" He resolved to wait for Miriam to offer an explanation or con- lecture. If she never spoke, then he would let the riddle remain unsolved.
 Suddenly there occurred a fantastic, dreadful thing. From the dead monk s nose there began to ooze a little stream of blood It crept slowly toward the beard, where it lost itself.
 How stranger exclaimed Kenyon. Do you know the old superstition ?'' said Miriam, with smile from which Kenyon involuntarily turned his eyes. Perhaps his murderer has just entered the church"
 She fingered behind a little, while the two men passed on. The beautiful ,wo- man looked steadily down at her dead enemy. "rhou shalt not scowl me down, '' said she. Neither now or when we stand together at the judgment seat fear not to meet thee there"
 She rejoined Donatello, and the two parted from Kenyon and went into the gardens of the Villa Medici. My heart shivers," said he. Anxiously Miriam tried to rouse him by caresses and en- dearments. He listened gloomily and ab- sently. His answers were heavy and slow. At last Miriam realized that the terror of the dead had overpowered the love that he had felt for her. Resolutely she arose and told him that they must part forever She said: Farewell" and paused, not unhopeful of arousing him to his old affection, but he replied Fare well'' fin low voice that seemed to come from far away.
 Miriam bent her weary feet slowly and falteringly toward IIilda's tower. As she approached she saw that the curtains were still tightly drawn.
 Up there Hilda sat- her eyes red with weeping. So she had sat all night mourn ing the guilt of her friend and staring into the wreckage of life that she had thus beheld for the first time.f Hour after hour passed, and still her mind went on It's torturng round ever return ing to the scene at the rock.