The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28


 armor and cried out. What do I seer r is Alfonso come to life again." Then sec ing who he was. he demanded how he had escaped. Theodore refused to tell. simply saying: T resign myself to your lord ships pleasure" Your death I do not desire at present." said Manfred. "ao where you please. provided you pledge your word to return whom I summon i you"
 bredericw speedily recovered from his wounds and Manfred. having observed that the marquis was much struck by ths beauty of Matilda, made him a proposi- ton which he thought might yet secure the sway of his house over otranto. It was that he, Manfred, should marry Isa- bella and that Frederick should wed Ma tiida. He convinced Frederick that he could secure divorce from Hippolita ana the marquis, being a weak man and muoh l In love, agreed to the plan. Both Iza- 1 bella and Matilda were shocked at this design which Manfred brutally broke to 'nem- Each had discovered the other was in love with Theodore, and Isabella. real king the youth had given his heart to Matilda, resolved to think no more of her own love, but to seek the seclusion of some convent. As for Hippolita. grief and despair were her portion.
 Manfred, being curious to know the meaning of the gigantic sword. the mar l quis informed him that while A prisonsr in the hands of the infidel he had been warned in a n, hot ht
 in peril in a castle far away; that he would soon be ransomed, and then must repair to certain wood, where he would learn more. He was ransomed, and re- pairing with some companions to the wood, found there an old hermit had aied and they were digging down to bury nm they came upon a great sabre, the came which now lay in the courtyard. On the blade. which was then partially opened, but which became closed after they had read its inscription, was written that wherever a helmet should be found that matched the sword there the daugh- ter of the marquis would be found in great peril, and that the blood of Alfonso could alone save her and quiet his long restless shade. Heaven and hell fight against me-" cried Manfred but I will not yield"
 He inquired for the Lady Isabella, and was informed by domestic that she had gone to the church. 'She has gone to meet Theodore thought Manfred, and hurrylng to the dim aisles of the sacred building he beheld. kneeling before the tomb of Alfonso, Theodore and a young woman. It was night and only few struggling moonbeams lighted the church As Manfred stole nearer he heard the woman say in low voice: Manfred will never permit our union." NO, this l will prevent it,, cried the prince in & frenzy of jealous rage. and, reaching over the shoulder of the kneeling youth, he stabbed the speaker in the breast with his poniard. Alas, am murdered" cried the girl-and the voice was that of Matilda At the same time drops of blood fell from the statue of Alfonso. Manfred could scarcely speak or move : for terror at the result of his fatal mis- take. Matilda was borne to the castle, where she presently expired amid the laments of Theodore.
 Suddenly there came terrible clap of thunder and the clanking of more than mortal armor. All rushed into the court yard, thinking the last day had come. As Manfred reached the court portion of the castle behind him was thrown down and through the ruins loomed a gigantic spectre of Alfonso, while a voice cried Behold in Theodore the true Prince of Otranto." All fell prostrate for a minute, and then Manfred, quite conquered at last, called out, Unhappy me. Conrad is gone; Matilda is no more. Heaven rejects !. us. You all know that Alfonso died in Holy Land. But this Is not all Alfonso died by poison and a fictitious will de- clared Richardo his heir. This is tho se- cret of my house and thus we came into these possessions. which I-now re- nounce. How Theodore can be Alfonso's heir I know not''
 Then spoke Father Jerome. who told how Alfonso, starting for the Crusade, was detained by head winds in Sicily and there married a maiden whom it had been his intention, when his crusade should be accomplished to bring to Oltrano and acknowledge publicly as his wife. After his departure daughter was born, who, when she grew up, was married to Count Falcanara By her the count had ne son. Theodore. Some corsairs. landing upon the coast, carried mother and son to AL giers, and the Count became Father Jerome. The mother had died and the son, escaping from bondage. made his way to Italy, where he had worked as a peasant in the fields of Otranto. Jerome had recognized him when he was about to be executed by the bloody arrow on his shoulder. which had been placed there in babyhood. The youth had told such of his story as hc knew to the friar, and Jerome had only that day revealed to Theodore that he was the rfghtful Prince of Otranto.
 The next morning Manfred signed his abdication and he and Hippolita took the garb of religion in tho neighborins con- vent. Frederick offered his daughter to the new Prince but Theodores grief waS too fresh to admit of the thought of ans other love- and it vas not until frequent discourses with Isapella of his dear Ma tilda that he was persuaded that he could know no happiness but in the so- ciety of one with whom he could forever indulge the melancholy which had taken possession of his soul.