The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25

[ lxneel as he passed or to touch his gar
 ment.
 One day when he rested in barn a
 woman kneeled down before him without word and began to wash his feet It
 was the princess. He drew his cowl about
 his face and she confessed to him. Then
 he bade her look
 "Leave this pilgrimage and return to
 Rome at once!" said he, when she had
 recovered from the fainting fit that over
 came her at sight of the man she thought
 murdered. Do penance at home by being
 humble and merciful. Live a pious
 princess. That is true penance." Meantime there was deep sorrow In Hol- land combined with a great joy. A little Gerard had been born to Margaret,
 and the Eliassoen family. who had taken
 her to their hearts and proclaimed her
 proudly and publicly Gerard's wife, were
 divided between delight at the little son and grief for Gerard, whom they esteemed
 dead.
 Denys had found them and told them all she knew. Letters had come telling
 them of his wanderings his arrival in
 Rome and his successes. Then suddenly
 all tldings stopped.
 Old Peter Brandt and Martin both died.
 and the Eliassoens came to Rotterdam
 and took Margaret into their new home One day Margaret went into Nhe great
 church of St. Laurens and sat down. Her
 place was under window. The sun
 shone on her head. She closed her eyes and longed for peace.
 She heard, but did not look, when the
 famous monk who was to preach that day began his sermon. But suddenly his voice
 stopped in the very middle of ringing sentence.
 She looked up. Her first consciousness was that every eye in the congregation seemed bent on her. Then she glanced at
 the pulpit. There, looking straight at her.
 was a face as of glaring corpse. The friar's eyes, supernaturally large, were glaring at her out. of bloodless face. There was commotion In the great pile. Then it quieted and the sermon went on.
 Margaret staggered out of the church. The friar finished his sermon and has tened into the church yard, where he had seen the sexton, whom he recognized as
 one who had lived in Tergou. Chance
 served him strangely. The man had worked for Ghysbrecht, and he had seen the burgomaster write a letter for Cor
 nelis and Sybrandt. which was to be given to Hans Memling.
 Ten minutes afterward there burst into the Eliassoen house, where the family sat at the table waiting for Margaret, l Dominican friar livid with rage He 1 lcaped to the table in front of Corneiis | and Sybrandt, and with his two hands | lowering over their heads he cursed them | by name soul and body, in this world and | the next. It was an age eloquent in | curses. He cursed their hands, their | hearts. the meat at their mouths and | every atom of their bodies from their hair | to the soles of their feet. | Then, turning from the covering pair,
 he tore from his bosom the forged letter
 and flung it to his father. Read that, | thou hard old man, that didst imprison 1 thy son." said he. "The memory of my 1 wrongs and hers dwell with you all for 1 ever, I will meet you again at the judg- ment day! On earth ye will see me no | more!'
 | In a moment he was gone as he had
 come, leaving them stiff and cold and white as statues.
 i So Margaret found them. Her coming
 broke the spell. The father snatched his
 sword and ran at the two rogues. who | fkd yelling down the street and van ished. Then he flung the cursed food out of the house and sat down To | brood.
 Meantime Brother Clement was lying
 al fuii length on the floor of the church. suffering unspeskable torment
 from terror. misery. peniienee and self
 abasement. throush all ot which strug- | xled eleams of joy that Margaret was alive
 I. vas nlrht h~f1r~ te arose and went forsh. N~--s1E his Ar-sst and
 crying x ar The neEt eay ssa the house of Ghyrsre~ss As sta not t.ii
 who ha ~ss He aie ncf declare 10 the