Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-09-08
knight Grant
Continued.
By EDNA LYALL


ing there, face to face with death, he
seemed to live 1t all through once
more He thought of his quiet child
hood, of his mothers devotion, of his
happy betrothal. Once more he lived
through the story Of his love for Fran
cesca, with its brief CLEANS Of rap
ture and its long years Of wearing
separation; once more he lived his
art-llf-triumphe In this character,
failed 10 that faced abuse on and OF
the stage, felt the glow Of genuine
success. Aud again be lived through
the pain and bliss Of that night at
Genoa. with IT'S violent reaction, its
rapture Of faithful love; again he felt
Francesca clinging to him, heard her
words Of perfect trust, knew that the
anguish of the past had been a mere
device Of Satan.
But Brancaleone moved, and the
torch-light fell again on the cold steel
blade. In a few minutes there must
come that awful helplessness. that VIC
lence and anguish and slaughter
His heart throbbed wildly; and once
more. 10 calm himself, he turned his
eyes to Lionbruno's cross. The boys
words returned 10 him:
"As to that it's a mere fable. If
1t We're true, men would be dying on
crosses themselves"
How little.I have done to prove
that It is truest truth and no fable,
he thought, sadly.
"Yet for these last three years you
have honestly tried to follow me, said
voice in his heart And the words
of comfort brought him great glad
ness, for he knew that slowly and
stumblingly, and with an amount of
effort that proved his own weakness
and the strength of the Divine help
that had been his, he really had tried
to live the life of the Cruciiied with
its whole-hearted seeking Of the hi
VINE will. After all, was any happi
ness to be compared to the happiness
that came to him even in this last
extremity? Was there not a deep
NuNh III tiAc Pott . iuSd tuab l4ic DAr
vine will is sweetest to us, when ii
triumphs at our cost"
IF ever a man were ready 10 die it
is that man, reelected LionbrtIno.
But Corpo di Bacco! how shall | sit
patiently by and see him murdered
He shuddered, and yet something in
the beautiful manly face raised him
above the thought of the scene of
bloodshed How was ii that this man,
Ia the first flush of youth and |
strength, could willingly give up ey-
erything life itself-to save an |
other from sin? How was it that he !
could stand for an hour face to face (
with a most horrible death yet show |
neither fear. nor resentment. nor bra |
yado-only a noble, intrepid calm?
Into the brigands semicultivaJed |
mind the sight flashed something more |
than the unwelcome conviction OF the |
previous night. All his shallow I'M
belief died In the light OF that revela.
lion. 1t was not that the Son of God
must indeed have taught men how to
live and die he saw that he had before
him, on the one hand, proof OF the
heights to which men could rise who
followed at all costs the guidance OF
the Holy Spirit; on the other, of the
depths to which men could sink who
sought at all costs their own pleas
ures.
The place had been strangely still
for some minutes. Nicolo had left his
caldron, aud now lay on the floor
smoking; the card-players had fin
ished the game, and seemed TO think
1t was not worth while to begin an
other before the event of the evening
came off; one swa,,hy, black-bearded
fellow shufIled the cards, the others
lounged at ease, watching the prisoner
indiferently
When at length voice In the dis
lance spoke the password, every one
present started slight. Carlo drew
himself up to his full height, and
looked steadil. toward the dark arch
way; Brancaleone rose, and with one
hand on his victim and the knife in
his other, glanced over his shoulder,
ready either TO strike or to forbear;
Lionbruno dropped his cross. and
glanced in great agitation from the
archway to the prisoner. aud back
again to the archway. The footsteps
drew nearer; the messenger suddenly
turned the corner and emerged into
sight; the torchlight fell on the token
In his hand---was ii white or red ? !
With a gasp of relief, I.ionbruno |
sprung forward and seized the hand |
llerchief. waving it joyfuly in the air; |
while the messenger advanced and !
handed a sealed packet to the chief, |
who at once sheathed his knife and |
turned to the prisoner.
you are free, signor," he said,
gravely.
"Nita is ruined. have failed!"
thought Carlo.
The sharpest pang he had ever had /
TO bear shot through him: and. with
out a. word, he fell to the ground.
"Diavolo" exclaimed The chief Il
have often seen a prisoner overcome !
on hearing his death-sentence, but
nevel vet on getting a reprieye!'
Liontruno looked with many CON +
aiciing feelings at the face which had /
grown so familiar to him Per quanto Z