The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-28

Inc laSL words SCruck Miriam ike
a bullet. Had her eyes indeed pro-
voked, or assented to this deed? She
had not known 1t. But, alas! think
ing back she could not deny that
wild Joy had famed up in her heart
when she saw her prosecutor in NOR
tai peril. Yes. Donatello's had been
the hand; but hers had been the look,
except for which the hand had not
been lifted.
She turned to her fellow-criminal
the youth so lately innocent, whom
she had drawn into her doom, and
pressed him close, close to her bosom,
with clinging embrace that brought
their hearts together. Eyes, Dona-
tello, you speak the truth" said she.
"My heart consented. The deed
knots us together like the coil of a
serpent" They threw one glance at
the heap of death below to assure
themselves that it was not all a
dream,-then turned from the fatal
precipice and made their way back in
to the city arm in arm and heart in
heart
An agreement had been entered into
before the moonlight tragedy had TAX
en- place that the four friends should
meet next morning in the Church of
the Capuchins to study together
Guido's famous picture of St. Michael
and Satan. Thither at the hour agreed
upon Miriam and Donatello turned
their steps. Conscious of secret guilt
they we're the more anxious to keep
a casual engagement. But, when they
drew near the church, Kenyon alone
was waiting for them. Hilda had
Ipromised to be of the party, but she
was not there. The three pushed
back the heavy curtain and entered
the nave, only to have their gaze ar
rested at once by conspicuous OBJ
ject. On slightly elevated bier lay
the body OF a dead monk, tall candles
burning at his head and feet. The
rigid figure was clad In the brown
WOODEN frock of the Capuchins, with
the hood drawn over the head but sc
as to leave the features uncovered
Something seemed to act like a mag
net upon Miriam. She passed between
two Of the lighted candles and looked
down. my Cod" she murmured
what is this? ?" She grasped Dona
ltello's hand and felt him give a con
vulsive shudder No wonder thai
their blood curdled. The dead face o.
half-closed eyelids was the same Wis
age that had glared upon their naked
souls the night before as Donatellt
; had flung him over the precipice
What did it mean? Kenyon drew
near, preceived their agitation, anc
started to say something. But Miriam
: ,laid her finger to her lips and quietl,
: said, Hush From the shadow,
church the three emerged into thu
, Roman sunlight, Kenyon to 20 il
search of Hilda, but leaving a darke
shadow still to settle down upon tn
lovers. The young Italian was petri
, fled with horror. Miriam tried t.
, cheer him, assuring him Of her INDY
, ing love. But she met with no re
; Spouse. They parted, almost a
, strangers, it being agreed that Dona
' tello should seek his castle in tn
mountains.
4 went to pay long-planned visit. H
, found the poor faun sadly changed
: The idea of a lifelong penance ha
. taken firm possession of Donatelle
j He was intent on finding some mett
; cd of self-torture. Kenyon, KNOWN
4 now something of what had happened
] be in the public square of Perugia o
o a specified day, near the statue c
D Pope Julius. There the lovers me
b again The sense Of their mutua
J. crime had stunned. but not .destroye
j the youths affection. They needle
! one another. Kenyon cheered and el
j !couraged them. Their two lives FLOW
z ed together and the great bronz
i. statue of the Pope, his hand on
4 stretched in a papal benediction, b
r meath which they had met, appeare
l. to impart a blessing on their marriag,
d So Kenyon went back to Rome
n WOO the gentle Hilda, whose sensitiv
c soul was burdened by the knowledg
/. OF the awful guilt of her friends. Th
r secret weighed upon her heavily. Sh
:. sought the seclusion of great churcl
d es, and at last Protestant though sh
2 was, she found relief by pouring OF
4 in the confessional at st. Peters th
d story Of the crime that she had wi
i. messed.
e But for Miriam and Donatello til
b end was not yet reached. The sens
t. of sin had awakened in the faun-uk
q youth what human love could not a
8 suage Miriam could not rid him
the idea that he must surrender hin
r self to justice. Kenyon had glimpse
of the pair, now taking part In re
a elries, but again concealed benin
t habiliments of woe. In a desolai
Q spot In the Campagna Miriam at La
disc1osad fha mystary surrounding he