El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-23

and made their way back into the city
: arm IN arm and heart in heart
An agreement had been entered into
before the moonlight tragedy had
taken place that the four friends
should meet next morning IN the
church Of the Capuchins 10 study to-
gether Guides famous picture OF st.
Michael and Satan Thither al the
hour agreed upon Miriam and Dcna-
tello turned their steps Conscious Of
secret guilt they were the more
anxious to keep a casual engagement
But, when they drew near the church.
Kenyon alone was waiting for them
Hilda had promised 10 be Of the party.
but she was not there. The three
pushed back the heavy curtain and en-
tered the nave, only to have their
gaze arrested at once by-a conspicuous
object On a slightly elevated bier
lay the body OF a dead monk, tail
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 so as to leave the features IN
covered. Something seemed TO act
ike a magnet upon Miriam She
passed between two OF the lighted
candles and looked down. Ny Godl"
she murmured. what Is this2" She
grasped Donatello's hand and felt him
give a convuisive shudder. No wonder
that their blood curdled. The dead
face Of the monk gazing at uiem be-
meath its half closed eyelids was the
same visage that had glared upon
their naked souls the night before as
Donateuo hid flung him over the
preclpice. What did Il meant Kenyon
drew near, perceived their agitation
and started to say something. But
Miriam laid her finger 10 her lips and
quietly said, Hush" From the
I-T-
into the Roman sunlight. Kenyon to
go in search CT Hnda. but leaving a
darker shadow still TO settle down
upon the lovers. The young Italian
was petrified with horror. Miriam
tried 70 cher him, assuring him OF her
undying love But she met with no
response. They parted. almost as
natello should seek his castle in the
mountains
Thither IN the summer, Kenyon
went 70 pay a long-planned visit he
found the poor faun sadly changed
The idea OF a life long penance had
taken firm possession Of Donatello.
Re was intent on finding some method
OF self torture Kenyon. knowing now
something Of what had happened. ar
ranged with Miriam that shs should
be IN the public square Of Perugia on
speclried day, near the statue Of
Pope Julius There the lovers met
again The sense OF their mutual
crime had stunned, but not destroyed
the youths affection. They needed
one another Kenyon cheered and en-
couraged them Their two lives
flowed together and the great bronze
statue OF the Pope, his hand OUT
reached in a papal benediction. be-
meath which they had met. appeared
70 impart blessing on their mar
rage.
So Kenyon went back 70 Rome 70
WOO the gentle Hildas whose sensitive
soul was burdened by the knowledge
OF the awful guilt OF her friends. The
secret weighed upon her heavily.
she sought the seclusiol Of great
churches and at last Protestant
though she was. she found relief by
pouring out in the confessional at st.
Peters the story OF the crime that she
had witnessed.
But for Miriam and DonatelIo the
END was not yet reached The. sense
OF sin had awakened IN the raun-lflze
youth what human love could not
assuage- Miriam could not rid him Of
the Idea that he must surrender him
self TO justice Kenyon had gumpses
OF the pair. now taking part in revel-
ries. but again concealed behind
habliments OF woe In a desolate SPOT
~ -A-1 ka-4-lp aElla miriam az last dis
closed the mystery surrounding her
own past Il was the story Of a mar
rage to be forced upon her from
which her soul reVolted. She escaped. I
though not without unjust suspicious
d crime. Concealing her Identity
she gave herself to art Then. Ia the Z
-atacombs, the man whom she
.oathed. half brute and half religious /
had reappeared. logging her +
steps and threatening to disclose her (
% the world,-with what catastrophe I
he sculptor knew.
AS for Hilda and Kenyon. they went I
forward into happiness, their pure
owe consecrating AL they did. But /
sven as they plighted their troth to
lne another In the Pantheon before /
he tomb OF Raphael. upon turning
lround they saw a kneeling figure on .
he pavement It was Miriam, who
cached out her hands in a blessing.
1ut a blessing which seemd also to
'epel As for Donatello. remorse
.ventuaily worked its way and when
leard OF last he was in a dungeon as
ieep as that beneath the Castle OF
t. Angelo.-Copyright, 1873. by Post
Publishing Co. (The Boston Post).
Printed by permission OF. and ar
'angement with. Houghtou. MifEin
Z Co, authorized publishers. Pub 4
lshed By special arrangement with
ne Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. All n
lights reserved
This Ia the last NJ the -r-s.- ~