Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-08-25

WHICH tue manu- naQ not De0n lftet
She turned to her fellow-crImina
the youth so lately innocent. whor
she had drawn into her doom, an,
pressed him close, close to her bosom
with clinging embrace that brongh
their hearts together. eyes, DONATED
10, you speak the TRUTH" said she
my heart consented. The deed knot
US together like the coll Of serpent.
They threw one glance at the hear
of death below to assure themselves
that 1t was not all a dream-theE
turned from the fatal preclpice ant
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 to study to-
gether Guides famous picture of st.
Michael and Satan. Thither at the
hour agreed upon Miriam and Dona-
tello turned their steps. Conscious
Of secret guilt, they were the more
anxious to keep casual engagement
But, when they drew near the
church, Kenyon alone was waiting for
them. Hilda had promised 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 arrested at once by con-
spicuous object. On a slightly elevated
bier lay the dead body of 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
so 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 Godl" she murmured,
"what is this7" She grasped Dona-
tello's hand and felt him give a con.
vulsive shudder. No wonder that their
blood curdled. The dead face of the
monk gazing at them beneath its half
closed eyelids was the same visage
that had glared upon their naked souls
the night before as Donatello had flung
him over the precipice. What did 1t
mean? Kenyon drew near, perceived
their agitation, and started to say
something. But Miriam laid her
finger to her lips and quietly said,
Hush" From the shad0wy church /
the tree emerged into the Roman sun
light, Kenyon to go in search Of Hill
la, but leaving darker shadow still
10 settle down upon the lovers. The
Young Italian was petrified with hor-
'or. Miriam tried to cheer him, assur-
ng him of her undying love. But she
net with no response. They parted,
almost as strangers, it being agreed
hat Donatello should seek his castle
n the mountains.
Thither, in the summer, Kenyon
vent to pay a long-planned visit. He
ound the poor faun sadly changed.
The idea Of a lifelong penance had
AIKEN firm possession Of Donatello.
lie was intent on finding some meth
d of self-torture. Kenyon, knowing
ow something of what had happened,
ranged with Miriam that she should
e in the public square of Perugia on
specified day, near the statue OF
'ope julius. There the lovers met
gain. The sense Of their mutual
rime had stunned, but not destroyed
he youths affection. They needed
ne another. Kenyon cheered and en-
them. Their two lives flowed
'gether and the great bronze statue
the Pope, his hand outreached In
papal benediction, beneath which
ley had met, appeared to ilnpart q
esslng on their marriage.
So Kenyon went back to Rome to
90 the gentle Hilda. whose sensitive
'ul was burdened by the knowledge
the awful guilt Of her friends. The
'cret weighed upon her heavily. She
'ught the seclusion Of great churches,
Id at last, Protestant though she
as, she found relief by pouring out
the confessional at st. Peters the
DRY of the crime that she had wit
sSed.
But for Miriam and Donatello the
ID was not yet reached. The sense
sin had awakened in the faun-like
nth what human love could not as
age. Miriam could not rid him Of
e idea that he must surrender him
II to justice. Kenyon had glimpSeS
the pair, now taking part in revel.
IS, but again concealed behind habili-
snts Of woe. In desolate spot in
e (Campagna Miriam at last dis \
,sed the mystery surrounding her
n past. It was the story Of mar
lge to be forced upon her from which
r soul revolted. She escaped, though
t without unjust suspicious Of a
me. Concealing her identity she
We herself to art. Then, in the Cat
Dmbs, the man whom she loathed.
II brute and half religious maniac,
d reappeared, DIGGING her steps and
to disclose her to the
what CRtastrophe the
llptOr knew.
Is for Hilda and Kenyon, they went
ward into happiness, their pure 4
. eonsecrating ali they did. But \ n
N as they plIghted their troth to Z.
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