14
THE STHSTDAY OiREGCXKIAT, POUTIAsI PEBJBUAlT" 17. 1893.
A TOUCH OF FROST.
"3t yesterday- the leaves, the teplcl rills.
The mu4iy furrows wore a summer haze;
The cattle rested from the yeHow rays,
BeagVooet and careless of the piping bills.
Xo breath. o ernen of the far-off Ills
Shuddered the air. Today the hardened ways
He drifted vrHh the dead of samroer days;
The year lies sheaved upon the autumn hills.
"There te the Hsn-burnt stacks the beauty
steeps
Of beam aad shower, dawn, and silver dew.
Whisper of -mtoiy dttak. and Hpward deeps
Of roooirtigfct whon the air Is crystal blue.
The bending farmer gathers Into heaps
A harvest wHfa the summer woven through."
Harrison S. Morris.
Cbfoflicles of
Collet Mom
Br Anthony Hope Author of "A Pris
oner of Zeaila," Etc.
(Copyright. 1S83. by Anthony Hope.)
CHAPTER IV.
COUNT ANTONIO AND THE "WIZ
ARD'S DRUG.
Now in the third year of his outlawry
the heart of Count Antonio of Monte Vel
luto had crown very sad. For it was
above the space of a year since he had
heard news of the Lady Lucia, and hard
upon two since he had seen her face, so
closely did Duke Valentine hold her pris
oner in Fornlola. And as he walked to
and fro among his men in this hiding
place In the hills, his face was sorrowful.
Yet, coming where Tommaslno and Bena
sat together, he stopped and listened to
their talk with a smile. For Bena cried
to Tommaslno:
"By the saints, my lord. It is even so.
My father himself had a philtre from him
31 years ago. and though before, my
mother had loathed to look on my father,
yet now here am I nine and twenty years
of age and a child born in holy wedlock.
Never tell me that it is foolishness, my
lord."
"Of whom do you speak, Bena?" asked
Antonio.
"Of the wizard of Baratesta, my lord.
Aye, and he can do more than make a
love potion. He can show you all that
shall come to you in a mirror, and make
the girl you love rise before your eyes as
though the shape were good flesh and
blood."
"All this is foolishness, Bena," said
Count Antonio.
"I have heard of this man before," con
i.nued the count, "and marvelous stories
are told of him. Now I leave what shall
come to me In the hands of heaven, for
to know is not to alter, and knowledge
w Ithout power is but fretting of the heart
but" And Antonio broke off.
"Ride then, if you can, safely, and beg
him to show you Lucia's face," said Tom
masino, "for to that I think you are mak
ing." 'in truth I was, fool that I am," said
Antonio.
So Antonio, albeit that he was in part
ashamed, learnt from Bena where the
t. izard dwelt on the bridge that is outside
the sate of Baratesta for the syndic
would not suffer such folk to live inside
the wall and one evening he saddled his
horse and rode alone, to seek the wizard.
The wizard, who was a very old man. and
tall and marvelously lean, met him at the'
door of the house, crying. "I looked for
jour coming, my lord," And he took
Antonio's horse from him and stood it in
a stable beside the house, and led An
tonio in, saying again, "Your coming was
known to me, my lord," and he brought
Antonio to a chamber at he back of the
bouse, having one window, past which the
river, being then in flood, rushed with
noise and fury. There w ere many strange
things in the chamber, skulls and the
forme of animals from far-off countries,
great Jars, basins and retorts, and in one
corner a mirror, half draped In a black
cloth.
"And you knew that I rode hither to
night?" "Aye," said the wizard, "for the stars
told me of the coming of some great man,
and I turned from my toil and watched for
sou."
"What toll?" asked Antonio. "See,
here is money, and I have a quiet tongue.
What toll?"
The wizard pointed to a heap of broken
and bent pieces of base metal.
"I was turning dross to gold," said he,
In a fearful whisper.
"Can you do that?" asked Antonio,
smiling.
"I can, my lord, though but slowly."
"And hate to love?" asked Count An
tonio. The wisard laughed harshly.
"Let them that prize love seek that,"
said lie. "It is not for me."
"I woukl it had been, then 'had my er
rand here been a better one. For I am
come but to see the semblance of a
maiden's face."
The wisard frowned as he said:
"I had looked for a greater matter. For
ou have a great enemy, my lord, and I
have means of power for freeing men of
tneir enemies."
And Count Antonio, knowing that he
spoke of some dark device of spell or
I tower, answered:
"Enough! enough! For I am a mnn of
Quick temper, and it is not well to tell me
of wicked things lest I be tempted to an
ticipate heaven's punishment."
"1 shall not die at your hands, my lord,"
said the wisard. "Come, will you see
what shall befall you?"
"Nay, I would but see my lady's face;
for a great yearning for that has come
ooi me, and. for all I take shame in it,
it has brought me here."
Oii shall see it. then and if you see
more It is not by my will." said the
vizard; and he quenched the lamp that
burnt on the table and flung a handful
of some powder on the charcoal in the
stove: and the room was fllled with a
thick, sweet-smelling vapor. And the
wisard tore the black cloth oft the face
cf the mirror and bade Antonio look
Meadily t the mirror, and Antonio
looked till the vapor that enveloped ail
tlie room cleared off from the face of the
mirror, and the wisard, laying his hand
on Antonio's shoulder, said: "Cry her
name thrice." And Antonio thrice cried
"l.ucia," and again waited. And some
thing: came on the polished surface
of the mirror, but the wisard muttered
low and angrily, lor it was not the form
of Lucta nor of any maiden; yet pres
ently he cried low , "Look, my lord, look:'
and Antonio, looking, saw a dim and
Fhadowy face in the mirror: and the
wisard began to tHag his body to and fro,
uttering traige whispered words, and the
rweat stood in beads on his forehead.
"Now. now!" he cried. And Antonio,
with heating heart, fastened his gase on
the mirror. And as the story goes (I
ouch not for it), he saw, though very
dimly, the face of Lucia; but more he
also saw, for beside the face was his own
face, aad there was a rope about his
neck, end the half-shaped arms of a gib
Kt seemed to hover above him. And
he shrank hack tor an instant.
"What more you see is not by my will,"
said the wisard.
"What shall come is only by God's
will," said Antonio. "I have seen her
face. It is enough."
"Bnt the wisard ctntched. him by the
arm, whispering in terror:
"It is a gibbet, aad the rope is about
yoar neck."
"Indeed. I seem to have worn it there
these three years, and it is not drawn
tlrht yet. nor is It drawn In the mir
ror." "Yon have good courage." said the
wizard, with a gran smile; "I will show
you mope." and he fhtntr another pow
der on the charcoal, and the shapes
passed from the mirror. But another
cime, and the wisard. with a great cry.
fell suddenly on Ms knees, exolalmlng:
"Thy mook me, they mock mat Tbey
sM what they wilt, not what I will.
Ah, my lord, whose is the face In the mir
ror?" and he seized Antonio again by the
arm.
"It is your face," said Antonio, "and it
Is the face of a dead man, for his jaw has
dropped, and his features are drawn and
wrung."
And the wizard burled his face in his
hands, and so they rested awhile till the
glass of the mirror cleared, and Antonio
felt the body of the wizard shaking
against his knee. But on the Instant, as
he moved, there came a sudden loud
knocking at the door of the house, and
he stood still. And the wizard lifted his
head to listen.
"They will beat the door down if you
do not open." said Antonio. "I will hide
myself here behind the mirror, for I can
not pass them without being seen, and
if I am seen here it Is like enough that
the mirror will be proved rignt both for
you and me."
So Antonio hid himself, crouching down
behind the mirror, and the wizard, hav
ing lighted a small, dim lamp, went on
trembling feet to the door. And present
ly he came back, followed by two men,
whose faces were hid in their cloaks. And
one of them sat down, but the other stood
and flung his cloak back over his shoul
ders, and Antonio, observing him from
behind the mirror, saw that he was Lo
renzo, the duke's favorite.
And Lorenzo spoke to the wizard, say
ing: "Why did you not come sooner?"
"There was one here with me," said
the wizard, whose air had become again
composed.
"And he is gone. For we would be
alone."
"He is not to be seen, 'answered the
wizard, "utterly alone here you cannot
be." And when he heard this, Lorenzo
turned pale. for he did not like this mid
night errand to the wizard's chamber.
I
ILL, &, . fC 111 mm.
ff$l$ " V K r "Ov 'TO' "infill
lLsHC-Sfe&Lsily
JIE SAW THE FACE OF LUCTA.
"But no man is here," said the wiz
ard. A low, hoarse laugh came from the man
who sat.
"Tricks of the trade, tricks cf the
trade,' 'said he, and Antonio started to
hear his voice. "Be sure that where a
prince, a courtier, and a cheat are to
gether the devil makes a fourth. But
there is no need to turn pale over it,
Lorenzo."
And when the wizard heard, he fell on
his knees; for he knew that it was Duke
Valentine who spoke.
"Look you fellow," pursued his high
ness, "you owe me much thanks that
you are not hanged already; for by put
ting an end to you I should please my
clergy much and the Syndic of Baratesta
not a little. And if you do not obey me
tonight, you shall be dead before morn
ing." "What would my lord, the duke?" asked
the wizard.
"There is a certain drug," said the duke,
turning round toward the wizard, "which
if a man drink or a woman, Lorenzo he
can walk on his legs, use his arms and
seem to be waking and in his right mind,
yet is his mind a nothing, for he knows
not what he does, but does everything
that one being with him may command,
and without seeming reluctance, and
again, when bidden he will seem to lose
all power of movement and to lack his
senses. I saw the thing once when I so
journed with the Lord of Florence."
"Aye, there is such a drug," said the
wizard.
"Then give it to me," said the duke,
"and I give you your life and 50 pieces of
gold. For I have great need of it."
Now when Antonio heard the duke'3
words he was seized with great fear, for
he surmised that It was against Lucia
that the duke meant to use this drug, and
noiselessly he loosened his sword in its
sheath, and bent forward again to listen.
"And though my purpose is nothing to
you, yet it is a benevolent purpose. Is It
not, Lorenzo?"
"It is your will, not mine, my lord,"
said Lorenzo, in a troubled voice.
"Mine shall be the crime, then, and
yours the reward," lnughed the duke
"For I will give her the drug, and she
shall wed you."
Then Antonio doubted no longer of
what was afoot, nor that a plot was laid
whereby Lucia should be entrapped into
marriage with Lorenzo, since she could
not be openly forced. And anger burnt
hotly In him. And he swore that sooner
than suffer the thing to be done, he would
kill the duke there with his own hand, or
himself be slain.
"And you alone know of this drug now,
they say," the duke went on, "for the
wizard of Florence is dead. Therefore
give it to me quickly."
But the wizard answered:
"It will not serve my lord that I give
you the drug. With my own hand I must
give it to the person whom you would
thus affect, and I must tell them what
they should do."
"Give it to me, for I know the appear
anco of it." said the duke.
Then the wisard having again protested,
wont to a certain shelf, and from -some
hidden recess took a small phial and came
with It to the duke, saying:
"Blame me not if its operation fails."
The duke examined the phial closely and
also smelt its smell.
"It is the same," said he; "it will do its
work."
Then Count Antonio, who believed no
more than the duke what the wisard had
said, was very sorely put to It to stay
quietly where he was; for if the duke rode
away n-w with the phial he might well
find means to give it to the Lady Lucia
before any warning could be conveyed to
her. And. although the danger was great.
et his love for Lucia, and his fear for her.
overcame his prudence, and suddenly he
leapt forth from behind the mirror, draw
ing his sword and crying:
"Give me that drug, my lord, or your life
must answer for It."
But fortune served him 111. for as the
duke and Lorenzo shrank back at his sud
den appearance, and he was about to
spring upon them, behold his foot caught
in the folds of the black cloth that had
been over the mirror and now lay on the
ground, and falling forward, he struck
his head on the marble rim that ran
around the charcoal stove, and having
fallen with great force lay there like a
man dead. And with loud cries of tri-
umph, the duke and Lorenzo having
drawn their swords, ran upon him; and
the duke planted his foot upon his neck,
crying:
"Heaven sends a greater prize. At last,
at last I have him! Bind his hands, Lorenzo."
! And Lorenzo bound Antonio's hands as
he lay there, a. log for stillness. And the
duke turned to the wizard, and a smile
bent his lips.
When the wizard of Baratesta beheld
the look that was on Duke Valentine's
face, he suddenly cried aloud, "The mir
ror, the mirror!" and sank in a heap on
the floor, trembling in every limb. For he
remembered the aspect of his own face
in the mirror, and knew that the hour
of his death had come. And he feared
mightily to die. Therefore he besought
the duke very piteously and told him
again that from his hand alone could the
drug receive Its potency. And so earnest
was he In this that at last he half won
upon the duke, so that the duke wavered.
And, as he doubted, his eye fell upon An
tonio; and he perceived that Antonio was
recovering from his swoon.
"There is enough for two," said he, "In
the phial; and we will put this thing to
the test. But If you speak or move or
make any sign whatever, in that moment
you shall die."
Then the duke poured half the contents
of the phial into a glass and came to Lo
renzo and whispered to him:
"If the drug works on him, and the
wizard is proved to lie, the wizard shall
die; but we will carry Antonio with us;
and when I have mustered my guard I
will hang him in the square, as I have
sworn. But if the drug does not work,
then we must kill him here. Therefore,
if the operation of the drug fall, run him
through with your sword when I give the
signal."
Now Antonio was recovering from his
swoon, and he overheard part of what
the duke said, but not all. As to the
death of the wizard he did not hear, but
he understood that the duke was about
to test the effect of the drug on him, and
that If it had no effect he was to die,
whereas If its operation proved sufficient
he should go alive, and he saw here a
chance for his life in case what the wiz
ard had said should prove true.
"Drink, Antonio," said the duke, softly.
"No harm comes to you. Drink; it is a
refreshing draft."
And Antonio drank the draft, the wizard
looking on with parted lips and with
great drops of sweat running from his
forehead and thence down his cheeks to
his mouth, so that his lips were salt
when he licked them. And the duke, hav
ing seen that Lorenzo had his sword ready
for Antonio, took his stand by the wizard
with the dagger from the belt in his hand.
And he cried to Antonio, "Rise." And
Antonio rose up. And the wizard started
a step toward him, but the duke showed
his dagger and said to Antonio: "Will
you go with him to Fornlola, Antonio?"
And Antonio answered, "I will go."
"Do you love me, Antonio?" asked the
duke. "Aye, my lord," answered Anto
nio. "Yet you have done many wicked things
against me."
"True, my lord," said Antonio.
"Is your mind then changed?"
"It Is, my lord," said Antonio.
"Then leap two paces into the air," said
the duke. And Antonio straightway
obeyed.
"Go down on your knees and crawl,"
and Antonio crawled, smiling secretly to
himself.
Then the duke bade Lorenzo mount An
tonio on his horse, and he commanded
the wizard to follow him; and they all
went out where the horses were, and the
three mounted and the wizard followed;
and they came to the end of the bridge,
and the duke turned sharp round and rode
by the side of the rushing river. And,
suddenly pausing, he said to Antonio:
"Commend thy soul to God and leap
in."
And Antonio commended his soul to God
and would have leapt in; but the duke
caught him by the arm even as he set
spurs to his horse, saying:
"Do not leap!" And Antonio stayed his
leap. And the duke, desirous to make a
final trial, cried again to Antonio: "Fling
yourself from your horse." And Antonio,
having his arms bound, yet flung himself
from his horse and fell prone upon the
ground, and lay there sorely bruised.
"It is enough," said the duke. "You lied,
wizard."
But the wizard cried: "I lied not, I lied
not. my lord. Slay me not, my lord. For
I dare not die."
But the duke caught him by the throat
and drove his dagger into his breast, till
the fingers that held the dagger were
buried in the folds of the wizard's doub
let: and the duke pulled out the dagger,
and. when the wizard fell, he pushed him
with his foot over the brink, and the body
fell with a loud splash into the river be
low. Then the duke set Antonio again on his
horse, and the three rode together toward
Fomiola.
Now, Antonio was puzzled what he
should do, for, having been in a swoon, he
knew not whether the duke had more of
the potion, nor could he tell with certainty
whether the potion would be powerless
against the senses of a weak girl as it had
proved against his own. And he said to
the duke:
"I pray you, my lord, give me more of
that sweet drink. For it has refreshed me
and set my mind at rest from all trouble."
"Nay, Antonio, you have had enough,"
said the duke, bantering him. "I have
another use for the rest." And they were
now nearing the gates of Fomiola. Then
Antonio began to moan pitifully, saying:
"These bands hurt my hands," and he
whined and did as a child would do,
feigning to cry. And the duke laughed in
bitter triumph, sajing to Lorenzo: "In
deed, it is a -princely drug that makes
Antonio of Monte Velluto like a peevish
child." And being now very secure of the
power of the drug, he bade Lorenzo loosen
the bands, saying to Antonio: "Take the
reins, Antonio, and ride with us into the
city." And Antonio answered: "I will,
my good lord."
Bat the duke was not minded to pro
duce Antonio to the people till all his
guards were collected and under arms, and
the people restrained by a. great show of
force. Therefore he bade Antonio cover
his face with his cloak, and Antonio, Lo
renzo's sword being still at his breast,
obeyed; and thus they rode ibroug"h the
gates of Fornlola and came to the duke's
palace; and Antonio did all that the duke
ordered, and babbled foolishly like a be
wildered child when the duke asked him
questions, so that his highness laughed
mightily, and coming Into the garden, sat
down in his favorite place by the fish
pond, causing Antonio to stand over
against him.
"Indeed, Antonio," said he, "I can do
other than hang you."
"If it be your pleasure, my lord." ,
"And then Lucia shall drink of this won
derful drug also, and she will be content
and obedient, and will gladly wed Lorenzo.
Let us have her here now and give it to
her without delay. You do not fret at
that Antonio? You love not the obstinate
girl?"
"In truth, no," laughed Antonio, "she
is nought to me!" And he put his hand
to his head, saying perplexedly: "Lucia?
Yes, I remember that name. "Who was
she? "Was she aught to me, my lord?"
Then Lorenzowondered greatly, and the
doubts that he had held concerning the
power of the wizard's drug melted away,
but he did not laugh like the duke, but
looked on Antonio and said sadly to the
duke, sinking his voice:
"Not thus should Antonio of Monte Vel
luto have died."
"So he dies. I care not how," answered
the duke. "Indeed, I love to see him a
witless fool even while his body is yet
alive. O rare wizard, I go near to repent
ing having done justice on you! Go, Lo
renzo, to the officer of the guard and bid
him fetch hither the Lady Lucia, and we
will play the pretty comedy to the end."
And the duke sat with the phial in his
hand, smiling at Antonio, who crouched
at his feet. And Antonio drew himself on
his knees quite close to the duke, and
looked up to his face with a foolish.empty
smile. And the duke, laughing, buffeted
him again. Then with a sudden spring he
was upon the duke, and he seized the phil
tre from the duke's hand and seized the
duke's head in his hands, and wrenched
his jaw open, and he poured the contents
of the phial down the duke's throat; and
the duke swallowed the potion. Then An
tonio fixed a stern and commanding
glance on the duke, nailing his eyes to the
duke's, and the duke's to his, and he said
in a voice of command: "Obey! Y'ou have
drunk the potion!" And still he kept his
eyes on the duke's. And the duke, much
amazed, suddenly began to tremble, and
he sought to rise; and Antonio took his
hands off him, but he said: "Sit there,
and move not." Then, although Antonio's
hands were no longer upon him, yet his
highness did not rise, but after a short
struggle with himself, sank back in his
seat, and stared at Antonio like a bird
fascinated by a snake. And he moaned:
"Take away your eyes: they burn my
brain. Take them away!" But Antonio
gazed all the more Intently at him, say
ing, "Be still, be still." And holding up
his arm in enforcement of his command.
And Antonio took from the duke the
sword that he wore and the dagger where
with the duke had killed the wizard of
Baratesta, the duke making no resist
ance, but sitting motionless with bewild
ered stare. Then Antonio said:
"Be still and speak not until I return
and bid you," and he suddenly left the
duke and ran at the top of his speed
along under the wall of the garden, and
came where the wall ended, and there was
a flight of steps leading up on the top of
the wall. Running up them, Antonio
stood for a moment on the wall, and the
river ran 50 feet below. But he heard a
cry from the garden, and beheld Lorenzo
rushing up to the duke, and behind Lo
renzo the captain of the guard and two
men, who led a maiden in white. Then
Count Antonio, having commended him
self to the 'keeping of God, leapt head
foremost from the, top of the wall into
the river, and' hl6Aody clove the water
as an arrow cleaves the wind.
Now Lorenzo marveled greatly at what
he saw, and came to the duke crying:
"My lord, what does this mean? Antonio
flies!" But the duke answered nothing,
sitting with empty eyes and lips set in a
rigid smile; nor did he move. "My lord,
what ails you?" cried Lorenzo. Yet the
duke did not answer. Then Lorenzo's
eyes fell on the fragments of the phial
which lay broken on the rim of the fish
pond, where Antonio had flung it, and he
cried out in great alarm: "The potion!
Where is the potion?" And the duke did
not answer. And Lorenzo was much be
wildered, and in sore fear; for it seemed
as though his highness senses were gone.
And Lorenzo said: "By some means he
has drunk the potion."
And he ran to the duke and caught him
by the arm and shook him violently,
seeking to arouse him from his stupor
and calling his name with entreaties and
crying: "He escapes, my lord, Antonio es
capes: rouse yourself, my lord he es
capes!" But the duke did no more than
lift heavy, dull eyes to Lorenzo's face in
puzzling inquiry. And, seeing the strange
thing, the captain of the guard hurried
up, and with him the Lady Lucia, and
she said, "Alas, my lord is ill!" and, com
ing to his highness, she set her cool, soft
hand on his hot, throbbing brow, and
took perfume from a silver flask that hung
at her girdle and wetted her handkerchief
with it and bathed his brow, whispering
soft words to him as though he had been
a sick woman.
But Lorenzo cried angrily, "I, at least
have my senses!" And he said to the cap
tain of the guard, "I must needs stay
with his highness, but Antonio of Monte
Velluto has leant from the wall Into the
river. Go and bring him here, dead or
alive, and I will be your warrant to the
duke."
Now, the gentleman wno commanded
the duke's guard at this time was a
Spaniard, by name Coroqua, and he was
young, of high courage, -and burning to
do some great deed. And he ran swiftly
through the hall and called for his horse,
and drawing his sword, rode alone out of
the city, and across the bridge, seeki.ig
Antonio, and saying to himself, "Vhat
a thing if I take him! And if he slay
me why, I will show that a gentleman
of Andalusia can die."
Yet he thought for an instant of the
house where his mother lived, then he
scanned the plain and he beheld a man
running some half-mile away; and the
man seemed to be making for the hill on
which stood the ruins of Antonio's house
that the duke had burnt. Then Coroqua
set spurs to his horse, but the man, whom
by his stature and gait Coroqua knew
to be Antonio, ran very swiftly, and was
not overtaken before he came to the
hill, and he began to mount by a very
steep, rugged path, and he was out of
sight in the trees -when Coroqua came to
the foot. And Coroqua's horse stumbled
among the stones and could not mount
the path, and Coroqua leaped off his back
and ran on foot up the path, sword in
hand. Once he came in sight of Antonio
round a curve of the path, three parts of
the way up the hill. And Antonio was
leaning against the trunk of a tree and
wringing the water out of his cloak.
And Coroqua drew near, his sword m
hand, and with a prayer to the Holy
Virgin on his lips. And he trembled not
with fear, but because fate offered a
great prize and his name would be famed
throughout Italy If he slew or took An
tonio of Monte Velluto; and for fame,
even as for a woman's smile, a young
man will tremble as a coward quakes for
fear.
The Count Antonio stood as though
sunk in a reverie, yet, presently, hearing
Coroqua tread, he raised his eyes, and
smiling kindly on the young man. he said:
"What would you with me, sir? For I
do not think I know you."
"I am of Andalusia, and by name Cor
oqua. I am captain of his highness
guard, and I come to bring you, alive or
dead, to his presence."
"And are you "come alone on that cr-
rand, sir?" asked Antonio, with a smile
that he strove to smother lest it should,
wound the young mans honor.
"David slew Goliath, my lord." said
the Spaniard with a bow.
The Count Antonio held out his hand
to the young man and said courteously.
"Sir, your valor Jieecls no proof and
fears no reproach. I pray you suffer me
to go in peace; I would not fight -with
you, if I may avoid It honorably. For
what has happened has left me more in
the mood for thinking than for fighting.
Besides, sir, you are young, and far oft
in Andalusia, loving eyes and maybe
sparkling eyes, are strained to the hori
zon, seeking your face as you return."
"What is all that, my lord?" asked Cor
cqua. "I am a man, though a young one;
and I am here to carry jou to the duke."
And he touched Antonio's sword with his,
saying, "Guard yourself."
"It is with great pain and reluctance
thatT take my sword, and I call you to
witness of It; but if I must, I must," and
the count took up his position and they
crossed swords.
Now, Coroqua was well taught and
skillful, but he did not know the cun
ning which Antonio had learned at the
school of Giacomo in Padua, nor had he
the strength and endurance of the count.
And Antonio would fain have wearied
him out and then, giving him some slight
wound to cover his honor, have left him
and escaped; but the young man came
at him impetuously and neglected to guard
himself while he thrust at his enemy;
once and again the count spared him, but
he did not know that he had received the
courtesy, and, taking heart from his im
munity, came at Antonio more fiercely
again, until at last Antonio, breathing a
sigh, stiffened his arm and, waiting warily
for the young man again to uncover him
self, thrust at his breast, and the sword's
point entered hard by the young man's
heart, and the young man staggered, and
would have fallen, dropping his sword,
but Antonio cast away his own sword and
supported him, stanching the blood from
the wound and crying: "God send I have
not killed him."
And on this speech came the voice of
Tommasino, saying carelesslv:
"Here, in truth, cousin, is a good
prayer wasted on a Spaniard."
And Antonio, looking up, saw Tom
masino and Beno. And Tommasino said:
"When you did not come back we set
out to seek you, fearing that you were
fallen into some snare or danger. And,
behold; we find you with this young
spaik; and how you missed his heart,
Antonio, I know not, nor what Giacomo,
of Padua, would say to such bungling."
But Antonio cared not for his cousin's
words, which were spoken in the banter
that a man uses to hide his true feel
ings; and they set themselves to save
the young man's life. But as they tended
him, there came shouts and the sound of
horses hoofs mounting the hill by the
winding road that led past Antonio's
house.
Then they laid the young man down,
Antonio stripping off his coat and mak
ing a pillow of it, and Bena brought
the horses, for they had led one with
them for Antonio in case there should
be need of It, and they were but just
mounted when 20 of the duke's guard
appeared 300 yards away, ascending the
crest of the hill. And they set spurs to
their horses and fled. And the duke's
guard returned together to the city, car
rying the young Spaniard, Coroqua, their
captain. But as they drew near to the
gates Coroqua opened his eyes and mur
mured some soft syllable name that they
could not hear, and having with failing
fingers signed the cross, turned on his
side and died. And they brought his body
to the great hall of the duke's palace.
There in the great hall sat Duke Val
entine; his face was pale and his frown
heavy, and he gazed on the dead body
of the young man and spoke no word.
Yet he had loved Coroqua, and out of
love for him had made him captain of
his guard. And he passed his hand
wearily across his brow, murmuring, "I
cannot think, I cannot think." And the
Lady Lucia stood by him, her hand rest
ing on his shoulder and her eyes full of
tears. But at last the strange spell which
lay on the senses of the duke passed
away; his eyes again had the light of rea
son in them; and he listened while they
told him how Antonio had himself escaped
and had afterward slain Coroqua on the
top of the hill where Antonio's house had
stood. And the duke was very sorry for
Coroqua's death; and he looked on them
all, saying:
"He made of me a log of wood, and
not a man. For when I had drunk and
looked in his eyes, it seemed to me that
my eyes were bound to his, and that I
looked to him for command, and to
know what I should do; and that he
was my god, and without his will I could
not move. Yes, I was then to him even
as he had seemed to be to me, as
we rode from Baratesta. And even now
I am not free from this strange affec
tion, for he seems still to be by me,
and if his voice came now, bidding me
do anything, by St. Prisian, I should
arise and do it. Send my physician to
me. And let this joung man lie in the
chapel of the Blessed Virgin in the ca
thedral, and tomorrow he shall be buried.
And when I am well, and this strange af
fection is passed from me, and hangs
no more like a fog over my brain, then
I will exact the price of his death from
Antonio, together with the reckoning of
all else in respect of which he stands in
my debt."
But the Lady Lucia, hearing this, said
boldly:
"My lord, it is by your deed and through
your devices that this gentleman has met
his death, and the blame of it is yours,
and not my Lord Antonio's."
At her bold and angry words Duke Val
entine was aroused, and the last of his
languor left him, and he glared at her
in wrath, crying: "Go to your house";
and he rose up suddenly from where he
had sat and went into his cabinet, Lo
renzo attending him. And on the day aft
er, he walked first behind the bier of Co
roqua, and his face was very pale, but
his air composed and his manner as it
was wont to be. For the spell had passed,
and he was his own man again.
Such is the story of the drug which
the wizard of Baratesta gave to Duke
Valentine of Fornlola. To me it seems
a strange tale, but yet it is well attested
and stands on as strong a rock of tes
timony as anything which is told con
cerning the count. The truth of it I do
not understand, and often I ponder of it
wondering whether the wizard of Bara
testa spoke truth, and why the drug which
had no power over Count Antonio bound
the senses and limbs of the duke in utter
torpor and helplessness. And once, when
I was thus musing over the story, there
came to my cell a monk of the abbey of
St. Prisian, who was an old man and
very learned, and I went to walk with
him In the garden, and, coming to the
fountain, we sat down by the basin, and
knowing that his lore was wide and
deep. I set before him all the story, ask
ing him if he knew of this strange drug.
But he smiled at me, and taking the cup
that lay by the basin of the fountain, he
filled It with clear, sparkling water and
drank a little, and held the cup to me,
saying:
"I think the wizard of Baratesta would
have wrought the spell as well with no
other drug than this."
"You say a strange thing," said I.
"And I do not marvel, 'said he, "that
the duke had no power over Count An
tonio, for he knew not how to wield such
power. But neither do I wonder that
power lay in Count Antonio to bend the
mind of the duke to his will. I warrant
you, Anselm, that the wonderful drug
was not difficult of compound."
Then I understood what he meant, for
he would have It that the drug was but
a screen and a pretense, and that the
power lay not in It but in the man that
gave it. Yet surely this is to explain
what is obscure by a thing more ob
scure, and fall3 thus Into a fault bated
of the logicians.
(To be continued.)
She praved for snow, that she thereby
Might have a sleigh ride with her swain;
And when the coulds o'ercast the sky
He prayed as- ardently for rain.
THEPBESTOENTSWIFE
MRS. ABRAHAM LIXCOLN WAS A
BELLE BEFORE MARRIAGE.
A Woman of Refinement, Culture and
Bright Intellect, She Died of
Sorrow and Melancholy.
In recalling the wife of Abraham Lin
coln, It is difficult to determine whether
she shaped to any great extent the life
of the war president or not. A biogra
pher of the latter says "there is no doubt
that much of Lincoln's success was In a
measure attributable to Mrs. Lincoln's
acutenes3 and the stimulus or her influ
ence," and again he remarks that "If his
wife had been otherwise, he might never
have been president." But the latter as
sertion isn't as charitable as it sounds,
for it argued that domestic infelicity
threw Lincoln into the turmoil of politi
cal life.
I asked Frank B. Carpenter, the artist,
what he remembered of Mrs. Lincoln.
Mr. Carpenter lived at the White House
for several months, and was intimately
acquainted with the president's domestic
life.
"Mrs. Lincoln," he said, "was a much
cleverer woman than the public gave her
credit for. There-is no denying a quality
and quantity of high-splrltedncss in her
temperament that made itself felt.
"Mrs. Lincoln was a Miss Todd, you
know, of Kentucky. Her great-grandfather,
General Andrew Porter, was
major-general of the Pennsylvania mili
tia. General Levi Todd, another ances-
' U.j 1 WK"
3IKS. ABRAHAM LIXCOLX.
tor, was one of the first settlers in Ken
tucky, and successor to Daniel Boone.
Her father was a bank president, and
served with distinction in both branches
of the Kentucky legislature.
"She was a very brilliant woman, and
an excellent linguist, using French as eas
ily as her native tongue. In Springfield,
III., where she moved when a girl. Miss
Todd was undoubtedly the belle of the
town. Her very pretty face lighted up
so attractively, her tongue was so ready
and she carried herself with such buoy
ant Independence that her presence at any
social function assured the beaux a
charming time. As a dancer she was dis
tinguished among the girls of her set, and,
in fact, possessed such a number of so
cial graces and was so superior to Lin
coln in culture that her love for him
created great surprise at the time. 'Never
mind,' she used to say in the first days
of her married life, when they boarded at
$4 a week, 'he may be awkward, but he
will be president of the United States
some day.
"Mr. Herndon says she had rare in
sight into the motives which actuate men,
and fina power of analysis. It may have
been these gifts that enabled her to look
behind the physical clumsiness of her
fiance and thus appreciate his mental and
moral greatness.
"A cruel injustice done Mrs. Lincoln,"
continued Mr. Carpenter, "was on ac
count of her Southern birth, it being fre
quently urged that she aided and abetted
the Confederate troops and was at heart
a strong secessionist. This complaint was
without a shadow of foundation. Mrs.
Lincoln was too attached to her husband
to espouse any cause not his.
"You remember the story of their mar
riage?" "Not very clearly," I said.
"Why, you know, Lincoln, the groom.
"HE WAXTED TO DANCE TVITIT ME THE
JVOSXT U'AYAXD JIE J1DT
was missing on the day first arranged
for the ceremony. He was found some
days afterward in a serious mental con
dition, and Mr. Speed took him to Ken
tucky for a year and a half. His non-appearance
was a deep mortification to the
belie of Springfie'd, and she fancied the
world was pointing the finger of scorn at
her.
"Miss Todd's first meeting with her fu
ture husband has been humorously de
scribed by her. 'He met me at a party,
she said, 'and at last came awkwardly
forward and said, "Mis? Todd, I want to
dance with you the worst way." And with
a twinkle in her eye she added: And he
surely did. "
Lincoln's dancing, it may well be imag
ined, was not the piece do resistance of
his accomplishments.
Mr. Stanton, who was secretary of war,
used to tell how she took the wind out
of his sails once. When Early's division
was approaching and firing on Fort
Stevens, the fort was not very well pro
tected, as history knows, and the presi
dent and wife drove out there one after
noon. Mrs. Lincoln was very Interested,
and went out on the ramparts to view
the situation. She was in full view of
the Confederates, her skirts blowing to
the wind, and her whole attitude abso
lutely Intrepid., As soon as Mr. Lincoln
realized her dangerous position he at once
made her come down. Later, when Fort
Stevens had been captured. Secretary
Stanton, whom Mrs. Lincoln accused of
not providing sufficient forces at this
fortification, said: "Mrs. Lincoln, I want
a picture of you standing on the ram
ports reviewing the rebel troops."
"That is all right, she quickly retorted;
"If you had placed a few more old women
like myself there, you wouldn't have been
conquered."
"Was Mrs. Lincoln fond of entertain
ing?" I asked Mr. Carpenter.
"No. It was a remarkable fact that
she was less hospitable than any pre
vious mistress of the White House. No
one could ascertain the reason of this.
"She was extravagantly fond of dress,
and had more gowns than opportunities
to wear them, considering how little so
cial life she allowed herself. Chests were
kept filled to the brim with finery, if only
in rolls of rich material that she might
some day make up. Y'ou remember that
after the assassination she came to New
York to dispose of her clothes at auction,
claiming that congress had not allowed
her a sufficient appropriation.
"She was a devoted mother, fairly Idol
izing her boy 'Taddie' (Robert Todd Lin
coln). The loss of their son Willie was a
grief too deep for the president or herself
to refer to.
"Mrs. Lincoln's personnel was very pleas
ing. She was short, measured by her tall,
lanky husband, with brown hair, blue eyes,
fair skin and plump, round figure. Sho
was a convert to spiritualism before her
death, and even during the administra
tion held several seances with noted
mediums. Her later years were spent
abroad, in an unhappy state of health and-
with limited means. Congress gave her
a comfortable income, which was not al
ways wisely dispensed.
"She was wretched and despairing after
Mr. Lincoln's assassination. It was a
grief as uncontrollable as her temper had
been toward the man she loved so well.
Time had no healing in his wings for her
sorrow, and she died broken-hearted. She
had no daughter, and her mind, without
any intimate woman relative to confide In,
brooded over her grief, until death camo
to relieve her troubled spirit."
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