THE AMERICAN IN THE Clutch of Rome. iinn MII.MlMt.l HV "(.iiNIM" CIIM'Tl lt 111. KOMK IS THK M W WHKI.I). In the vast tail ot v!i vt n, hat! sMmliti5 the clli'p; a bail wheo lofty wiling bud l n Iitm-ii'J Centuries airo by a mUr band. Tin' ricMx civit'imt tf Mn'lifl Anfi-ln adorned tlu rl.hly lint, a walls, ami ttu niai-Mc rblul-tn, wlil.b tbochlM-l of l'rs.iw K L:td fhli)m-d, d culd, white and i.!iinx Uk n the animated nias of color, which ctuniri.'d the rcjirosi-nUtui tin earth of the meek and Umly Jcmi. Hod, the ivlor of warmth autl pa-sion, jiredoiulnaUx!. Tha popo. In rich Kiiiti!5ciU roU-s with the triple coronet llimhlnj; and gleaming like a jeweled rainbow on his weary bend, wan seated on the papal throne. At bin rlht, Cardinal Pizanl, and on hi left, Cardinal lietlllno. The one, pale, nervous, avtlc; and tho other, calm, voluptuous and a hundred fold more cruel. The minor formalltlett of the conven tion over, tho xmtl!l arose and slowly advanced a few pace, forward; his hands, clasped tightly together, rested on tho velvet folds of his robe. Ills ad dress to the assembled prelates was bit ter and caustic from the beginning to the end; and tho faces before him ex pressed, In turn, sympathy with tho speaker, and anger toward thot-e who had deprived him of his dearly Irolovod temporal power. "My enemies," he said, extending his arm in the direction of tho qulrliml, "have the effrontery to cry with Im pious mouth, that I am an enemy to the prosperity of Italy. I, the heud of our most holy church; I, whom Almighty God has appointed his vlee-gerent on earth, anl delegated the right and power to watch over and protect his children here on earth. An enemy to my country! My beautiful Italy the birthplace of the church. In Italy I was born; in Italy I have lived and reigned; and In Italy by the grace of our blessed lady will I roslgn the gift of life, and that which Is perishable about mo shall mingle with Roman dust. 1 am very old, and my spirit will soon take Its lllght from a prison house which time has worn away and rendered too fragile to hold It long. By the gruclousneis of my Heavenly Master I Lope to look down upon the kingdoms of tho earth, and on the papal throne I hope to see seated, with rock-Iiko hrm noss, a iK'po who will hold the reins of spiritual power in his riff ht hand, and In his left grasp securely the lines that guide the jiower temporal. That one ruler can drive theso two steeds safely and harmoniously over tho roads of government, which the united efforts of skilful workmen and gifted overseers must keep ever in perfect order I have no doubt. Alas! that throne will not be In Italy. From Homo, whore sho has sat like a sphinx watching the cen turies roll Into pnstotemity, the mother church must become an exile. Prepare a home fur her lu the new world, and see to it, I charge ye here assembled, that she bteal not away like a banished criminal, but with pemp and flying colors. "Before Ibis r.ew home can be pre pared, many diflirulties will present themselves, and obstacles more fierce than the dragons who guarded the fabled treasures of old, will have to be trampled out of life. I need not remind you of our Influence in the educational department of Canada. Forcing the Canadian government to restore us our stolen property, has unearthed a big bone of contention. Never mind, we will carry off the bone. With prophetic vision, I see Canada and the United States as one; Mexico, which we must never let slip from our grasp, will, in the march of years, fall into line. And, as thus are gathered together the rich fragments of the western hemisphere, we must cement them with our Koman faith into cne grand structure, that no chance storm of public sentiment, po litical or religious, can wreck. My ad vices from these distant lands are more satisfactory. Italy alone harbors the beast who seeks to devour the mother church. May her curse rest forever on this so-called prime minister, and all who follow in his lead. History has re peated itself. A sucreligious golden calf has been fashioned by these short sighted children of Israel. They have perpetuated acd io;tra?-mark tho word honored the memory of that renegade to the faith, that despoiler of sacred things, Giordano Bruno, by erecting a memorial statue under the very shadow of St. Peter's. It will at least, remind the faithful, that he, a living sedition, was made to suffer the just anger of our holy order. It is re corded (and I have no doubt of its truth) that high heaven rejected the very vapor of his burning body, and caused the heretical smoke to hide itself in the crevices of the earth. Insult after in sult is being daily hurled at the Vatican. How long high heaven will withhold Its vengeance, man cannot know." For over two hours the iron will of the pontiff sustained his aged frame as he spoke with a firm, low voice to his priestly audience. Nothing was for- goltu-o that the sacred college bad M-mli'i d todUou, and Cardinal l'1.ani waaao-lgmd the ll'oi of American cardinal, with insti-m-lion to leave Home at ontv. At hi fan well Interview with the ntt a tn:aU atom of bun an emotion came lt the surface. Whut little know lodg he pii.Mi.Md of the fueling called 'frlciuMilp," he bad learned by year of cIom- Intercoui-M.' with tliemanwh.it ro'v be one day tii'atl to fold around hiniKelf, liOt K-i aiiM! they were of the purple and i r.crus'.ed with jeao'f, m they t sprisitd the rank and aiwer of the wearer, they might Lave Ufa made of fiuk tioth. Some feebl. germ of feeling, t, fluttered Into life an he took a lit farewell of the many n.om and ha!I if tho Vatican, hal's in which prelates lilt J plotted and planned, mic eeeded and failtd for so many, many years. Cardinal lJetilino, had their places Ixvn changed, would have sighed to think that his ejes would rest no more on tho priceless contents of the Vatican, and for tho luxurious corner into which his princely person fitted so nicely. Not so, Pizanl. The Vatican and all it contained were part and par oel of the church. The adornments, which the brush and chisel of masters had furnished, appealed to no sensuous emotions. He was simply bidding an eternal adieu to ono phase of his life. As the great doors of tho paluce closed after him, avague something came over hlra which caused him to turn, after a few quick steps, and fix his glittering eyes upon tho vast pile, and then to linger an Instant on the great dome of St. Peter's. Afternoon service was being held, and people were passing in and out of its sucrcd portals. "1 have celebrated my last mass upon your holy altars, O, you CJuoen of Temples," ho muttered aloud. Some Impulse caused him to turn from tho church and glance up at a certain window of the Vatican; the holy father, his face pressed close against the glass, stood looking down upon him. Pl.anl turned instantly, closed his eyes tightly together two or threo times, and walked rapidly away from the vicinity of the papal home; his head bent forward and his tongue ever and anon gilding Bwlftly over his thin upper lip. A month later lound him one Sab bath morning conducting the services of high mass at the central altar of tho magnificent cathedral which he found awaitlug him In Washington. In tils temple it was tho queen of heaven re ceived the adoration and listened to tho devotions of her wealthy and fashion able subjects. A few of her humble do votees, attracted by a desiro to soe the new cardinal, wore scattered hither and thither, like intrusive weeds in sotno gorgeous bank of flowers. This critical congregation found noth Ing lacking. Pizanl fitted perfectly into the space left vacant by the death of Xlmenes, so perfect Is tho mechan ism of the church. The months rolled on; and Cardinal Pizanl ever wove around him the In tricate web, Into wh'ch his Jesuit sub tlety would draw the human Hies. In Rome, though wielding a Btrong in fluonce, ho had been one among many. In America he was tho head. Keenly ha lhe felt the power, and exultantly had throbbed his heart, when called to officiate at some ceremonial of tho church. He had proceeded don tho principal thoroughfare of tho city of Washing ton preceded by his own band and drum corps, while beside his elegant, open carriage, rode his mounted body guard of pontifical troops uniformed in red and white, with red Uhlan helmets on their heads, and armed with sabres and lances, from which floated red and white pennons. As he rode, the fiery eyes ot the prelate were reading a page from futurity's book. In time, many of the people who gazed, some with reveronce, some with curiosity, and others with scorn and contempt, should, with one accord, bow with uncovered head to the passing of him, their infallible ruler to be. The pomp and ceremony attendant on and Inseparable from his official duties over, and the severe black garments, which constituted his ordinary attire, substi tuted for tho gorgeous robes of office, he, at once, became the hard-working ascetio and ever vigilant priest, with no Insignia of rank to distinguish him from tho half dozen priests of his house hold, except a narrow line of blood-red silk around his slender neck. CHAPTER IV. TWO DEADLY SINS. The abbess of the convent of St. Ignaiius, Spain, lay dying; ths mid night bell was striking as her confessor hurried through the dimly lit corridors, which never again would give forth the echo of the footsteps of her who had glided so many years on various mis sions along their gloomy lengths. xVs the priest entered the room, two nuns arose from the bedside, made the sign of the cross and vanished. The practiced eye of the father saw that the spirit he had come to send forgiven to its rest was impatient to be gone. He took a phial from the bag he had brought in with him, and gave the dy ing nun a portion of its contents Under its potent influence the abbess was able to begin ber confession. Tho memories ot two deadly sins were clutching with ghastly fingers the heartstrings of the dying woman. The idolatrous love of her life that had lain like a dormant make In her boeoiu. ever warming inui uie rj aenanee tun- beam of iih iiiory, and t he ex-ape from the convent to a aere!igiou marriage of th.; girl entrurtt d to her care. The nun's voice was growicg very weak and h r word were eareely dia- tlnguiuhll a ber confe-sion ended. During the sh irt pau-e which followed, and wh'.I tho priest wa making ready to Is stow upon her tho Lvt rite of the church, !.t to k something from lav m nth be- pillow, and motioning to the priest-to u iw' nearer, p aced It in his hand, murmuring: D, stroy It, Father, 'lis the. Ut fet ter which binds me to earth." lire the ceremony of "extreme une-; tion" was fairly ended, the ablKjsa was dead. As soon as Krsible, tho priest cxnmi'icd the object which tho abbess had entrusted to him; it proved to be a fragile chain, on which was t-uspcuded a gold oval. Opened, it revealed on either side, a portrait. One, encircled by minute rubies, was that of a young woman, whoso dark beauty the flame liko setting seemed part and parcel of: the face opK)slte, was that of a man, also young and handsome, but betoken ing a nature calculating and colder than Its companion. A nature which might borrow warmth from another, as the H-arls took to themselves a roseate glow from tho rubies. The priest glanced from the likeness of the dead woman, as she had been, to the dead woman as she now was. "Mudrt de I Km," he murmured; "can It bo jwsslble?" He placed tho relic in a fold of his robe, summoned the nuus. and sped quickly away; pondering, as he went, on certain passages of the con fession ho had received. As he came to a bridge spanning a narrow, though deep turbulent stream, he stopped, drew forth tho locket, and gazed on the faces before him, which the vivid moon light seemed to endow with lile; the sorrowful tale bo had listened to had touched a tender chord in his heart, but the teaching of tho Jesuit was strong and deep-rooted. He had prom ised tho penitent to destroy the emblem of her weakness, but would its preser vation bo of future use to the church? Certain knowledge, he had gained to night, might be, but this bauble No, he could keep faith with the dead wo man and not injure Rome. So he cast the trinket into the water. A week after the death of the abbess of St. Ignatius, a Spanish bishop sought and obtained audience of the pope of Rome. The purpose of that audience was known to Cardinal Pizanl, in Washington as soon as practicable. Cardinal Pizanl was taking his daily walk in the most secluded portion of tho Episcopal palace grounds, the events which constituted the gain ar.d lntiuoH nf thA ten vears nf bis American life revolving in his mind, to thetsVift rhythm of his footsteps on the brick walk, when a packet, bearing a foreign postmark, was brought in. It was a letter from the papal secre tary acquainting him with the death of the Spanish abbess. It at o told hiin that the a' bess, in "-fc'xd-emis," had confessed to having aided the escape of a girl from her convent that she might be united to her Protestant American lover; that the girl had married her lover according to the rites of tho Pro testant church; that they were living in San Francisco, and tho husband was one of the wealthiest and most influen tial statesmen on the Pacific coast. The papal communication wai brief and contained few instructions. Like the pressing of an electric but ton, which sets the Innumerable wheels of some gigantic machinery in motion, Is a dark hint to the followers of Loyola About a month after Cardinal Pizani had been advised of the death of the Spanish abbess, a woman of decent ap pearance and of fair intelligence, and who occupied the position of chamber maid in the family of Senator Maxwell, of California, entered a confessional in one of the largest and wealthiest Cath olic churches in San Francisco. When she emerged from the church, her face portrayed varied emotions, which soon settled Into a general air of resignation as she reached the home of her em plover. Walking slowly over the grounds to wards the servant's entrance to the palatial residence, where she had been a trusted servant for several years, her glance rested in a peculiar manner on a group gathered together on the lawn under a scarlet flowered shrub. She waved her hand in response to a saluta tion from the children, who were taking their afternoon recreation, in charge of a governess, and who had chosen the gorgeous tree as a resting place for her charges, a precocious girl of nine years, and a girl and boy younger. In a short space of time after Mary Rooney, chamber-maid in the family of Senator Maxwell, had confessed her sins to the priest of St. Mary's, Alice Ayers, nursery governess in the same family, left her situation. With the art known only to woman, Mary Rooney had contrived to inspire Mrs. Senator Maxwell with the idea that Alice Ayers was no fit person to be entrusted with her children. In answer to an advertisement for a governess inserted in a daily paper, a woman appeared at the home of Senator Maxwell one afternoon, and being ushered into a small reception room ank Into the velvet depths of the near- j est chair that aeemed to sty, ' I have come to itay. 1 he pale tan co'or of her dress, and her bronze colored hair harmonized well with the delicate blue of the chair. Sum, Mr. Maxwell, with a silken rustle, came into the room. A lorely woman, of the pure Caj-lillan typo, whose great blue eyes were held in a fixed gas by the dark je'lowish orbs of the woman who roe ut her cn'rance and saluted her. Dora Dillon, with quiet grace.handed Mrs. Maxwell a writ'.t o re-.-ommenda tion: the signature was that of a wealthy society lady of her acquaintance, a launch Catholic. After a few com- monpla.'e questions, Mrs. Maxwell asked: "Voar religion plei-ae?" ' llomun Catholic, by education:" iiawered Miss Dillon in an Indifferent tone. Tnen, quickly "Of course, my religion, If I take charge of your chil dren, will lie a thing apart. General hrlstlan principles and moral training will be my prerogative only." ' Oh, certainly; that is all that is re quired, and we are not bigoted to any particular faith. My husband is a Presbyterian, and Jean, my eldest girl, attends Sunday school at Dr. McBride's church. We have a pew there, and oc casionally my husband and I attend. I was once a Roman Catholic too." "You have renounced it?'' said Miss Dillon, with a smile. "Oh, no;" said Mrs. Maxwell lightly, 'my religion has been a matter of so much indifference to me of late years, that 1 have not taken the trouble to re nounce it, as regards one particular form, or as a whole." "Oh," said Dora Dillon, with a little shrug of the shoulders, "religion is a good thing in tho abstract, but let us talk of those embryo men and women I saw In the grounds with their nurse, as I came in." When Dora Dillon left the homo of Senator Maxwell, it wa-j as tho gover ness elect to his children. Her duties to begin as soon as possible. Her first move on leaving tho mansion, by way of preparing herself for her new posi tion, was to visit the residence of the ector of St Mary's. "Perform this mission as faithfully and as well as you have others en trusted to you, my daughter, and the blessed protection of the holy church will shadow you always," were the part ing words of the silken voiced priest. CHAPTER V. A PRIESTLY GAME. Cardinal Pizani read, with grim satis faction, tho letter from Archbishop O'Conor of San Francisco, apprising him that the outlines of another churchly scheme were drawn. Hand ing the letter to his secretary, he be took himself to the garden to take his accustomed walk. His step was quick, and his glowing eyes saw nothing tang ible around him, but were looking as ever, into the future. Brilliant leaves, red from the kisses of Autumn, were falling around him as he walked, but the dying year had given unto him more brilliant and more lasting offerings, which he had dropped into the lap of his adored and insatiat mistress. The chief magistrate of the land had delighted to honor him; In a country wbere all idigions were re spected and equally protected, he, a prince of the Roman Catholic church, had officiated as chaplain when the great republic had celebratod the one hundredth year of the birth of its cher ished constitution. What but policy had dictated the honor? The tyrant demands the bestowal of most honors in her name. He was growing to love this fascinating goddess of liberty who pre sided over the great nation he had come among. "Ah! if only he could succeed in casting around her the chains of the church." One of his wealthiest parishioners dying, had appointed him guardian of his only child, a woman, young and with her natural beauty of person en hanced by the rosy back ground of an Immense fortune. Pizani's young ward, a devout member of the church, though loving the world and its pleasures, had, by a gift of several hundred thousand dollars, been the foundress of the great Roman Catholic university which was rising stone upon stone and fast nearing completion. Thousands upon thousands of dollars had poured in from the parishes of the largest cities of the union. The spirit which had haunted the Catholic clergy of America for long weary years, was fast materializing into a grand, impos ing presence. In a small Pompeiian room in a large mansion in New York City, a wealthy, young, unmarried lady and her guests were assembled. It was the lounging hour which preceeds that daily and im portant epoch in a fashionable lady's life, "dressing for dinner." The young ladks, In the most dainty and comfort able of tea gowns, with the luxurious abandon which characterizes a gather ing of women when the male element is absent, were reclining in various graceful attitudes. A large screen of Persian embroidery was drawn up within easy distance of the fire-place, forming a little snuggery for these young dames who wore the purple and fed on the honey of life, to repose in. "Tell us, O, white lily, what are you going to wear at my lady secretary's ball next week?" This from a dark, young girl, still in her teens, who draped In old rose, lay curled up on a great black fur rug, directly in front of the fire. She addres-.d her hostess, a tall whit' lily of a woman who had just entered her twentieth year. She was the center of the group, and clothed in white from head to foot; her yellow hair brushed straight back from her temples and gathered in a great crown like coil on the top of her head. Htr delicate appearance indicated the name her companion U stowed uinin her. "I am not going," she said, placing her fingers up m a large cross of white onyx which lay upon her breast, and resting her h.-ad with a ii'.t'.e defiant movement against the biood-red silk back of her chair. "Not going to Washington, to tbe greatest ball of the season?" wi'.s the refrain in various tones. Then, after a pause, the dark b-auty nestling among the fur sprang Into a silting posture, and with her bold, black eyes looking full Into the blue ones above her, said: "Surely, AgDess Allison, the vague rumors that have been floating around us, that you, so young and beautiful, and with your immense wealth, con template burying yourself in a convent, have no truth in them?" "To what better cause could I devote my vast wealth than that of the holy church? And my buried youth and beauty will have a glorious resurrec tion. Besides, I shall not be aeloistered nun, but a minister of relief to trouble and want." "I'm glad no such sacrifices are re quired among the Methodist persuasion, but if there were, I am too poor in this world's goods to be selected for an offer ing. But, O, my dear Agness, you are too bright a liht to be hidden under a bushel; let pale, tallow dips go under, and you remain in the world. With tho millions at your command, you will shed your light not only among the mighty of the land, but among the poor and lowly." "My path of duty is clearly lighted for me, and nothing can obstruct my foot-steps," said Miss Allison, Btill toy ing with the onyx cross. "Well," said a large, voluptuous locking girl, no longer very young, whose handsome face, framed In glitter ing reddish hair, indicated a nature strongly impregnated with the world, tho flesh, and, it might be a dash of READ OUR NEW . . SERIAL STORY Which Began Feb. 1, 1895, Entitled, "In the Clutch of Rome' ISy "GOXZAT-H&," This story is published in serial form for the first time, and is one of thrilling interest, dealing with the machina tions (f the bishops, priests ami other emissaries of the Church of Home in the politics of the United States. This Story will appear in weekly installments in THE AMERICAN, beginning with the issue of February 1st, which can be obtained of all newsdealers at FIVE CENTS per copy, or, by sending your orders direct to this office you can secure THE AMERICAN and any one of the following list of good books by paying up ALL ARREARAGES and a year's Subscription in advance: LIST OF The ; rricst, The Woman, (TO f( and The Confessional, DmmmJJ including "The Vitty Years in the of Home, including "The American" one Year MA.RIA. MONK, cloth, - including "The American" one Year. Convent Life Unx ciled, cloth, $2.00 including "The American" one Year. IJBB1JS OL DAItKNBS - $2.00 including "The American" one Year. TUB LiLACK lOlB, cloth, - $2,00 including "TheAmerican " ono Year. All of theso books are printed on good book paper and are well bound in cloth, suitable for anybody's Library. If these books are to be sent by mail add 15 cents extra for postage. CASH must invariably accompany the order. Address, AMERICAN PUBLISHING CO. 124 East Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILL. P. S..-,,THElAMERICAN,,fsJ$2.00ja Year injldvance. the devil, "I am a fairly good church woman of the Rinian faith, but I thank the saints I have never fell a predilec tion for their convents. The Creator intended we should live out in the world, I think, else wty are we here1 Time enough to say good-bye to the world when death say 'Come,' though tho virgin forbid I should influence tho-e who sec differently. l!y the way, Archbishop Doo'.ey dine here t, might, does he not?" "Yes," repluj Miss Allison, "and several o'Ler guests." 'Othtrgaests--clerical or otherwise?" said a voici from thy mass of rose-hued ca.-hmere on the black fur. "Otherwise," said the young nun elect, rising, as did the others, as the ringing of a bell warned ihe:n that it was lime to dress and resume the formalities of life. (To be Continued.) "IN THE CLUTCH OF ROME," U imlilUhfd In book form, paper cover, and can lie had by sendini cents In cash to the AMKHU AN l'l'HI.LSHIMl COUI-ANT. HOW is this? Chiniquy's "Fifty Years in the Church i f Rome," $2.50; The American one year, $2.00; Both for $2.50. The Catholic World, in one of its edi torials, says: "Education must be con trolled by Romish authorities, even to war and to bloodshed," And yet there are those who tell us that Rome is not a menancc to our free American insti tutions. They who make such asser tions must be blind indeed. Messiah Herald. 158 VARIETIES rt'" 'i-i i u tnoi Asiml( fv, r i. -il u. nlr.. i,. I..f Ll nWtD '.V -1 linn, i:.1 (lire to l.J.-.in I LUllLn 11 " A..r, 1 a c.L.r.i Hal.i.., j a b ' I".; I'SKHlt'll, l' i".l.r, m;d IntlL it,:,, N r r II V IVInnUs I"."1 t. I hit,., i" nil trr ULLUV l-na IS r.l.r.; I'lnL. Ill rnl-.n : Knrrt mtm mm mm l'"-. r..l..r,, Zlaniln, K rulers ; Mlir mm ft mm mm MIkhoiipIIs aiiitSwrrl IIjmiim. Annt...,t. I I a U mm ii-' t "f ! i .... -ii. Vk l..r i,v ordi. ary irtr.i.-ii. s.-ii.l n. O N LY 10 CENTS .ilver.or l'v,i,n M .lii. p., with nun. . ..I ll... r lnti,.l, i .t..i..lr. iil'tiir. ii w mil r.i.l ..ll, ,)..! pm, I, till. .'.'ll. .VIr l-ll-i l.-.n r.f I I I hfllfP Annual, . v tti.lu I .ii, tin ti. In wparatp pkrtaKS. IKI.K. Ai.)t ii r si.ln .1 ut i.J-i .-I. niauB'M. t.-r I luoMhli.n trmt t inii.l i;nin .1 l.--t I'Hi.miii nrw ciil. t -! . t l.i. Ka.n. ThiM. n-ii'iit. ll -iiry ir. r. Wf h silt y.'ur trial .utw.i.lit,n, unit .naratiti.e (it 1. 1 m ! ton ir 1 1 1 n I in. I in. n v ami t'r-M ut vmi with stf.l. arid mmTamr, i.l.ir,-. . L. .V t lslltltN, 1'ul.., 2 Muter St., K.i.loit, law. FREE HEAT! Tbe Until thnt T.ltrhta roar Room will UK AT It If you une a v FALLS HEATER. Tb.k the plac of stovw tn mH ura-f ec4 rooms. In 8u-ctwful utwin New F-nctan t year. HiRh?t awnrts. first of rvtVr BOTO N K NT K It H It IS K M Vii,i 17 MHU St., Ho. i on, Mann. . BOOKS. American" one year. Church $2.50 S2.00 IF A AcL