1G
THE IKMAJIA DAILY BJ5J2: S-TUXDAY, JULY 21, 1901.
The
By S.
MjnnpiiU of PriTfilliiK iinitiT.
Itnmon Onrclii, known iim HI Hnrrln, hnv
lng been Indiieed to believe thnt his wife,
Dolores, In unfnltliftll, stabs 11 village fot,
Hnfiicl Flores, whom hn Muds presumably
kissing Dolciren through tlio window. Ills
..slates uro toiifUi-Hlf mid he become n
liunl'il, imin. At Hi" mum tlniu it young
Hcolch mlvvntiirrr, Hollo lllnlr, comes to
Bpnln, nrul during nn Inn quarrel Ih aided
by John Mortimer, 1111 Englishman, The
two Hlnrt to visit Don tlnltnsar, ubliot of
tho monastery of Montblunclt,
(Copyright, 1M1. by 8. It, Crockott.)
GIIAITUIt I V. C'oiiMiiiicil.
"Thorc, ho said, heartily, "let mo bo
your bunker, 'Tin worth n score of reckon
ings to henr a Scotchman spenk illnrrnpuct
fully of sermons, My nnme Is John Mor
timer" "Of tho Mortimers of Plus (Iwynedd In
Caernarvonshire? Why, my grandmother1
was of that" Hollo lllalr was beginning
a genealogical (1 Isrju In 1 1 Ion with great
ugeriicss when tliu Ki);t ULiitiii n stopped
blm.
"No," ho mild, " at least, not that I
know of. My father nindo inoiiHutrnps be
fore ho took to cotton spinning and 1 uovor
00 much nn heard whether 1 had any grand
father, f urn plain John Mortimer of Clior
ley, at your service."
"And you will not accept of my sword,"
n Id tho Scot. "1 unsure, you It Is worth
enough (o discharge my small liabilities
twlco over,"
"Swords are not legal tender In the wine
business," said the other, smiling, "nor
yet when 1 go home with a knowledge of
language to help sell my father's gray
oloth. You are welcome as my brother
to tho loan," hu added, "and t promise
you I will accept ropnymant as gladly from
you as from him."
"You mako tho matter easier, Indeed,"
aid Hollo lllalr, recovering his spirits with
bound. "Hero, lnndlont, run you rlmngo
this gold ounce?" Or Is tho mutter too
great a ono for your potty Veuta?"
Tho young man had been standing a lit
tlo back, In the shadow of one of ttis
arches, In which were empty mungors Mini
tho rings of head stalls, . that ho could
not observe the passing of tho Englishman's
purse from hand Unhand.
"Yoilr servant, uenor!" said the Inn
keeper, no Spaniard, but French Jew of
Rousslllon. "What can I have the honor of
ordering for your excellencies supper?"
"Order yourself out of my sight!" cried
tho Scot, Imperiously. "Wo nro going up
to tho monastery to dlno with my uncle, tho
nbbot I"
Tho padrono of the Vcntn fell back a
uouplo of steps and tho two serving men
ceased to grin, and, Instead, bowed most
obsequiously,
"Ho Is a nephew of tho abbot per
haps (who knows) his son! There will be
fine doings out of this night's work It ho
tells Don Hnllnsar all, ns he doubtless
will."
This was tho whispered comment of ono
ervltor In tho ear of his master. Said tho
other:
"Speak him fair, padrone, for the lovo of
God! For If tho monks are adverse, we are
ped. Our plpo Is ns good as out. Ahd
perchance a yet worse thing may happen!"
And ho leanod over till his Hps almost
touched initio host's ear.
"My flod!" gasped tho latter; "what a
count! yl Would- that 1 wero safo buck
again In mint- own house with green blinds
lh Housalllon!"
Tho Englishman nnd tho Scot wore now
walking amicably nrm In arm, to and fro
In front of tho Inn. The Scot had quite
recovered his military demeanor, and again
twirled his mustache with nn air. Tho
llvor-hllted Bword shone no brighter ou
tho morn of Kllllecrnnklc. Tho unused
purs tlnkltd melodiously.
The landlord stood with his hands defer
entially folded. Tho young men took not
tho slightest uotlco of him, but continued
to paco slowly to nnd fro.
"My noble lords," ho Bald, "1 trust that
the unfortunate occurrence of this evening
will not prevent this house from having
your honors' custom in tho future, nnd that
you two will say no word of nlll this to
tho most reverend nbbot, Don. naltasnr!"
"Mako yourself easy on that score," said
the Scot. "As soon as we aro round tho
cornor wo shall forget that such a refuse.
for fleabltten knaves anywhere exists out
cf pandemonium!1'
Lowor still bowed tho obsequious pa
drone, for this was his Idea of tho way a
gentleman should speak to an Innkeeper.
It showed his quality.
"Shall I order a carriage to convoy your
honors to tho abbey?" Bald tho landlord,
preparing to take his leave. "I know a
padrone who has a coach-iind-sl!"
"Wo will walk on our feet," replied tho
Scot, no whit abashed, "In pursuance of a
vow mado at Salamanca."
The landlord withdrew, making an
obeisance that was almost an oriental
alaam.
' "Hut Is tho abbot really your uncle?" In
quired tho Englishman, as they set out.
"As much as you are," said the Scot,
"but, nil the same, wo shall dlno with him,
or my name is not Hollo Blair of lllalr
castlo, In tho shlro of Fife!''
"The Lord send It," said the English
man, devoutly; "perhaps In that caao he
will part with his prlorate wine a farthing
the gallon cheaper!"
CH.U'TUH V.
The Abbey tif Mouttitniicti.
The great monastery of Montblaneh was
( of rrgnl, nay almost of imperial dignity.
Of the potencies and pro-emlncuces of
Montblaneh, civil and ecclestlcal, there
was no end. A hundred villages owned Its
lordship. The men wero serfs, the women
handmaids. Soul and body they were
bound to their masters of the monastery of
Montblaneh. Without permission they
dared neither to wed nor to bury, neither
to Increase, to multiply, to lay the bride
on tho brldo bed or the corpse upon tho
bier.
It was said not openly Indeed, but rather
with awestruck lowering of the voice nnd
fearful glances to right and left, that
vhen 'he Inquisition wan done away with
In the Spain of tho cities and provinces, tho
chiefs of the holy office had found a last
pls.ee of refuge beneath the gray rocks of
Montblaneh, and that whoso odeuded
against the monks of the mountain, or re
ruseii to mem nook or hern, son or
daughter sooner or later entered the door
of the monastery never to bo seen again
in the light of day.
So at least ran the tale, and as the two
young men made their way upward from
San Ylcencto, Rolo lllalr told these things
to the Englishman sa ono who believed
them.
"It Is not possible," answered the latter,
scornfully, "this Is no century lu which
aueh thing can be done. Who talks of the
rack and the Inquisition at this time of
dasT
The young Scot halted a sturdy peasant
wao came whistling down tho path, a
Firebrand.
R. CROCKOTT.
bundlo of tough reed stems over his
shoulder.
"Did you ever hear of tho htack room of
the monastery of Montblaneh?" ho said,
punching his bluo overall between his
finger and thumb.
The sunburnt Arrngonosc crossed him
self and wn3 silent.
"Sneak have you heard?"
Tho other nodded, find made with his
linger nnd thumb that "feg of Spain,"
whloh averts tho ovll eye, but under hie
looso blouso half furtively as It ashamed
of his precaution.
"I havo heard," ho said, nnd was silent.
"Do you wish to enter It?" H.ild Hollo.
"Ood forbid!" quoth the man with con-
Ictlou.
"And why?" pursued tho Scot, wishful
to make his point.
"HecuiiBO of thoso who go In thlthor no
ono over comes out."
Tho mnn, having thus spoken, hastened
to bolako hlmnolt out of Hlgbt.
"My object In coming to Spain Is simple,"
said tho Englishman, of whom his compan
ion had nsked a question. "Ilcforu my father
retires nnd confides to mo his spinning
mills nt Chorley ho stlpulntes that I nhnll
maku by my own exertions n clear profit
of 1,000. I, on my part, havo agreed
neither to marry nor to return till I enn do
so with n thousand pounds thus ncqulrud
In my hand. I thought I could make Its ns
easily lu tho wine busncss as In any other
of which 1 had no knowledge," concluded
tliu young man, "and so, here I am. Can
you lu any way nsslst mo In tho buying of
gooil vintages, out of which I may chunco
to mako profit ? Besides the firm's credit,
I havo n capital of 100 of which at
present eight or nine aro In a friend's
hands."
"(lood Lord!" cried tho Scot, "then I, by
my fully, havo put you by so much further
from your happiness. For of course you
havo n sweetheart waltlns for you on your
return?" ,
"I havo yet to seo tho woman I would
give a brass farthing to marry, or for whoso
meso of pottage I would sell my bachelor's
birthright."
"Fogs," said Hollo tllalr. gazing with ad
miration upon his shorter companion, nnd,
ns was his wont when excited, relapsing
Into dialect, "tho shoo has nyo pinched tho
Ither foot wl' me, my lad. No' to speak o'
I'eggy Hnmsny, I think I hao been disap
pointed by ns mony ns n round dozen o
lasses since 1 left tho Lang Toon o' Kirk
caldy." "Disappointed?" queried his companion,
"how ro, man? Did you not pleuso tho
mnlds?"
"Oh, aye, It was na thnt," returned the
squlro of Fife, taking his companion's arm
coulldcntlally, "tho lasses, to do Justice to
their good taste, were malstly willing
encuch. Hut tho fact Is that nyo afore tho
thing gaed far encuch 1 come to words wl
8omo brlthcr or falthor o' tho lass, nnd
maybo put a knlfo Into him, or maybo an
ounce o lend I wadnh wonder to Improve
his logic!"
''in other words, you nro quarrelsome?"
sold Mortimer shortly.
Tho Scot temoved his hnnd from tho
Englishman's arm and drew himself to his
full height.
"There," ho snid, "I beg to- tako Issue
with you, sir! Argumentative I "may be,
nnd It Is my nature, but to tho man who
flings It In my teeth that I am of a qunrrel-
somo disposition I hnvo but ono answer.
Sir, rf-cetvc my enrd!"
And with grcnt gravity ho pulled from his
pocket nn ancient cardcase of damaged sil
ver, bulged und dinted out of all shape,
opened It and burst Into a loud laugh.
"I declare I havo not ono left. I spent
them all on thoso Arragonesc dogs down
there, who thought, I daresay, that they
were soup tickets on the fralluchos' kitchen
up there! And, anyway. It's heaven's own
truth I am a quarrelsome, ungrateful dog!
Hut, forglvo me, Mr. Mortimer, It's my nn
lure, and at any rate does not last long.'
"Hut you havo not nnswered my ques
tion," said the Englishman. "I nm hero to
buy wines. I nm, nbovo all, anxious to
tako over to Englnnd somo thousand hec
toletrcs of the famous Prlornto of Mont
blaneh and any other vintages that will suit
the English market."
"Hut how on a hundred pounds can you
expect to do so much?" askod the Scot
with an unlocked-tor exhibition of natlvo
cautlcu.
"Oh, I hnve enough Amount of credit for
anything that I may buy on account of tho
firm. The hundred is my own private ven
turc, nnd It struck mo that, with your com
mand of tho language nnd my knowledge
of business we might he able to ship somo
bpanlbh wines to the Thames cn very fa
vorablo terms. I should, of course, be glad
to pay you the usual commission."
"Vintages nnd commissions and ship
ments nrc so much Oreek to me," said Rollo
Blair, "but It 1 can do anything to lessen
tho debt of obllgement under which you havo
placed me, you can count on my services
I nm scarce such a fool as my tongue and
temper make me out sometimes! You aro
the only mnn nllve I have tried to pick
quarrel with and failed."
"I think we shall do very well together
yet." said Mortimer. "Tho usual commts
siou Is G per cent on all transactions up to
ICO above 74."
"D n you and your commissions, sir,'
cried Hlalr, hotly; "did I not tell you
would do my best, on tho honor of a Scot
tlsh gentleman?"
"Very likely." roturned the other, dryly,
"but I have always found tho benefit of
clear and early understanding between part
ners."
They had been gradually ascending the
unrrow path which wound through clumps
of rosemary, broom and bay tree laurel, to
a sheltered little plain, much of It occupied
by enclosed gardens and the vast whlto
buildings of the monastery Itself.
oii.ii run vi.
ltrothrr llllnrln.
At the great entrance pate they paused
uncertoln which way to turn. Hut a chance
encounter decided the matter for them.
"Well ah. mlno gcotf some time enemy.
cried a shrill, eager voice, "havo you for
gotten htlenne de Saint Pierre, and how
we are to tight below tho windmill at Mont
martre the first time you come to Tarls?'
uord, It is the halrbralned Frenchman!
erica uono. with some glow of pleasure I
his face. Tho very talk of fighting stlrrei
him.
A smallish, slender man, dresjed In a cos
tume which would have recalled tho Barber
cf Seville, had It not been for the ecclesl
astlcal robe that surmounted and as it were
extinguished Its silken gorgeousness. A
great cross of gold set with Jewels swung nt
the young man's breast and was upheld by
link ns large as thoso which smtaln a
mayor's badge of office.
"Ah, I have renounced the world, my dear
adversary," cried tho newcomer, enthusi
astically, "as you will also. I am no longer
Etlenno do Paint rierre, but Brother
Hltarlo. an unworthy novice of the Convent
of tho Virgin cf Moatblancht"
"Hut, sir cried Hollo lllalr. 'vou cannot ,
tikh lift tho religious llfo without somo
small settlement with mo. You nro trysted
to mcot mo with tlio smnll nword nt tho
nuttcs of Montnmrtrc you to light for tho i
honor of Scnorlta Concha of Snrrla and I to
make n holo In your skin for tho sweet sake
of little I'eggy Hnmsny, who broke my
heart or ever I loft tho bonny woods o'
Alyth to wandor on a foreign shore!"
"our claim I allow, my dear Sir Hlnlr,"
rlcd the Frenchman, "hut tho eternal con
cerns of tho soul como first, and 1 havo
been wicked wicked so very wicked. Hut
tho holy prior tho nbbot mlno uncle, hath
shown mo tho error of my ways!"
John Mortimer turned directly round till
ho faced the speaker.
Odds botxi," he cried, "then tucro Is a
pair of them. Ho Is this fellow's undo,
tool"
Tho Frenchman gnzed nt him nmnzed for
moment. Then ho clapped his hand
fiercely on tho plnco whero his sword-hilt
should havo been, crying, "I would hnvo
you know, Monsieur, that tho word of n
Snlnt I'lcrro Is snored. 1. carry lu my veins
tho blood of kings!"
And hn grabbed fiercely for tho missing
sword-hilt, but his fingers encountered only
tho grent Jeweled cross of gold llllgrco
work, he raised It to his Hps with n sudden
revulsion of feeling.
'Torrcntcs Inlqultntls ennturhaverunt mo.
Dolores Itifcrnl clrcumdedterunt mc."
"What, still hnrplng on llttlo Dolores?"
"THUS V.it
cried Blair. "I thought llttlo Concha wns
your last before holy church, I mean!"
i
The llttlo Frenchman wns bencnth tho
lamps and he looked up nt tho long, lean
Scot with n prcullnrly sweet smile.
"Ah, you scoff," ho raid, "but you will
lenrn, yes, you will lenrn. My uncle, tho
prior will tench you. Ho will show you tho
way, as he has done mo!"
"It may bo so," said tho Scot, darkly, "I
only wish I rould have a chnnco nt him. I
think I could provo him all in the wrong
about transubstantlntlon that Is, If I could
keep my tompor sufllclently long,"
At this moment the colloquy at the abbey
goto wos broken up by n somewhat stout
man, also In tho garb of n novice, a long
friar's robe being girt uncomfortably tight
about his waist and In his hand n lantern.
"Monsieur Hrother Hllnrlo, I menn the
holy prior wishes to speak with you, and
desires to know whether you would prefer
a capon of Zaragozn or two Bordeaux pig
cons In your olla tonight?"
"Come, that is more promising," cried
the Scot, "wo will gladly accept of your In
vitation to dlno with you and your unclo
and give him nil tho chnnco he wnnts to
convert mo to tho religious life."
"Invitation!" creld tho astonished Brother
Hllnrlo, "did I invito you? If so, I fenr I
took a liberty. I do not remomber the cir
cumstance." "Do you doubt my word?" cried tho Scot,
with Instant frowning truculcnce; "I say
tho Invitation was implied it not expressed,
nnd by tho eyes of Rcggy Ramsey, If you do
not get us a couple of covers nt your un
cle's table tonight 1 will go straight to tho
holy prior and tell htm all that I knew of
little Concha of Snrrla, nnd your plot
against her mistress n deal more, I opine,
than you Included In your last confession,
moat high-minded friar!"
"That was before my renunciation of the
flesh," cried St. rierre, manifestly ngltntcd.
The Scot felt his elbow touched.
"I was under her balcony with a letter
last Friday, no further gone," whispered
the novice In the cord-begirt robe; "blessed
angels help mo to get this nonsense out of
life hend, or It will be the death of us, and
we will never seo tho Palais Roynlc again!"
"And on what pious principles do you ex
plain the letter you sent last Friday?" i-ald
Rollo, aloud. "What If I were to put that
Into tho hands of your good uncle, the
prior? If that wore to happen I wnrraut
you would never ride on one of the white
abbey mules In the gnrb of the brothers of
Montblaneh!"
Instead of being astonished and quailing
at his aeuteness tho young Frenchman fired
up in tho most carnal and uumonklsb
fashion.
"You have been making love to my little
Concha yourself, you Scots roguo, I will
have your life, Monsieur! Guard yourself!"
"Your Concha, do you say. Master
Friar?" cried Hlalr, "and pray who gave
you a right to have Conchas on your bauds
with the possessive adjective before them?
Is that Included In your monkish articles of
association? Is adoration of llttlo Conchas
set down In black and red In your breviar
ies? Answer mo that, sir?"
"No matter. Monsieur," retorted the
Frenchman; "I was a man before I was a
monk, indeed, in the latter capacity I nm
not full-fledged yet. And I hold you an
swerable It In anything you havo offended
against the lady you have1 named, or used
arts to wile her heart from me!"
"I give you my word, I never set eyes on
the wench but from what I hear "
"Stop there," cried tho second novice:
"be good enough to settle that question
later. For me I must go back promptly
with the answer about the capon of Zara
goia and the two Bordeaux plgoons!"
The Scot looked at the Frenchman. Tho
Frenchman looked at the Scot.
"As a compliment to the fair lady the
Senortta Concha, say tq my uncl(, tho capon
Frsscols!" said the lover.
' And ns ii compliment to yourself, my
dear Hrother Hllnrlo, say to his lordship '
,also tho two Hordenux plgrons!"
"Ami tho pigeons, Francois!" quoth tlio
latest addition to tho brotherhood of Mont
blntich, with perfect sorlousness.
OIIAPTUIt VII.
The AIllMlt's HI II MIT.
Hollo Hlalr kept his gnsconndlng promise.
Ho dltied with "his undo," the nbbot, that
most wfse, lenrned and Christian prelate,
Don Hnltnsnr Varcla.
Tho nbbot of Montblaneh wns glnd to ace
Milord of Cnstlo Hlalr In tho land of the
Scots. It was not u Chrlstlnn country ho
had been Informed,
Costly wines wero on tho tnblc. 'silver
nnd cut glnas of Venice sparkled on spot
less cloth, Silent. snndnled Iny brethren of
tho order waited on tho prior nnd his
guests. Courso nfter courso wns brought
In, discussed nnd removed. Tho Abbot,
Don llaltntnr Vnrcln, himself nto little. He
watched IiIh guests' nppotltus, however,
with mnnlfpst Interest, nnd directed tho
servitors with almost Imporccptlblo move
ments of his hnnd. Ho nppenrcd to favor
each ono of Iho three equally.
Yet an observer its detached n Don Hnl-
tasor himself would have detected that tho
Hum iiun in ins nueniion wns given to tno
t.i . ,., ..... . ...
young man, uono ninir, nnu Hint tne prior,
AND NO FURTHER,!" CRIED THE ABBOT,
with a gently subtlo smllo kept murmuring
to himself nt each quick retort and flash
of repnrteo.
"'Fiery ns n Scot,' Indeed! A true pro
verb! This fellow Is tho mnn we want. If
so we enn pay his price. Tho others"
Rollo never emptlod his glass (and ho did
so frequently) but one of Abbot Baltnsnr's
eyelids quivered, and the glnss wns Immedi
ately filled again.
As Hollo's tonguo loosened and his heart
enlarged the prior, with n twitch of his
thumb, Indicated that the doors were to bo
closed, nnd turned again to glvo yet graver
and more courteous nttentton to tho con
versation of his guest.
Master Blair's muse v.-ns tho historical
nnd nlas! tho autobiographical.
"Through his sword arm I sent Kllllo
crankle. that Is n better blade than any
forged at Toledo ns I, Hollo Blair, stand
ready to nfllrm nnd make good upon any
man any day In the week!"
"I ngree!" said John Mortimer. " 'TIs
hotter than my only razor, which Is an in
fernally bad piece of metal, nnd not fit to
scrape a hog with!"
"And I ngree," slshed Etlenno; "tho re
mainder of my Ifo I havo resolved to dovoto
to contemplation upon holy things. Vade
retro me. Sntnnn!"
The Scot turned upon him like a flash.
"You havo renounced tho world?" he
queried. "Did I hear you say?"
The Frenchman nodded. "And Its vani
ties!" agreed ho, with a twirl of his chain.
"Since Friday night I presume?" again
the fnteful questioning. "Contemplntlon!"
ho laughed aloud, "you will, you say, pass
your days In contemplation. Tho relics of
tho saints will servo you from this day
forth, .gcntlo penitent. Why, man, you
should go straight to Cologne. They have
11.000 virgins there. I am told. These might
chnn:e to serve you some while!"
"Spcnklng of relies," said tho abbot, ris
ing to prevent further discourse, "there is
a midnight celebration which it is my duty
to attend, but do not let that disturb you
from finishing your wine. Son Hllarlo. I
absolve you from nttendance, that you may
keep these friends of yours In company
When you nro wenry touch this boll and
Father Anselmo. my confessor, will show
you tho treasures nnd reliquaries of the ab
bey. Benedlclte, good gentlemen!" he said,
and w;ent out with bowed hend and n rustle
of flowing robe.
"Ilut tho wine the wine! You have for
gotten the wine'" cried John Mortimer
suddenly remomberltig his purpose in com
ing to Montblaneh.
"What?" queried the Frenchman, mystl
fled, and moving toward the decanters.
"Docs he want more wine? How much
would sniisfy him?"
"I could take eomewherc nbout. 60,000 gal
lons at present, and more In a day or two,
eald Mortimer.
Monsieur Etlenno de sSalnt Pierre fell
back lax with astonishment.
Tho matter was explained.
"I cm arrange that with my uncle," said
Etlennc. ns soon ns he fully understood
John Mortimer's purpose. "I understand
something about wtues. for I grow some
square leagues of Vitus on my . lands In
Franco, nnd I will tee to it that your friend
dojs not pay too high a price for the el
Trlorato. And now for the relics! Wc
havo wasted too much time."
He rang the bell nnd called In the ab
bot's confetsor. Father Anselmo was
gaunt, severe mail of more than the average
height, with black hair streaked with gray
and fixed and stony eyes. With him there
appeared a younger and more Jovial monk
with small eyes that perpetually twinkled.
and a smile that seemed to catch itself up
as with a click each time that the stern
traze of Father Anbelmo turned his way.
This monk was evidently either only a nov
Ice or a lay brother on his probation, for
he wore that habl' and carried In his hand
a crest bunch of keys, whLh he tickled
freely, as If In that silent place he took n
certain pleasure lh tho sound,
.
t HA I 11, It III.
Sniu-dinrj',
Tho sovr.ro confessor solemnly preceded
them, n candlo In his hand. Hollo thought
that Father Anselmo hod the nlr of perpet
ually assisting nt an excommunication, a
burning of heretics, or other disciplinary
ceremony of the holy church.
Tho treasury of Montblaneh had Indeed
been most grievously despoiled by the
French, according to Immemorial custom of
that most Christian nation upon Its cam
paigns, nud only the most used dishes were
now of silver or silver gilt.
Tho confessor selected two keys from
tlio bunch nnd Inserted then Into a eouplo
of locks In a small iron door nt tho foot of
certnln gloomy stops.
Tho Scot, who was Imaglnntlve, thought
that he could discern somo faint stirrings
of llfo nbout his feet. Accordingly, he
ntnmpod them onco or twice, having nn In
stlncttvo hntrcd of llttlo creeping vermin,
which, with wasps, were tho only things he
feared In honven or earth.
Hut tho faint stirring censed nnd ho grew
Interested in wntchlng Fnther Atuclmo nnd
tho novice benrlng slmultnneously on tho
keys, which turned together quite suddenly.
men tlio confessor touched a spring con
cenlcd behind some drapery nnd tho door
opened
STERNLY.
Tho paucity of treasures of silver nnd
gold In tho treasury of Montblaneh was
more than mado up for by the extraordi
nary number of relics of saints which the
monastery possessed. It was nt this point
that tho novice, who nppenrcd to net ns n
kind of Fhowraan lu ordinary to tho vaults,
took up his talc.
"Atbannslus, do your duty!" the confes
sor had said with a solemn voice, precisely
as If he bad been ordering tho first turn of
tho great wheel of the garotte.
And In words that fairly tumbled over
ench other, with ha6to the custodian began
his enumeration.
'Hero wo hnvo a bud from tho rod of
Aaron, nlso the body of Aaron hlmeolfj tho
clasp of tho robo of Elijah, the prophet,
which blleha did not observe when he
picked up tho mantle, nlso tho uforesnld
Elijah nnd Ellshn; tho stone on which tho
nngel sat in the holy scpulcher; tho stono
on which holy St. Peter stumbled when he
let John outrun him; tho words he said on
that occasion, which nro not Included In
holy writ, but wero embroidered on n hand
kerchief by his mothor-In-law, probably out
of spite; tho stone on which the sainted
virgin was slttng when tho nngel saluted
her."
Athanaslus tho rosy hnd only proceeded
so far with hla enumeration when a groan
came as It were from tho ground and tho
Scot leaped violently nslde.
"Good God!" he cried, "there Is someono
suffering down here through thnt door, I
think. Open it, you black-a-vised sweep of
darkness! I am n rrcsbyterlan, I tell you,
nnd 1 will hnvo no Torquemnda business
where Rollo Blair Is."
But the dnrk monk only shook his head
nud for tho first time smiled.
"Tho exclamatory stranger Is misled by
a curious echo, which has given this placo
Its name. It Is called 'Tho Gate of the
Groans,' and our wise predecessors chose
tho placo for tho entrance of their treasure
chamber, ns giving Ignorant men tho Idea
that tho properties of tho abbey were pro
tected by demons. I had not, however,
hoped that tho Ingenious little arrange
ment would deceive one so wlso and experi
enced as the caballcro with tho long sword.
Our novice. Rrothcr Hllarlo, will inform his
friend that what I have said is well known
In the monastery to be the case."
"I hnvo heard It so stated," said Etlenno,
with some reluctance, and speaklns not at
all ns his monastic name would Import.
The groans came again and again, appar
ently from the earth, and Rollo, not yet
fully convinced, stamped horo and there
with his foot and battered tho walls with
the hilt of hU sword, till he added a dint
or two to the tasseled basket of "Klllle
crankle." as he usually named his weapon
from the. family circumstance before men
tloned. All in vain, however, for the walls
wero solid nnd the floor beneath his feet
rang dull and true.
"Follow me!" said the sepulchral monk,
curtly, and pointing upward as the sound
at a bell was watted down to them faintly,
"that is the bell of midnight. Let us
attend Its call."
Tney followed their guide through a mazo
of dark passages, till, with a "sudden at
tention" he halted them before a door, trots
tho other side of which camo a sound of
voices.
The door opened and all the world seemed
suddenly filled with clear singing and glo
rious light.
Without the least preparation or preface
Fnther Anselmo ushered the three oung
men into the great chapel of the order of
the Virgin of Montblaneh.
The three youths blinked at the sudden
light as they stepped within, and each of
thsm glanced at their dress with the 1c
sttnet of those who flod themselves unex
pectedly In crowded places that It must be
disordered.
It was th season of pilgrimage, and many
were the penitents who availed themselves
of tho monks' three days' hospitality.
Thcso wero scntcd about the dark church
on chairs nnd stools supplied them by tho
sacrlstnns, nud on two of thoso John Mor
timer and Hollo presently found Jhemselves,
wntio Hrother imario went on to mo gal
lery reserved for novices of his stnndlng.
Now nnd then n woman would steal for
ward nnd ndd t tall cnndlo to the many
thousands which burned upon tho nltnr, or
n man kneel nt tho screen of golden bars,
beyond which wero tho officiating priests
nnd their silently moving ncolytes.
Tho church lay behind In deep shadow,
only the higher lights shining here on n
man's head nnd there on n womnn'a golden
ornnment. The nbbot snt to the right In
his episcopal robes with his miter on a
cushion besldo him; a priest stood by this
chnlr with tho crosier In his hand.
Tho brethren of the order could be seen
in their robes occupying tho stall nllotted
to them. Thero wns nnothcr organ nnd
choir far down tho church, high to the
right of tho plllnr, by which tho young men
snt. Tho presence of this second choir wns
betrnyed by n dim Illumination proceeding
from behind tho fretted balustrndo of tho
choir loft.
With tho quick sympathy of his nnturo
Rollo, forgetting his somo tlmo devotion to
his natlvo presbytery, which, Indeed, wns
ehlclly of tho controversial sort, permitted
himself to bo cnrrled nwny by the mngnlfl-
cent swing of tho music, tho rcsonntico of
tho organs, now pouring their thunder forth
so ns to Bhnke nt once tho henrer's dia
phragms mid tho fretted roof of bluo nnd
gold nbovo them, now Bwcet nnd lonesome
as n bird slnglug down In tho meadows In
tho noon silences. Anon Rollo shut his
eyes nnd the chnpel of the Virgin of Mont-
blanch Incontinently vanished, He was
among tho grent congregation of all the
faithful, ho nlono without a wedding gar
ment. Tho Impressions blurred themselves nt
this point. Rollo Hlalr wns kneeling at his
mother's knee. Ho thought of his llrst
swecthenrt, who had nearly mado him n
minister,' nud (perchance) a better man.
Hollo Blair's head fell forward against n
plllnr nnd, while the music thundered nnd
walled alternate, nnd tho grent service
swept on Its gorgeous wny, the wild Scot,
soothed by n lullnby of Bound, slept tno
sleep of tho young, tho tired und tho heart
free.
How long ho slumbered ho could not tell,
but ho wns nwnkened by a violent thrust
In the ribs from the elbow of John Morti
mer. "Great Jlmmlny! what's ihnt? Look,
man, look!"
Rollo oncned his eyes, bleared with n-
sufncciH sleep, and for a long moment nil
things dnnced before thorn, ns gnnts nnnce
In tho, light of tho moon. Ho snw dimly
without understanding tho Hwlnglng altar
lnmr-s In. n kind of purple haze, tho richly
robed priests, the myriad candles, the dark
forms of the worshipers, nut now in
stead of all eyes being turned toward the
brllllunco of tho golden nltnr, It wns to
wnrd the door nt the dark end of tho
chnpel thnt they looked.
He could distinguish n tumult of honrso
voices without, multitudinous nngry cries
of men, tho clatter of feet, the shnrp clnsh
of arms. ,A shot or two went off qulto
nenr nt hnnd.
"Seize him tnko the murderer! Hold
blm!"
Then, shedding to either sldo n surge of
men, as tho bow of a swift ship casts a
twin wave to right nnd left, n man with
only scrnps of rags clinging to him rushed
up tho nlslo of tho nave. His hair was
wet nnd mntted nbout his brow. Thero
wns n gash on ono shoulder. His right
nrm hung useless by his side. Ho was
barefooted, but still In his left hand he
held n long knife of which tho steel was
dimmed with blood.
"El Snrrla! El Sarrla!" cried the voices
behind him. "Thero Is a hundred duros
on his bend! Take blm! Take htm!"
And In a moment moro tho wholo church
was filled with the clangor of armed men.
Bright uniforms filled the doorwnys. Sword
bayonets glinted from bohtnd pillars as
eager pursuers rushed this way and that
after him, overturning the chairs and
frightening tho kneeling women.
Straight up the aisle, turning neither to
right or left, rushed the hunted man. On
the steps which led up to the glided rail
lng he throw down his knife, which with
a clang rebounded onto the marble floor
of tho church.
A priest camo forward as If to bar tho
llttlo wicket door. But with n bound El
Sarrla was within and In another ho had
cast himself down on the uppermost steps
of the high nltnr Itself nnd laid his hands
upon the cloth which bore Su Majostad. the
high mystery of tho incarnation of God.
At this up rose the nbbot and stepping
from his throne with a calm dignity ho
renched tho little golden gate through
which the bunted man had como ono mo
mcne before the pursuers. These were the
regulnr government troops, commanded by
a Chrlstlno ortlcer, who, with a naked
sword In his hand, pointed them on.
Blind with anger nnd the loss of many
comrades, they would have rushed nfter the
fugitive nnd slain him even on the Holy
placo where he lay.
But the nbbot of the Order of tho Virgin
of Montblaneh stood In tho brooch. They
must first puss over his body. He held
nloft a cross of gold with n kind of stern
defiance. The r.rotler bearer had moved
automatically to his place behind him.
"Thus far and no further!" cried the ab
hot sternly. "Rrlng not the strife of man
Into the presence of the Prince of Peace.
This man hath laid his hands upon th
horns of the nltar. and by Our Lady and the
Hcst of God, he shall be safe!"
OIIAPTUIt IX.
Tlio Stinitniv of the llriinij r r.
The abbot of Montblaneh, Don-Baltasar
Varela, was supposed to bo occupied In
prayer and meditation. But In common
with many of his abbatlcnl brethren, he em
ployed his leisure with qulto other matters.
In the security of his chamber the abbot
was another man to the genial host, tho
liberal and well-read churchman,
the courteous man of the world who had
listened so npprovtngly to the wild talk of
Rollo. the Scot, nnd so condescendingly
clinked glasses with Brother Hllarlo. the
rich young recruit who had come from his
native province to support the cause of Kl
Rey Assoluto. Don Carlos V of Spain.
'It Is no use. Anselmo." said the abbot,
grnvely toying with the elnsn of one of tho
open books. In which n few llnea of writing
were still wet. "after all. we nro but play
ing with the matter here. The cure lies
elsewhere. We may. Indeed, keep our petty
bounds Intact, sheltering within a dozen of
leagues not one known unfaithful to the
true King, and the principles of the Cath
olic religion; but we cannot hold even Ar
ragon with any certainty. The cities
whelm us in spite of ourselves, rragos
Itself Is riddled with sedition, rottenly
Jarobln to the core!"
An accursed den of thieves!" said the
gloomy monk. "God will judge It in HU
tlmo!"
Doubtless doubtless. I most fully
agree!" said the abbot, softly, "but mean
time It 1 His will that we use such meant
as we hac In our hands to work out the
divine ends. It tt well known to you that
there Is one msu who Is driving this estate
of Spain to the verge of a devil's pruelpice."
With a look of dark shrewdness the priest
droppwl his head closer to his superior'
ear.
Meiidliab!." he said. "MeodlMbe.l. th
Jew of Madrid, the later of heretic EasUnd
the overgrown esispaw of d,. w, nfv
brokers, the gabbler of the monkeji Out-
ter called 'liberal principles,' tho ovll c
selor of n foolish queen."
"Even no," sighed tho nbbot, 'io n
Ood for n time grants power to scourge j
very elect. Great Is their pnwor -f r a
time. They flourish llko ft fjieen bny t.. -for
n time. Hut does not tho Wlso Man ,.y
In the scripture, 'Better Is wisdom i
ninny bnttnllons, nnd n prudent mnn t a
a. man of wnr?' You nnd I, father, must
the prudent men."
"Hut will not our brnvo Don Cnrlos soc i
rid u of theso dend dogs of Madrid?" n.iM
tho confessor. "What of his groat geuer.i';,
Cabrera nud cl Serrador? Thoy have rsMir I
grent vlclotles. God bns been with their
arms."
Tho prior shrugged his shoulders with n
slight but Inconceivably contemptuous
movement, which Indicated thnt ho wns
weary of the father's lino of argument.
"Another than you, Aneclmo, might mis
take me for n scoffer when I say thnt In
this matter wo must bo our own Don
Carlos, our own gcuerals nay, our own
Providence. Now, I havo received from n
suro hand In Madrid, ono of us nnd dovcted
to our Interests, nn Intimation that so soon
as the present Cortes Is dissolved Mcndl-
znbal means to abolish all the convents lu
Spain, to seize their treasures nnd revenues,
turn their occupants adrift nnd with tho
proceeds to pay enough foreign mercenaries
to drive Don Cnrlos beyond tho Pyrenees
nnd end the war."
During tho epeeeh, which the prior de
livered calmly, tapping tho lid of his snuff
box and glancing occasionally nt tho fnther
confessor out of his unfnthomnble gray
eyes, that gloomy son of tho church had
gradually risen to his full height. At ench
slow-dropping phrnso tho expression of
horror deepened on his couutennnco nud ns
tho abbot ended ho lifted his right nrm nnd
pronounced n curso upon Mendlzabol, such
ns only tho lips of nn ex-lnqulsltor could
hnvo compassed, which might have excited
tho envy of Torqucmade, tho nustere, und
even caused n Btnllo of satisfaction to sit
upon tho grim Hps of San Vicente Ferrer,
tho scourge of tho Jews.
Tho prior heard him to tho end of tho
nnnthemn.
"And then?" ho said, quietly.
Tho dnrk monk stored down nt his chief,
ns ho snt plncldly fingering his episcopal
ring nnd smiling, Vis It posslblo that In
such nti nwful crisis ho rcmnlned unmoved?
'The dny of anathemas Is over," ho said;
"Tho power of words to Ioobo or to hind, r,o
far ns tho world is concerned, Is departed.
But steel enn still strlko and lead kill.
Wo must use means, Father Ansclmc wo
must ufo mennn "
Ho motlonod tho confossor to a seat nnd
passed him his snuff box open, from which
tho dnrk monk took n pinch mcchniilcally
his lips still working, llko n sen after
a storm, in a low continuous mutter of
Iittn curses,
"I hnvo found my Instruments!" sold tho
prior. "They are within the walls of tho
Abbey of Montblaneh nt this moment. And
wo hnvo Just two months In which to do
our business!"
Tho fnther confessor, obeying tho beck
oning eyebrow of his superior Inclined his
oar closer nnd tho prior whispered Into tt
for somo minutes. As he proceeded, doubt,
hope, expectntion, ccrtnlnty, Joy, flitted
ncross tho monk's fnce. Ho clnsped hi j
hnnds ns tho nbbot finished.
"God In His heaven defend Ills poor
children and punish tho transgressor'"
"Amon!" said tho nbbot, a llttlo drily
"nnd I shall do what I can to assist Him
upon tho earth!"
CIIAl'TUIl X.
A Man nnd Illn l'rlce.
These wero memorablo days for all tho
three youths who so unexpectedly found
themselves within tho convent of Mont
blaneh. The ChrlBtlno soldiery, bavins
fraternized with the abbey cooks and ha
lng been treated well from tho abbey cel
lars, departed about their business, load
ing guards behind them to watch tho exus
and entrances of tho hill-sot monnstery
Then a pence majestic nnd appares;,y
otcrnal us tho clrclo of tho mountains set
tled down upon Montblanoh. Of nil tho
men who dwelt there, monk and novlco, lay
brother nnd serving man, only two, tho
Abbot Baltasar and the gloomy contcsnor
know that the Abbey of the Virgin, after
existing COO years and Increasing in riches
nnd dignity all tho while, had but clgh
weeks moro to live Its sweet cloistered l.f-
But to the three young men, altogether
relloved from any cares of mind, body or
estate, these days of peace revealed new
worlds. The Bweet-tongued bellB that calici
dreamily to morning prayer awoke thero in
their cells. The soft yet fresh mountain
nlr that camo In through their open w o
dows, the chanted psalms In n strnnco
tongue, the walks to the caves of the her
mits nnd tho sanctuaries of the saints p
and down the mountain steeps had gone tr
to convince John Mortimer that there ws
religion In the world before the coming cf
his father's primitive Methodism. Elen
halr-bralned Rollo grew less nrgumcntato
and it wnB remarked that on several oci.a
slons he left his long sword "KUlve
crankle" behind him when he went to the
conventual chapel.
As for Brother Hllarlo. ho became so
snlntly that his man servant Francois, whs
regretted blttorly the Palais Royale and Its
Joys, haunted him with offers to conev
mission or missives to la petite Concha of
Sarrla with tho utmost discretion ouly ta
be repulsed with scorn.
The abbot cultivated the society of ail
tho three youths, but as the Englishman
spoke little French and no Spanish, as 'he
manner of his cation 1, their Intercourse
was, of course, restricted. Nevertheless
the affair of the Prlorato wine went fnr.
word apaco nnd the bargain was stru v
with the nlmoner of the convent nt a rn'e
which satisfied all parties.
But the preference of the abbot for "e
headstrong Scot of Fife was too evident
to be ignored and many were the spo a
tlons among the brethren as to what m.c' '
bo tho purpose of Don naltasar in a
speeding so much of his time with as'
ling heretic.
Tho abbot sounded the depths of h
young man. He met his Scottish cau'
with a frank confession of his purpose
"I am putting my llfo and the lives of o
thcso good and holy mf-n In your ha 1
Don Rollo." ho said. "Any day there r a
be a nationalist array here. Their
posts are watching us even now. A fs
the was pursued to the very nltar of
sanctuary the other night! What
saw him? Ah. of course, it was the nis
when our pleasant acquaintanceship heg
I Frankly, then, we are all Carllsts be
Don Rollo. We stand for the king '
alone will stand for us." i
"Your secret, or any secret t safe w
me," said Rollo. grandly turning bis q
frank eyes upon the prior; "not deah
nor torture could drag a word frea
against my will."
The abbot rcrused him with bis
thoughtfully for a moment.
"No. I do not think they wou!J
said slowly and without his usual so 'e
"Further. I would desire to ealu'
as a nvrult." he went oa, after a r
"There are many English fighting r
ranks, but few of your brave ror"
cation Don Rollo. we need such r-e
you are. We can give them a career
deed, I have at present a mission o
such as mlKht make the fortune of a "
man. It Is worth a general's cor"i.
If rightly carried through. Not man '
men have such a chance at J. Ab '
ropue. I hfard of your dolnss th
night down at the Ian of San VI er e
of bow wRh your solo sword jo1.; t
by a seore of Mtquelltes and Ar.r
gypsies, nuart fellows with thel- k l a
of thera '
(To he Ccttla-td.)