Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

"Goodnight, my dear children. You've escaped, then, th-i
HTI\ I'r:iy, tell me what can I ilo for you ?''
"We are homeless fugitives, as you see, '
said Joseph.
" Please show us some place of refuge, where \vo may
the enemy who is pursuing us."
"Ble'sed be God, then, who sends you to me," responded
the old man. "Indeed, I've very little to offer you, but
I offer it to you with all my heart, with sincere joy. Follow
me, my children, my hermitage is quite near. It's far from
bring a. palace, indeed, but it will certainly shelter you more
are ranged under the flags of our turbulent patriots."
The hermit then led them into the thickest part of the wood,
and soon stopped at the entrance of a kind of grotto, which
opened naturally in a mass of rocks, but was afterwards
opened out, enlarged, and built up by the hand of man. A
simple wooden cross was raised upon the summit of the rock;
a little kitchen garden lay at its base. The rustic edifice was
backed against the side of a rather high hill, whose top spread
out in the form of a plateau overlooking the entire country for
several leagues round.
" Here, my children," said the old man, " is the hermitage
of Fra Paolo; it's a name the country people give me. Welcome
under the old hermit's roof. "
The little room they entered was poor and almost bare, but
very neatly arranged. A wooden table and two chairs, a little
prie dleu, at the head of a straw bed, and a crucifix attached
to the wall over an image of the Blessed Virgin, composed all
nately I have a softer bed than my own in this retreat, which I
sometimes offer to some traveller who is fatigued or has lost Irs
way. As for you, you'll be obliged to content yourself with
my poor pallet and one or two bundles of straw, until I find a
more comfortable and safer asylum for you to-morrow. But
let us first think of your comrade's wound."
ra !e. Aa things are, I've still hopes of saving him; above all,
with the help aud by the grace of God, which you and I will
frequently implore. "
The holy man then, having washed the wound, spread a kind
of balm on a piece of white linen aud placed it over it, re-
bandaging it with the skill and address of a practised surgeon.
these effi-
In a few minutes the wounded man, soothed by
cacious means, fell into a sweet, peaceful slumber.
"Now it is your turn, my friends," resumed the generous
hermit.
" The supper I've to offer is no doubt very simple
and very frugal, but such a day as yesterday ought to sharpen
your appetites marvellously. Only, my friend," he continued,
addressing Joseph, " let me first dress your wound; my balm
will soot hi- you. Oh ! it'.-- -only
a si
scratch. You may thank God you got oi you, my young friend, you've
vb"- And
ui from the
perils of that, terrible combat ?"
"Thoroughly Kufo and Martin,
sound," responded the brave
" only one or two there."
spent balls struck me her'
As a fact, the simple and valiant Campinese
had r< <
four balls, which, fortunately, lodged in his clothes ; but tho
agreeably than, perhaps, a palace."
Joseph arid Martin expressed themselves profoundly grateful
to the venerable unknown.
"Your comrade, I see, is severely wounded,'' pursued tho
worthy man. "I have, fortunately, some notions of medicine,
and, perhaps, I'll succeed in curing him, with the help of God.
I'd send for a surgeon to the nearest village, but that wouldn't
be very prudent, I think; for almost all our country doctors
extreme disquietude he had felt until then, thinking of his
friends, h:id prevented him from thinking of himself.
The modest repast was soon prepared, a; ci our two friends
did honor to it. Then, yielding to the good hermit's earnest
entreaties and reiterated orders, they stretched themselves on
his bed, and were not slow to forget, in the midst of a profound
sleep, the perils, agonies and fatigues of the day.
With the first glimpse of morning, Joseph and Martin rose
and were greeted by the hermit with a cordial "good-day,''
and a crowd of questions concerning their families, their
country, and the various incidents that had marked that fatal
day passed on the battle-field.
The young Zouaves had not done describing the battle of
Castelfidardo, when a 1 at once they saw the door open and a
young girl made her appearance at the threshold. At the
sight of the two strangers she quickly drew back, exclaiming,
" "
Accidcnte ! a word that involuntarily escapes from the
lips of every Italian in moments of surprise, admiration or
terror.
"Come in, Marietta," said the hermit at once, smiling, to
the
"
young girl. Don't be afraid; these brave men that you
pee here have only come to defend the cause of the Holy
Father."
At. these words, Marietta, her fears dispelled, resolutely
crossed the threshold of the cabin and smilingly advanced,
the furniture. But the hermit hastened to open the door of a
second room.
"Bring your poor comrade in saluting
here, my children. Fortu-
the foreign Zouaves with unaffected cordiality.
"Good day, Fra Paolo," she
"
said. My mother sent me to
ask how is your health. "
"Very well, my child," replied the worthy man. -'And
pi-ay tell "
me, how are they at home ?
"Oh! noue of us are ill," replied the young girl, "only
we were terribly frightened yesterday all the time that dread-
And the good old man approached the bed upon which the
young Zouave was already laid. Victor strove to mutter his
thanks in a weak, trembling voice, but the pious hermit immediately
stopped him.
" Above all things, remain perfectly calm and silent, I beg,"
he
"
said gently. It will be time enough to-morrow to thank
me, although the little I've done for you doesn't deserve such
gratitude. Any Christian in my place would have acted like
me."
And removing the bandage, he examined the wound, Joseph
and Martin, profoundly anxious, silently fixed their eyes on
him, and soon siw him shake his head with an uneasy and
mournful expression.
"
Well !" asked Joseph, in a low voice, " is all hope lost?"
"I wouldn't like to deceive you," replied Fra Paolo, serious-
"
ly. If the wound extended only, the breadth of a finger in
this direction, it would now be all over with ful battle lasted. And tell me, were these signori also
"
engaged in it ?
"Alas! yes, Marietta, and I was fortunately able to offer
them shelter after the battle. But you see my poor hermitage
is too narrow for such a number of guests and good friends.
Fcr, unfortunately,
your p: or coin-
I have to care for a wounded man, one of
their brave companions in arms. If there's a family in tho
neighborhood upon whom I couid rely to perform this act of
charity along with me, it is certainly yours, my dear girl,
isn't it?"
"Oh ! Fra Paolo, what a good and hnppy thought ! How
happy my dear parents will be to be able to aid the defenders
of the Holy Father ?"
"
Is your brother, Lorenzo, at home ?"
" Not at this moment, for he had to go with a message to
Loreto. But he'll be back shc.rtly before i.oon.''
"Very well; in that case we will not fail to hear the news.
You'll tell him, Marietta, to come to me this evening, so that
before nightfall he may be able to guide these young men, and
introduce them, without danger, into your peaceful dwelling,
where, I hope, they'll receive a cordial and fraternal hospital-
ity, wi.h which they'll have every reason to be satisfied. '
But Marietta made no reply ; she seemed thoughtful,
and, with her eyes fixed on the ground, kept a profound
silence.
"What are you thinking of, my child? You seem to be
dreaming, little one ?"
"I was thinking of the comrade of these x/r/w//-/ that
wounded Zouave, tell me, Fra Paolo, could I see him ?"
"Certainly, my daughter," replied the good hermit. Aud he
at once introduced her into the room where Victor was repos-