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228 . the miracles of antichrist
Over the black lava fields a railroad train came
gliding along on newly laid shining rails. It was
a festal train. There were flags along the whole
road, there were wreaths on the cars, the seats were
covered with purple cushions. At every station
people stood and cried in exultation : " Long live the
king, long live the queen, long live the new railroad ! "
She heard it distinctly, for she too was on the
train. Ah, how honored, how honored she was! She
was called into the presence of the king and queen,
and they thanked her for the new railroad. " Request
a favor of us, princess," said the king giving her
the title, which the ladies of the Alagona race had
borne in days of old.
" Sire," she answered, as one answers in fairy tales,
" grant freedom to the last Alagona! "
And it was vouchsafed her. The king could not
say no to a prayer from her, who had built that
excellent railroad, which would enrich all Etna.
When Donna Micaela lifted her arm, so that the
sleeve of her dress glided back, it was noticed that she
wore as a bracelet, a ring of rusty iron. She had
found it on the street, forced it over her hand, and
wore it now always. As soon as she saw it or touched
it she grew pale, and her eyes no longer saw anything
of the world around her. She saw only a prison, such
as Foscari’s in the doge’s palace at Venice. It was a
dark, narrow cell, light filtered in through a grated
aperture, and from the wall hung a large bunch of
chains encircling the prisoner’s legs, arms and neck
like snakes.
May saints perform miracles ! May people toil!
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