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228 . the miracles of antichrist
" If I am allowed to destroy the testament," said
the syndic, " I promise you that the blind shall have
back their church."
It became quiet in the market-place. Donna Elisa,
who had been sitting in the council-room, rose
and clutched the back of her chair with both
hands.
" I allow you to choose between the church and
the numbers," said the syndic.
" O Lord in heaven ! " sighed Donna Elisa, " is he
a devil, who tempts the people in that way!"
" We have been poor heretofore," one woman
cried, " we can remain poor."
" We shall not choose Barrabas instead of Christ,"
cried another.
The syndic took a match-box out of his pocket, lit
a match and carried it slowly up to the testament.
The women stood still and saw Fra Felice’s five
winning numbers destroyed. The church of the
blind was saved.
" It is a miracle," whispered old Donna Elisa,
" they all believe in Fra Felice, and they permit his
numbers to burn. It is a miracle."
......
Later in the afternoon Donna Elisa sat again in
her shop at her embroidery frame. She looked old,
and wasted and broken down. It was not the
Donna Elisa one was accustomed to see there, it was a
poor, old, forsaken woman.
She drew her needle listlessly out of the cloth, and
as she put it down again, she was slow and uncertain.
She had difficulty in preventing the tears from
dropping on the embroidery and ruining it.
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