Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-08-03
Select Gale.
From the French of Alexander Dumas.
A mARFIAGE ON THE SCAFFOLD.
BY ELIZABETH o'gARA.
BY ELIZABETH O'HARA.

delivers into the hands OF justice the Calabrlan
bandit Rocco del Pzzo, dead or alive.
isabella Of Arragon, Regent
Three days afterwards man presented him.
self to the minister Of police, and declared that
he had an unlaing means Of finding Ihs cul.
prit, but that instead Of the offered gold, he re.
qured boon which The regent only could grant.
aud that, therefore, he would treat with her on
ly. The minister in answer said that he would
not disturb her highness for such Irihe; that
they had promised four thousand ducals, and
nothing else; thai if he wished 10 earn them he
had but 10 deliver Rocco del Plzzo, aud that
sum should be Immediately counted Out TO him.
The stranger dsdainlully Withdrew. That
same evening so bold robbery took place be.
tween Resins and Tore del Greco, thai all a.
greed that none but Rocco del Plzzo could have
commilted it. The next day, when Isabella
gave audience TO her minister she asked what
had been discovered with regard 10 this outrage.
He had discovered nothing; now, as ever, the
perpeuaIor had disappeared, and was, in all
probability, already busy at the other extremity
of the kingdom; he, however, recOllecIed the
man who had the day before offered to deliver
up Rocco del PIzzo, and repealed all the details
oil their interview 10 the regent, adding, Thar as
this person insisted on personally addressing her
highness, he thought II unsafe 10 grant such a
request 10 stranger.
You were wrong said the regent; seek this
man and bring him to me-
The minister reured, promising TO set all his
agenls at work; and on reaching his office he
sent forth his spies with full powers To search
for the Stranger and deiuln hun but without o.
Iherwise lnconvenlencng him. Nevertheless
the day passed away in useless inquiries; that
night second and more audacous robbery look
place al Aversa, leaving no doubt that Rocco
del Plzzo was drawing nearer to the capital
The poor. minister OF police began to regret
most sincerely having SO positively refused 1he
strangers offers, and his regret augmented
when The regent sent notice in the course Of the
following day 10 know if he had yet discovered
the stranger. Unfortunately, his regrets were
useless; this day, like the preceding one, clap.
ed without his gaining any clue OF his mysse-
rious auxiliary; buI night brought fresh catas'
trophe.
Al day break a man was found, stark naked
and dead, with poignard still qulverng in his
heart, on the road between Amalh and Cava--
and, right or wrong, public opinion attributed
this new crime 10 Rocco del Plzzo. The body
was recognized TO be that OF a young nobemuu
known as Raymond the bastard, and who, des-
pie the bar sinister, was acknowledged as re.
laIion by The powerful house of Carraccolo,
those elerLal iuvOrlleS or the Neapomn queens;
and one OF the members OF that family was then
said 10 hold in the regents court, the hereditary
office of lover.
This lime the minister was in utter despair;
the more so, that but half an hour after receiv-
ing his reports, he was summoned before the re-
gent; and, on arriving at the palace, he found
her in great anger, with Antonlell CaTraccoo,
the brother of The murdered man, by her side.
Isabella harshly asked the poor man, if he had
yet found the stranger; he had secured the
squares, streets and lanes of Naples, and was
no farther advanced. The regent granted him
that day to continue his search, declaring that
ifIhe next day he had not seen The stranger, or
taken Rocco del Pzzo, he need only appear be-
fore her her 10 yield up his place, Count An :
toniello CarraccioIo having declared that Rocco
del Pizzo alone could have committed this
crime. As the minister was returning from his
audience in great lrlbulaIlon, he thought he saw
a resemblance to his incognito in man who
was basking in the autumn sun on the other
side of The square, closely muifled in large
cloak. He fell as if nailed to the ground; he
trembled lest his eyes had deceived him, but
the longer he looked, The more certain he was;
he advanced towards hun, and he now distinct.
ly recognized his man. The other allowed
him to approach him without sIirring-you
might have taken him Tor statue; the minister
caught him by The shoulder, as if fearful he
would vet escape him. 'Ah,' cried he, al last
is it youl'
Yes, Ills me- replied the stranger, what do
you want with meP
i wish to take you to the regenG she desires
to speak with you.
'Indeed it is rather Late
sHow. rather Iale!' asked the minister, fear.
ing the revealer would reveal nothing, what do
you meant
Il mean, tha, if you had done three days ago
what you are now doing, the police records ol
Nsples would show Two theiIs and one assassl-
naliOn the less
'What' said the minister, you have not
changed your mind, | nope
Il never change IT,
'You will bring Rocco del Pizzo to me, if we
agree TO your dsmandsP
without doubt
you can sill do so!'
'AS easily as now yield myself
'Follow me, them
'One instant. shall see the Regent herself,
and aIone!'
Herself, and Alone
Il am ready
'One word more-before entering, you must
give up your arms to the officer on guard. Ii
is the etiquette OF the court
Il know itis-itis is thing Of course
you CONSENT
'Why not!'
Follow me-
They walked towards the place, the minisel
seeming TO fear that his mysterious companion
might yet disappear, and soon reached the re-