Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-09-07
WHOLE NUMBER IOI.

nave ~ uIeSs myself In the costume of a
mountaineer. After supper l have an excur-
sion to make, in which my boots and spurs
would incommode me.
You have to go out, after sumner I in
quiredl
Yes, resumed he, have a-rendezvous.
smiled
-Oh, not IN the sense you seem to take il:
mine is rendezvous of business.
DO you believe me sufficiently presump-
tuous TO think myself entitled to your conf
dence1
Why notl We ought to live in such a
way as to be able openly to say all we do
L never had mistress and shall never have
one. If my brother marries, and has chill
dren, It IS probable that | shall never marry.
If, on the contrary, my brother does not take
himself wife, will have to do it; so as not
to let our race disappear. / have told you.
added he smiling, | am perfect savage; and
L have come into this world hundred wears
too late; but if | continue to talk such nom
sense, | shall not be ready for supper.
But we can continue our conversation.
Leave your door open and we will chat
You had better come into my apartment;
shall dress in my bedroom During that
time, II, as 1t appears, you are an admirer of
arms, you may examine mine. There are
some that have certain historical value.
His offer suited too well the desire had
TO compare the rooms of the two brothers. not
to accept of 1t. consequently followed my
host, who, opening the door of his apartment,
proceeded to lead the way.
This time fancied l had entered verita-
bic arsenal.
All the furniture was of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries; the bedstead with a cary
ed canopy supported by large columns, was
hung with green damask interspersed with
gold flowers; the curtains of the windows
were of the same material; the walls were
covered with Spanish leather; and in all the
intervals there were pieces of furniture SUD-
porting trophies of gothic and modern arms.
The inclinations of him who inhabited this
room could not be mistaken; they were as
war!lke as those of his brother were peaceful.
There, said he, as he stepped into his
bedroom, you are now in the midst Of three
centuries; examine all; meanwhile shall
dress myself as mountaineer, for, as have
already informed you, have to go out imme-
ately after supper.
We'll, now, which amongst those swords.
arquebuses and poniards, are the historical
arms you have spoken of!
There are three: let US proceed in order.
Seek at the head of my bed an isolated pom
lard, with large shell at the pommel form
ing seal.
i am there, well7
This is Sampie1o's poniard.
of the famous Sampiero, the assassin of
Vanna1
The assassin no, the murderer.
1t appears to me that it is the same thing.
Perhaps so all over the world but not in
Corsica.
And this poniard is authentical!
See. 1t bears the coat of arms of Sampi-
ero 1; only the ''feur de lis'' of France, is not
yet there. You know that Sampiero was au-
thorized to wear the ''ieur de lis'' only after
the siege of Perpignan.
but how did this poniard come into your pos
session.
o! 1t has been in the family for three
hundred years. 1t was given to Napoleone
de Franchi by Sampiero himself
And do you know at what occasion7
Yes. Sampiero and my ancestor fell in
to an ambuscade of Genoese, and defended
themselves like lions; Sampiero's helmet
broke off, and Genoese on horseback was
just lifting his mace to strike him down, when
my ancestor plunged his dagger into him at
the lower end of his armor. The knight
feeling himself deadly wounded put the spurs
to his horse, and in his flight carried off the
dagger which stuck SO deep in the wound
that Napoleone could not pull it out. 1t ap-
pears that my ancestor regretted SO much to
have lost his dagger, that Sampiero gave him
his own. Napoleone lost nothing by the ex-
change, as this one is of Spanish make, as
you can see, and pierces two five franc pices
laid one upon the other.
May try it,
Certainly.
laid two five franc pieces on the floor and
struck one vigorous and dry stroke. Lucien
had told me right. When lifted the poniard
up, the two pieces were fixed on the point, cut
through and through.
Very well, said /, this is truly Sample
ro's dagger. But what surprises me, is that,
possessed of such an arm, (weapon,) he took
a rope to kill his wife,
He had il no more, said Lucien, since he
had given it to my ancestor.
Very true.
-Sampiero was more than sixty years old,