The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-03

Bnt all in vain, Sleep fled my eyes aH
gained littlo salmness only when the day
began to dawn felt quite certain that The
man who had caused me 10 do such misdeed
would not denounce me aud made mp my
miud to open my shop as usual, and put the
best possible countenanee on the matter. But
q new cause OF alarm now presented itsef.--
Ny Greek bodnet, my girdle, and my knife
were missing aud ] could not feel certain
whether l had lett them in the apartment, or
lost them in the street during my confused
flight home. twas most likely that the first
was the case aud thereby should be discoV-
cred as a murderer.
At the accustomed hour / opened the shop.
My neighbor came as usual, Tor the sake Of
gossip.
eWhat do you think Of the horrible tragedy
that occurred last night2' he asked. 7eI
lappeared as if did not understand him
as if knew nothing.
'sWhat not know what all the town knOwsf
Not know that the beautiful flower of Flor
enee, that Blanca, the daughter Of tho Cover
nor has been assassinated during the past
night2 ] saw her only yesterday in all the
glory OF her beauty, riding through the streets
with her bridegroom, for to-day her marriage
was to have been n'eelebrated.
Every word was a dagger in my heart; and
trembled for my own safety. Every custo-
mcr who came to the shop, repeated the same
story; and each successive one made the tale
more horrible than the former. But the truth
that | alone could tell, was the most hUrrible
OF all. About noon, .GD officer OF justice
came to me, aud demanded private audience.
''SignOr Zalencos, = said he, exhibiting the
very articles which had lost, edo these things
belong TO you.'
81 hesitated moment to consider whether
IL s,,.k Dsku
through the hall open door my Landlord, who
would perhaps witness against me, | deter
mined not to make matters worse by telling a
lie; and therefore answered the MAS, qpss-
tin in the affirmative. The officer then de-
sired me to follow him; and he conducted me
to large building, which so0h recognized
rs aprisdn, | was then placed in q cell tll
further orders respecting me were Issued.
NV position was an awful one; and the more
Ireflected on it, the more terrible it did ap-
pear. The idea of having cOnitted murder,
though uRinteRtiOnally, weighed heavily on
my heart, aud moreover, | could not conceal
from myself that it was the love Of gold
which had captiVated my senses and caused
me to fall SO blindly into the trap. After a
few hours imprisonment, was taken from my
cell and conducted below into large esloon.
There, on either side Of loug black sable
were sitting tAelve men; most Of them Ctd..
The other parts Of the room were crowded by
spectators among who noticed many ,Of the
moAt considerable men Of Florence. When |
had approached the black table, there rose a
man Of melancholy countenapce. 1t was the
Governor. He said that as the father OF the
murdered girl, he could not sit as Judge on
the trial of the murderer; and he would there
foee cede his place to the eldest Of the sena-
tors. A venerable old man of more than,
ninety years then took the chair. His shOul-
ders were bowed down BY age, and few white
hairs on the temples were all that Time had
left him. But his eyes were still brilliant,
and his voice was strong, sonor0us and firm.
He asked me the usual questions; and | Tela-
ted to him all the particulars, as far as | knew
them, relative to the melancholy event, adding
that presumed the deceased had received 1
sleeping dFaught before retiring to bed.--
Whilst relating my tale InOticedth that the Gov
ernor turned pale and red alternately, and
when | had finished, he started furiously
up.
''Whatl wretch" he exclaineato tome; twill
you burden another with the crime which
you from mere avarice have commIttedg'
The Judge rebuked him for bis ihterFnp-
ton; and added that it was not proved yet
that avarice had caused the crime to be per!
petrated, as according TO his (the Governors 81
own testimony. nothing had been stolen
from the deceased. Some further details were
gone into, and letters were now requested
from the Governor, which related to the
former life Of his daughter. Then the
trial ended for the day. conceived new
lQpes-perhaps s0ine connection would be
dOlit' aared hatEeen her and the red cloo
/ 30, fufr NJ Jtn1as tlae - l0hs ll,fe 4 J.
lowing day, the hall of justice. Several l1f
ters were open on the table. The judge ask
ed me if recognized the handwriting; | told
him they were in the same handwriting as the
notes had received The letters contained
menaces and threats to the deceased and warm
ihgs against the marriage she was about to
contract. | could sec by the manner in which
was treated that day, that the Governor had
been acting agaiRS. me. My answers were
not believed; and as the letters bore the ini-
tial e., they were thought to have emenated
from me. All hope had departed my breast,
and when, on the following day, !. was re-
conducted into court, | was convicted Of a. pre-
meditated murder. Judgment was prononn-
ecd was to be put to death.
In theeyening OF this dreadfnl day was
sitting IN my solitary prison, all my thoughts
fxed upon death, when the door Of my cell
was opened and gave entrance to q man, who
for some time looked on mo in silenee.
And i It thus lsfnd yoa2' be at last ask
At first sight had not recognized him, but
The sounds Of his voice called to my mind re-
collections Of times long past. It vas Yaletty;
oneof the few friends had been intimate
with while pursuing my earlier studies. He
told me thal he had aoeiaently cone to Flor
ence, where bis father was residing and occu-
pying > high station. He bade me tell him
all, without concealing She slighiest eireum.
stance, however uniav0rable to myself. ltold
him the whole affair, assuring him that no
other guilt was upon me, save that dazzled BY
the bfightness 81 gold, / had blinded ne 70
the impFohahility Of the stronger story.
80. Yea did not know BisneaS,'' be asked.
assured him had never seen her until
( The fetal niaht. sr.
4, Valetty now told rae that Z tsrrIble mysterY
hung ever the whole and that The Governor
hadpFessed tho enquiry with the greatest hpr-
~. AramoE had been circulated, Ae added,
that. 70 sTenge myself for Bianeass marriage,
had murdered her I3old him that s6ch 3
ecnIeetnFs n.izh! b aFplieaala 70 the lred
mantle maa, but II was Certainly not applica-
bic tom ne. Valetty, before leaving, embraced
me warmly, and exhortaa ne to courage.