Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-07-06

From Gleasen's Pictorial. ]
BY AUSTIN c. BURDICK.
coSrINUEp
CHAPTER XYII-rcoNrISrEnl


he was to kill, and then to Go the work as
quickly as possible, and be off
We are two sick people" he said, as
| soon as Blanche was out of hearing
Most assuredly, we are" returned the
woman.
This locality or rather the road that
runs this way" resumed Matteo, with his
eyes cast towards the bed, so as to catch
every movement of the occupant, seems
1 TO be a most unfortunate one Only a
short time since three men were killed in
the wood Just back of here Perhaps YOU
| heard of it''
Yes replied the invalid, moving un-
easily in her bed. q L heard something
about it."
And then" resumed Matteo, 4" only a
day or two since there was another sad
disaster. An old pilgrim. accompanied
by young man, named Henry Ia Mutt,
was passing through the same wood, to-
wards Pampeluna,-O, my shoulder =
they were attacked, and the young man
was-O, my poor bones !"
But the young man-Henry la Mutt
what of him 2" eagerly cried the woman,
ali her mothers affection coming at once
to her soul.
80, nothing in particular" returned
Matteo, quickly arising from his chair
. You are lis nlother p
The poor woman started up in her bed
and uttered quick cry Of alarm. She
gazed upon the man before her, aud she
saw that he was sound and strong
" Mercy mercy !" she calculated
There is no mercy here !" said the as
sassin. If you were a man you should
not live to ask it but you are woman,
| aud you may pray. just ask God to bless
you--that's all ~
The woman sank back upon her pillow,
and covered her face with her hands, and
while she did so, Matteo moved the candle
upon the shelf at his back where its rays
could shine into her face, but net into his
own.
O." she murmured, this hour has
haunted me for years. [ bad better have
died then, for l was prepared for it But
strike, sir Do your work of blood -
| Y on can do what Montarrago left undone
have prayed"
She raised herself half up as she ceased
| speaking and the rays Of the candle fell
upon her pale features. Matteo took one
step forward, aud the knife fell from his
hand
/ Just God I" he uttered, while every
/ limb seemed fixed as iron.
| The woman started further up, and
gazed upon him, but she could not see his
( dark features. Matteo moved nearer to
the bed side, and looked more searchingly
into those pale features.
VIII you kill me ?" the woman asked,
in faint, whispering tone.
0, God no p gasped the assassin
and as he spoke. he sank down upon his
knees; Il would rather bless you
Tremble no more. for | would sooner lose
my own right hand, than do you breath
| of harm l''
| But you were seat here to kill me, y
the woman said, still speaking in a whisp-
/ er, for she was very faint,
Yes but | will not do it. When
/ your waiting-woman returns, tell her that
[ was better, and went away. Do not tell
her why | came"
/ As he spoke, he arose to his feet, and
turned toward the door, to leave the cot.
But, my son !" urged the invalid, ex-
tending her hands towards the man.
1" lie is safe; | did that only to be sure
that you were the person | sought
And did you not know whom you were
to kill 2"
Only that you were the mother of the
young knight. But ask me no more, for
cannot answer Yet l will ask you one
question. There has been an old pilgrim
/ here gu
YES"
q Is he your friend 2"
think he is
Then l will place him on his guard, il
l can find him or, [ will give your son
the hint; that will he better still God
! bless you -
Without waiting to hear the woman's
murmur of thanks. Matteo picked up his
knife, and fastened from the house. He
stopped for moment outside to look back
upon the cot, and then with long, quick
strides, he FASTENED away.
The smiling stars looked down upon
that humble cot with their twiukiing light.
and the gentle zephyrs of heaven moved
about 1T with soft whisperings of hope
while within there was n woman upon her
knees, with her thin. white hands clasped
upon her bosom, aud with her pale face
turned heaveuward, giving thanks to God
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE STORY OF MOTHER
| II was midnight and Nandon du Chas
tel was leaning back in his high backed
chair, gazing vacantly up at the serpents
heads that formed the points of the vol
utes upon his great cabinet. y large
waXen taper burned upon the table at his
side, and its light was just sufficient to
make the grim heads look hideous as they