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


be was very far from anything like com
fort He did, however, feel a sort of saw
age satisfaction in view of the consumma-
ton of his plans, but that satisfaction was
very ftful, for his plans were not yet con
summated
At length he was aroused by the abrupt
entrance Of Matteo. Du Chastel sprang
from his chair, but when he saw who it
was he sat down again, and waited for the
new conner to be also seated Mattco was
very deliberate in his movements. and be-
fore he sat down he quietly loosened the
knife, which he carried in his bosom. SO
that it could be quickly grasped but he
did 1t IN such way that his com panion
did not detect the movement
Now, Matteo," began the knight with
great anxiety, "what word do you bring
back me 2''
q found the cot, Sir Nandon," calmly
replied the fellow
!" nd liz you find the woman2"
avss.
The mother of La Mutt 2"
Yes.
Ha Then you killed her %
No. Sir Nandon, [ did not.n
Did not kill her p uttered the knight,
starting up and looking furious.
Sit down, sit down, Sir Nandon,n
quietly said Matteo
But what could have prevented you
from doing the work after you had found
her :" resumed Du Chastel, sitting back
into his chair. 'Was not the way clear %
The woman and myself were alone in
ha l. I
stout and strong but did not kill her"
Why, fool What madness is this
Has the sight Of sick woman overturned
your brain2 Have ye become a coward 2
"a child "a trembling, fearing suckline2
o. out upon thee You swore to me that
you would kill her 2"
Nay. Sir Nandon, I did not swear"
replied Matteo, not at all moved by the
taunts of his employer; or, if he was
moved, he did not show it. ''I did not
swear; but even if | had l would have
broken my oath "
By the mass sirrah, you must have
had some motive in this Perhaps you
mean to make me pay heavier sum for
the job You like the color of gold
You hit wide of the truth, sir" said
Matteo and. since you are not likely to
guess it, | will tell it to you"
Do so, if you please; and no doubt
twill be marvellous affair" responded
Du Chastel, with bitter sarcasm
Just listen to me, Dn Chastel, resumed
Matteo, IN a deep, serious tone Many
years ago [ had mother"
: But that woman is not your mother ?"
uttered the knight, starting up.
Listen to me-" sternly pursued the
other. '' once had mother She may
not have been so mild and moral as some
mothers; but [ loved her, for she was all
| had on earth to love; and she loved me,
too. Some said [ was the child Of shame,
but [ felt no shame in loving my mother,
nor did she feel shame in owning me
Our home was in the mountains. aud there
[ first learned to be the wild and reckless
man | have since proved myself But it
was not my mothers work She tried to
make me better, and | have seen her cry
[ have seen great tears roll down her
cheeks, when the fear was upon her that [
should be a great villain"
But what of all this 2n impatiently
exclaimed Du Chastel 8 would know
why you did not xiii this woman. | care
not for your mother"
Patience, Sir Nandon. and YOU shall
know what it has to do with the work |
have left undone," resumed Matteo, OK
hibiting for the first time a slight degree
of anger. g My mothers cot was beyond
the great pass of Saint Jean Pied de Port.
and at that time strong party of brigands
those wonderful Businesses. Some
of them often sought shelter beneath my
mothers roof She did not invite them
there, nor had she the courage to turn them
away, and yet she would have given the
half of her little property to have been
well rid of them, for she found that they
were leading me into love Of their mode
of life. | began to neglect her hoeks, and
weeds grew up in her garden.
= One night, when | came home from
the mountains. found my mother weep.
ing most bitterly; and when | asked her
why she wept, she told me that, through
my neglect, some of her best goats had
been lost. Ipulled handful of gold from
my pocket. and [ thought that would COM
fort her; but | was mistaken She knew
where I got the gold. and she wept more
than before; and upon her knees she beg
ged of me to give over the evil life upon
which [ had entered"
A curse upon both thee and thy moth
er !" bitterly interrupted Du Chastel.
Curse me, sir + hoarsely whispered
Matteo, trembling from head to foot
= but beware how you use the name of my
mother -
But what is all this TRADE to me 2"
continued tie knight, in lower key.
mean simply to show you that nv
mother was not to blame that | am a vii
lain. 1t has been long while since I
have spoken of her; but now the theme
is opened, and | must speak
I" Then speak briefly, and spare me the
hearing of that which does not interest
me. [ would know why you did not kill
the woman
And you shall kno.y it. DIRECTLY" re-
sumed Matteo " For a while after the
loss of the goats, | remained at home hut
the brigands came again. [ drank and
sang with them, aud then went away with