The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-13


Il say enough of this old man exclaimed St. John
| staring wildly at the image.
Henry .LeGrand should have loved so fair wife,
captain"
She"
''Was true to her husband-yet he murdered herr
said female voice which seemed to issue from the ips
of the image, and in softest Tuscan.
'Ha! it spcaks-your phantom speaks, Benditton
calculated St. John growing ghastly pale. But pshaw
know its some trick"
'Henri! Henr Dear Henri" said the image in plain
tive notes.
Say, Do youhear the voice." credSt John, ercely.
81 hear no voices save yours and mine,' replied
Mario coldy.
''You lie, old mani You lie." exclaimed St. John,
quiverng with passion, and thinking Il know this is
all trick, Jugge, but great heaven how that voice
appalIs me. The voice of the dead"
The image faded from view, and St. John laughed
loudly to hide his terror.
"A capital trick, Benditto but all lost upon ns
have seen enough This folly is fit only 1yr Esgls.a
'Do you think LeGrand ever felt rercreg for Ais
crime, signor captain?" demanded Mario carslassiv
Summon him from the grave and ask him, " replied
St. John sneeringly.
81 will summon one from the grave to warn you
brother Of LeGrand," said Mario, again striking Ao
table
The curtain rose and an aged man clad IN ca -y rofss
seemed to advance to the very edge of the recess
Count Mario as saw him in the picture al ureHe4
gasped st. John, with difficulty pestranins cry Bud
this image is alive its eyes fash and movo-t raises
its hands-ho! there is some sorcery here
Go not at midnight to meet Rosetta the wine sell
lerS daughter" said the image pointing Ohm; aa0
when he heard those words drew his sword esrire.
This is too much, old man. Let me leave J4a auD
of trickery!"
You warned. Harm not Rosetta, or the deed
though it be but scratch will haunt you in the he'll to
which all such you doomed said the man in the
recess, who other than Benditto.
Victor ST. John though startled almost to a panic
snatched pistol from his sash, and was i'll the Of
raising it to fire when the apartment made as dark
Is midnight in the twnkling of an eye
''Ht or miss cried st. john firing the pistol at
dom, and then flashing around him with his SABRE
Make light, Old wizard I'll have your house torn
down about your ears. Light, | say!"
The apartment was Illuminated in an Instant Mario
stood calmly if nothing had happened, but the
curtain had fallen over the recess.
sold man" said st. john with his voice trembling
with rage you have presumed too far upon your years
Before leave you | viii give you warning you know
too much! Do you know what that means? But there
are some things you do not know, and which ! shall
teach you ere long. What means this warning re-
CARDS Rosetta: Speak,"
''Sgnor captain, cannot hear what is said by these
phantoms. They address themselves to the minds Of
those interested, +" said Mario soIemuly
st. Johu grated the word "lar" from his set teeth
and tossing his sabre into the scabbard threw on his
cloak grasped the sack of gold and strobe into the hall
Then Mario complied in silence aud swung the door
wide open, the sawart conspirator pointed to three
masked and clOaked men, standing the pavement,
the threshold and said i'll a deep growing tone Of
menace:
Count Mario di Antelli Is no Match for Henri lie
Grand! Good night
The eyes of the two met for instant in fierce
and deadly stare and then st. John strobe away fol-
lowed by his vigiIant satellites
Mario closed the door and staggered back into the
chamber of oraces.
Benditto spTang from the recess clad in the rich dress
Of the FlOrentne nobleman.
"IIe has declared HIMSELF Benditto, and avowed his
recognition Of me, said Mario "Benditto he is
man; he is a demon. ALI, that my son, Conrad had
lived. am old, teeble-a weak old mau-and you,
BendttO-
81 will outwit this villain or die at Lis feet, said Ben
ditto fercely. Yadak has returned"
And Riyart?'
''Is our prisoner Yadak had no trouble in taking
him. Riyart issued from the company OF his friends
alone just 4adak returned to the spot ladak clled
him with single blow, gagged and brought him here
entering from the rear. But Riyart recovered on the
way and threw something far from him. By its clink
as it struck upon the pavement Yadak thinks it was Il
coin"
"He fears detection a consprator," said Mario
'and sought to rid himself of all proof of compcitv-
The loss be redeemed have the same coin and
of tue same date. will engraye the ign above
its exer9ue. But now let US visit prisoner
CHAPTER xII-THE wINE-sELLER.
While the Florentines examined their prisoner the
unprncpIed Pierre Rivart, let us return to 1ioa's
lover, the noble minded Henry Allison.
Accompanied by the sergeant and follower he
rode at full speed to the mansion Of Col Hartly and
was there Informed that the colonel was visiting at
Monsieur NalIes-Henrys grandfather. The party
were at Vales hCsptable home, and at the first
summons the old French gentleman to the door.
"Ah my son" exclaimed Vale 'arc you there! Ride
to your mOther-my daughter very ILL., but better
this evening What from the camp? and where is
the general, your tather?'
Il have Just left my mother, my dear grandfather"
said Henry. "lIy father is with her We fear she is
diving"
"Ia-dying Jean? Rupert? my carriage you rascals2"
cried the alarmed grandfather. Make haste-every-
body! Quick! my dear Laurette dying?"
rs Col Hartly hercz' asked Henry.
Il am here, captain, said the cooneladvancng upon
the piazza. "You saw Viola then, did you not?"
''She is not there now sir" replied Henry.
Not therc?' exclaimed Col. Harty. 81 and my friend
Vale accompanied her little than hour or so
ago
''Where is your carriage tonight" asked Henry.
|In stable on Toulouse street, my dear boy. An
accident compelled Viola to leave it in the street; and
Cuba our black driver placed it in empty stable or
cariage-shed the nearest at hand One of the horses
died in the street, the other Cuba led to my house"
'Aud Clarke your white driyer.n HAS not left his
you mean by all these questions? Good heaven has
anything happened to Viola
Something very dreadful, colonel replied Henry.
''She has disappeared under very suspicious circum-
stances.o
Henry then related the story and as he concluded the
veteran bowed his head, and said piously
''She is in thy keeping, Lord The child Of my old
age! And lost"
Take heart, my noble friend" cried Vale, as his
carriage swept around from the rear to the gate.
'Come, will hurry to old friend Paul, the wine
seller Did you say Carlos the SPaniard! Why, life Of
my soul! that fellow is OF the friends of Victor st.
John, whom have ever despised"
Victor st. John" exclaimed Henry. 'Ride back
sergeant-tnd that genteman-arrest him. Hmy sus-
pcions prove groundless will give Linn any and every
satisfaction"
Victor st. john" thought Col Hartly as he entered
Valle's carriage THE had vengeance in his eye
when l forbade him to enter my house again. Ifmy
poor child is in his power she is lost Guard her. God
of heaven!"
Drve Rupert drive like the wind to Monsieur Pauls
saloon" shouted Vale "Ah-I lorgot-my daughter
is dying-yours is lost-but to the saloon first"
The carriage rolled away rapidly, and Henry Allison
spurred his weafied horse to keep pace with it.
Within a very short time the party reached Pauls
saloon.
Consult Paul, my friends, said Vale. "He has
rnurh uood sense az we'll more had wine n,uSt