Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-01-19
TINE AMBITIOUS BRIeAND.
A STORY on HAPLKs.

q
Naples foot. He proceed I'd to The poor quarter Of
the town. where be hired old untenante house, That
all the people round believed to be haunted He paid
half YEARS rent in advance took possession, bought
lew necessary srcls of furniture laid in heavy STOCK
Of provisions and shut himself in sec'u'lon
All the gossips, of course wondered who he was where
he came from what he intended to d. and 30 on but
as they did not like to venture Lgury TO the only
person who could give them the desir ed information,
they had thing left for it but random guessss and
mysterious spezllaions.
DAYS and weeks past, and nothing seen OF the
strange tenant, neither coming out going IN, nor
yet any of the windows, ali OF hch remained Closed
an upper one, that, from its situation, Dooody
could see mo Then of the peighbors said the
mao was no man. bat mere apparitio Others, that
be bad gone 10 as .sh and blood had since been
spirited away by the demons OF the place.
At last, the police went TO iuvestgs e the mystery
Their demand tor admttauce answered by the R IN
himsel-a TALL dark personage With deep blue eyes and
penetrating look-who, in the most polite manner 10
vited them TO- sho we'd them all over bis 'orc farDtsh
ed house. ADD treated them to the oest De had he
told them be Spsniard BY birth, student from
choice. recuse from whim, and sooihsayer by Ia
They hsde him predict his own tate, and then
arrested aud took him before magistrate A. ths
latter could fad nohiag against him, ne let Nun on
With 6oe and few days imprisonment. AS be was
being taken away, he cried OUT 10 the hr srng OF many
Let him who has condepntd without cause beware
OF the Judgment that VIII 5000 be pssstd upon MIN Ia
another world -
itu Us ALTER the l-iler 'Hc
trate died. aud no one could tell the reason way
rnee sere those VINO oeced the prediction OF the
former and nosed the fact about and ten certain PER
sons who believed in such thugs ca ne to see him
One night lady clme to hla disguised in male at
tlre.
al want tn speak with Seuer alencio," she said
81 am be-" replied the fortune-telIsr
he knew her Gs the Countess CaVapti-tOr he was
Lot what be seemed and had met her under very differ
ent circumstances be kept this to himself and
he III al rIara CR1 U
with him in bis poorly furnished study the lady said
''5enor Vaencio you reportei TO know the tu-
ure-to know about things and events before they
pen-can you tell me why aul here?'
ut is Of impossible for se oil thing4"
he replied, only what is giver ME to snow for pur
pose will Venture to sly, however, in your case, that
you seek TO be loormed how long the Count CaVant
will live"
Tue lady started aud her checks grew pale.
care all our secret thoughts thA., knoWn," she ex
claimed.
EYES," returned Valencia, soleuaIy" all known;
but all not known to mo1tais, else would some
undone"
"Who you ?" ielna ,ded the other, turning full
upon him. though the dim light of the apartment did
not permit her very distinct view OF his features.
/" Methnks," she said, coming up close and almost
,hrus ing her face into hiH." we have met before"
where ?" demanded Valencia, sternly.
IL do not know where"
"Stand off, tuen and do not strive to remember
too nuch."
'Ha that vo:c4 | know that tone of command.
You are, them other than Rondinel, chief OF brig
ands, whom first met among the wild hills overshad-
owing Lake Colano."
swell, is the remembrance pleasant to yeur lady
ship ?" inquired the brgand, cooily
My ledyshipF
"Bah WY seem to be astonisbed Do you sup-
pose know less OF Counters Cavanti THAI she OF Rou
dinetIi ?"
$50 ther rel olled the countess biting her iips cit
ma hat hOth have here
"And should both work for each others iaterest,"
said the Chief OF the brigands. What | do to
serve the fair Countess Ca7ant :"
81 suppose trust each other ??
81 suppose shall if separate alive" replied
the bandit.
"Do you guess at what want ?" asked the Coua-
tess
81 think do--the death of your husband for one
thing "
"Aud what else ?"
"rhe death OF the Dutchess Duearr1r'
"You do, indeed, Know OF me than thought"
said the Countess, gazing upon him with expression
of wonder. "For what purpose you here -
Your pardon fair Countess, bat that ia my secret
May l ask what brought you to Dt?"
"Wel, heaid the story, thro' the gossip OF the ser
wants. of q strange coming to thisold houEe and
shutting hinset up 10 complete usiou OF his sub
sequept arrest Imprisonment aud prediction concerning
the magistrate, aud since that Of other death
predictions that have come to 1nss and ft strong
desire to consult him, thinking it not improbable that
where it might be to bis interest to predict death,
death would be certain to follow"
In Oil er words,'' said the bandit "you believe me
| to be proe ssional murderer r
| Something OF that Kind, confess"
| And nowr'
~ trust have no to change my opinion -
You are plain and s,raig htforwari all even Is
don't object 10 that h,W-ver. Well now that we 40.
ders'and each Other, what do you require of met"
| "Ycu have already Damed what l most DESIRE"
The dea Il The count ADD lhe duchess"
Vac md vil midi la To ~ re
You have only to Lame your price,"
And what OF the Duke DucairArt'
| 30, be must not be hal Ned ~
IL understand" SAID the br1gaEd, With peculiar
Iook the Couah Is Cavanti would wed the Duke IIu
carrar ~
I go map seek not to know every thing - exclaimed
the lady, in irrated tone. Come, viii you under
| take what want done e
81 will give you the means to az ;ompsh tue work
yourself" said the outlaw. {" l have coorlesa poison
that is slow but sure 1t needs but few drops c
cup 81 water wine. 1t produces pain no suffer-
ing CT any kind and it's effects not apparent for two
three days. Then the patient begins to complain of
dts in less than month This poison cannot be de-
tscted in the system and there s not physician that
knows its antidote"
The very thing" cried the countess, give me that
poison and will accomplish the rest"
The countess and the brgs nd finally agreed upon
would not dispose of the antdoe for any consideration
whatever Hetold her, however that should she dig
cover any friend of hers suffering from the effects of
this poison, to to him at once and ne would ar
range with her to save the party.
For several weeks longer Rondnel remained in that
old house, never going out himself, and now and then
receiving visitor. There some talk of arrestng
him again, but thra was opposing influence in high
quarters, and it was never done. It would not have
been done had The police even attempted it, for the for