The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-29

Aiiiii tilttJ lilNll lllttNt'l, IL
already deceased, was upon the very
thrcsholdof death. Geronimo, naturally
suppoaing this story to be mere sub
tcrfuge, drew his sword, and with much
ado forced his way up to the sick mans
chamber, where he found him stretched
out upon couch, and covered from
head to heel with long cloak. The
noise of the door disturbing him, Aliicri
uncovered his face, and looked out with
a countenance so horribly puckered by
anguish and distorted, that Geronimo
for an instant forgot his purpose; but,
recovering himself from the shock, he
asked ficrccly for the letters.
The dying wretch answered to this
demand with n deep groan, and remov-
ing the cloak, he showed Geronimo his
bare arm, which was swellcd rs large
round nearly rs mans body, and quite
black and livid to the shoulder; but the
hand was redder in color, and merely Il
mass of unshapcIy flesh, though without
any pcrceptiblc wound.
"This," said he, pointing to the livid
member, is my punishment for deep
offence to you; and there is your cruel
avCngcr."
Geronimo, turning by his direction
toward the table, at first sight discover
cd nothing deadly, but looking within
little silver box, he discovered small |
dead scorpion, the bite of which, in our
climate, is frequently mortal. Alficri
then motioning to Geronimo to come
nearer, continued with great difficulty
in these words:
"Thcre is certain old oak, with cleft
in it, in the AIarquis's park, which is
but too well known to us both. Ny
evil fortune led me to discover its use to
knowledge, for which | am suffering
these torments. For putting my guilty
hand into the hollow for your papers,
which blush to confess was my object,
| was stung on my finger by this accurs-
ed reptile, who was lurking in the bot
tom of the hole. / have killed it, as
you see, though my own anguish COM
mcnced with its destruction. Notwith-
standing, took away the papers and
ran hither, where, on looking at my
hand, ii was as scarlet as my shame
and my arm was already beginning tC
swell to this monstrous size, and the
convulscd muscles We're all writhing to-
gether, like as many serpents. And
now my pangs, together with the fever
of my remorseless mind, have brought
me to the extremity you behold" Say.
ing which he fell into a fresh fit of
agony, so that the sweat issued in large
drops from his forehead, and his eyes
turned in their sockets with nothing
but the whites upon Geronimo, whosC
flesh crcpt all over with compassion ant
dread.
This paroXysm passing over, he wipcd
away the foam from his mouth, and
began to speak again. but in II much
weaker voice, and by syllablcs.
"Hou scc," said he, "my injuries
have returned, like ardent Goals, upon
my own head. | designed to have sup
planted you, whereas | am myself re-
moved from my place on the earth. Let
me then depart with your forgiveness
for the peace of my soul; while, on my
part, make you amends as far rs
may. And first of all, take this box
with its fatal contents to the Marquis,
and bid him know by this token that
! ,nI NN-n nIN Nrnr.n tn will And hp.
cause | did love, though vainly, let all
my possession be laid at the same feet
where used to knecl; and bcseech hor,
for churity's sake, to bCstOw her prayers
on my departed soul. Tell her my
pangs were bitter, and my fate cruel,
except in preserving her from as horri-
bic Il calamity.n lie then fell back
ward again upon the couch and died.
As soon as he was laid out, Geronimo
went and delivered the message to the
Marquis, whom he found chiding with
Ghi,Olu for her melancholy. As he was
much impressed with the dread ful
scene he had witnessed, he described il
very cloqucntly, 50 that both of his
hearers woge much affected, and eSpc
cially at sight of the box with the dcaC
scorpion. 1t cost Ghisola some fresl
tears, which her lover did not rcproVe
to be told of the expressions which re
lated to herself; but the Marquis wa
still more shocked ut the relation, and
confcssing that it was the Judgment OF
Heaven, he no longer opposed himself
to the union of Ghisola with Geronimo
lie then caused the remains Of ALTER
to be honorably buried; and it was oh
served that Geronimo shed the mos
tears of any one that wept over his tomb