The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-12-28

4
KILLED him. My happiness was end
ed. i must flee from home. / must
leave Blanca. We did not speak, but
gazed into each others eyes with the
anguish we could not utter. clasp
ed her to my arms, and held her
there long. l told her to wait pa
tiently; that if l escaped, I would
toll faithfully, to gain the money To
bring her to me, wherever I might
be. Then kissed her lips for the
last time, and aed.
/ was successful. / reached Tu.
rim in safety. From there ! went to
Genoa, where / found employment
as q boatman. / worked steadily,
but | did not realize my bright anti
cipations. Money came TO me very
slowly--ah, so slowly!--for my wages
were small. l saved all, and at the
end of three years l had barely
enough to bring Blanca to- me-
Then | got friend to write to our
parish priest and ask him to tell her
that L was ready to send for her if
she would come. My letter was new
er answered. My friend wrote for
me again, but still no answer came.
Then my hope faded. Blanca was
dead, thought. Perhaps the cruel
Austrian had killed her, to be re.
venged on me. The time passed by
weari.y, and at last the war for Ital-
ian independence came. I entered
upon the movement with my whole
heart. | loved Italy, and I longed
for her freedom; and besides this,
hoped that | might meet my Austrian
enemy, for | did not doubt that he
would be in the ranks of our foee.
made good soldier, and by the time
the campaign was half over, l had
risen to the grade of sergeant. Still
had not met my enemy. However, |
did not abandon my hope.
At Sollerino the fight was long ard
sanguinary. Toward the close of
the day, when the sun had almost
set, the Austrians made fierce as
sault upon our line. General Fanti
had just told us, that if we would hold
our ground till dark, the victory
would he ours. AS the Austrian line
came on a loud cheer rose from our
ranks, and looking round, l saw the
king bowing low in respose to this
greeting. He said nothing, but
pointed with his sword to the Aus
trans. The bugles sounded the
charge, and with cheer we sprang
forward. We met the enemy half
way. The struggle was short but
decisive. We drove the yellow hair
ed miscreants back in confusion. As
they broke | caught glimpse of an
Austrian officer, who was vainly en-.
deavoring to rally his men. In the
waning light | recognized him. 1t
was the man who had caused all my
misery.
With the fierceness of tiger
sprang toward him. Casting aside
my rifle, l seized him. He cut me
over the head with his sabre, but in
another instant l tore it from his
grasp, and dragged him from his
horse. He recognized me, and his
eyes glared with fury. l had no
weapon with me, having thrown aside
my gun; but | clutched his throat,
and forcing him down, tried TO stran-
gle him. 1 would have done so, had
not the king, who had witnessed the
affair, came up and commanded me
to spare him. told the king my
story, and begged him to allow me
to take my vengeance upon the
wretch; but he dismounted, and bid
ding some of those who surrounded
us to take the Austrian to the rear,
fixed a cross to my breast, and plac.
ed purse Of gold in my hand. He
told me brave man should spare n
fallen foe. and asked me tor the sake
of Italy to forego my revenge. |
was. conquered. The money the
king had given me was quite large
sum for one like me. | saved it
carefully, and when the war was
over, | went back to Tuscany, which
was now free. found my parents
still living; but Blanca was gone
They told me the Austrian iiend had
terrified the poor girl into submls-
sion, and that she had left for France
with her father. / bade my home
farewell once more, and set out to
ind Blanca. l travelled over the
Alps, and reached Marseillcs, in
trance--the generous country that
had given freedom to my native land.
When | arrived in this country was
taken i'll, and when | recovered my
little stock Of money was very low.
With what was left me | had an or
gan made to play the airs loved
best, and which Blanca used to sing
to me. Now | go wandering about,
playing the airs of my far-off home,
hoping that she may hear them, and
that | may find her in this way
Perhaps / shall never see her again,
perhaps / shall die here, and they
will bury me where no one will know
ny grave, or care for the poor Or
gan grinder sleeping there.