Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-11-15
MISCELLANY.
THE HOUR OF REVENGE.

I am an organ-grinder. am very PLAIN,
humble man; and one who has known his share
of sorrow | am not old. for | have only reach
ed the age of thirty; but it seems to me that
have lived very long time. | was born III
Jtalv me. ON the Slope of the Apennines, where
they lool; down on the fertile plains OF Iusca-
nv Almost the first objects on whichmy eyes
rested were the great Duomo, shining III the
rich sunlight and the bright thread of the Ar
no. winding among the marble walls OF Flor
ence.
NV parents were very poor. You do not of
ten see such poverty in this favored land. We
were father. mother, and four children, and we
had only one little hut to live in. We worked
hard in the rich fields of the great gentleman
in the plain below us. We ate our brown
bread and our simple fruits in contentment, and
bore our troubles cheerfully. In spite OF our
hard lot we were very happy. We had much
70 be thankful for. Around us was the pure
mountain air. above us the calm, bright sky,
"a below us-everywhere-was Italy.
NJ life passed on as quietly as the lives OF
my fellows until l was twenty years Old
Ilen It changed
Onc day had fingered longer than usual in
tS9 fields where was working. The sunlight
was 60 warm. and the vines looked so lovely,
that had not the heart to go away. AS lin
gerei thus, shadow across my path made me
| look Up, and I saw young girl standing by
me. She was about my own age, tall, stately,
! end oe beautiful as the Madonna and, like me,
SIS VAS a peasant.
IN Italy, we simple folks do not take long to
become acquainted, for we do not cucumber
ourselves with the forms and ceremonies of our
! = =. . -, f,irl o,,1
Sic was employed in the same fields and she
had come with her father to live just below me
ON the mountain slope We waited and talked
| lcDr in the vineyard, and when we climbed the
mountain toward our homes the shade lay up
on it, and the lights of Florence were cleaning
in the valley below.
After this | was with Blanca almost con-
| stantly. We went to our daily task together
! and returned home hand in hand. In the field
| STAYED by her, and lightened her task 10y IN
creaSing my own. How 1t came about know
not. and YOU would not care to hear but it
ended as all such things do for both rich and
poor; and one evening, as we parted at the
door, held her to my heart, and heard her say
al love you, Pietro."
After that we had short but perfect happi-
necs. We looked forward to the day when We
|
tain so~e. end be no more parted for life. We
had &c fcar Of meeting with poverty, for We
had coatended against it all our lives. We on
" knew we loved each other very dearly; anc
| We tlouCht we could be happy in our new lot
The owner of the fields in which we worked
was an Austrian nobleman, who held higf
rank in the army of those who crushed Italy
to the earth. He loved neither Italy nor the
Italians.
Only few months before Blanca and wer,
TO be married he came to visit his estate. Ii
was not long before he saw Blanca. Her beau
" pleased him, and he resolved upon her rum
| What matters it 10 him? He was lord of the
estates. a great nobleman, and she only pool
peasant girl.
One day while | was working in the vine
ward. heard her call my name and scream fol
help. In an instant was by her side. Sht
was struggling with the Austrian lord, wht
sought to kiss her. AS she saw me she broke
from him and sprang into my arms. The vel
low-baired Austrian foamed with rage.
'Stand away, dog" he shouted. "Releas'
Il will not release her " 1 cried Indignantly
"She is mine-she is my promised wife J!
He carried riding-whip with him at th'
time. and with this he struck me. The hot i
Italian blood within me flushed up in my face
and. almost before l knew it, laid him, bleed
ing and senseless, on the ground. In a mo
ment | was calm again, and bending down,
found that had not killed him.
My happiness was ended. must fly from
NV home. must leave Blanca. We did no
sneak. but gazed into each others eyes witt
the anguish we could not utter. clasped be
in my arms, and held her there long. tolC
her towait patiently; thatif escaped, ! woul'
t,il faithfully to gain the money to bring he
TO me. wherever / might be. Then l kisseC
her lips for the last time, and fled.
7 was successful-I reached Turin in safety
From there went to Genoa, where obtained
employment as boatman. Iworked steadily
but / did not realize my bright anticipations
Money came to me very slowly-ah, so slowly
for nv wages were small. / saved all
could, and at the end of three years had bare
" enough to bring Blanca to me. Then go
f-;o-,l A., ,,--,to ~ orIv rarish pTltSt and asl