The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-04-25
THE PAINTERS WIFE.
[Concluded.1

nave forgiven you out nave promises
my friend, the madarin-for state reasons
which it would be breach of confidence
in me to reveal-to kill you, to kill you
husband, to kill your child. It is sufh
clenu to state that your lives are required
BY the great Dog-star, whose hierophan
l am. Ask me no further. The initiatet
would understand me at once; for Their,
is transcendentafism in these matter
which is as the language of Fi-Fo-Fum t,
those whose eyes have been annoiptet
with grease from the Great Bear. You
time in this world is reduced to ten min
utes and five seconds.
With the putting away of the poinaro
Tor time, Cyrilla had taken her eyes of
1 the Italian, and now sat with her chir
sank on her breast, and her hands Tight,
clasped, broodlng over what she had JUS
heard. TO kill her husband and child
/ That would be thousand times worse
than death to herself. Theodore might
come any minute now-cOme stepping
Jauntlly in through the French window
| to be sprung upon by this madman, ano
stabbed before her eyes. eff onlyI couIC
steady my mind to Think she kent re-
| peating to herself What was it she
had read about the peculiarities OF mao
people? If she could only bring it te
mind
The Italian was watching her narrowly
from under his bent brows. Suddenly,
with that abruptness which marked all
his movements, he got up, and striding to
the easel, flung back the sheet with which
it was covered. He started at sight OF
the picture; but next moment his pom
lard was out, and the canvas stabbed
through in dozen different places.
"Out out! cursed likeness of false
hearted fend!'' he exclaimed. ooh.
that soul SO vile should lodge in husk
so sweet"
If she could only bring it to mind
all at once something seemed to catch her
breath, and she pressed her hand to her
heart for moment, while strange ex-
preston crept over her face, which sub
sided presently into one of her sweetest
smiles. Then she half rose from the
easy-chair, and turned her large soft eyes
full on the young Italian. s'Retro, MILO, y
she said and there was world of mean
ing in her way of saying those two little
words.
The dark frown vanished like a cloud
from the face of the young Italian, and the
light of passion faded from. his eyes when
he heard himself addressed thus; and he
turned on Cyrilla look half-bewiIdered,
half-suspicious, and felt with one hand
for the haft Of his poniard. She was
standing with her head little on one
side, smiling at him and while he was
looking, her rosy lips whispered Come !"
and as If it were a command impossible,
for him to disobey, he came towards he
-tlmidly, cautiously and suspiciously,
but still step by step nearer. As she sank
back in the easy chair, still with the
same fixed smile on her face, her fingers
pointed to low footstool yard or two
away. He understood her gesture and
pushing the irootstooi across the floor, he
seated himself on it close by her chair.
Again the same strange expression swept
over her face as the sleeve of his coat
touched her dress as he sat down; but
the smile was back again next moment,
and her voice took an accent so low and
tender as that Of any love-lorn Juliet
when she next spoke to him.
~ gu naughty boy - she said, and she
pinched his ear playfully, as she spoke,
81 vowyou nearly frightened me to death,
creeping into the room In that stealthy
way, for all the world like the villain in
n.elodrama. How was | to know it was
you behind the curtain2 And then,
when | did see you, | declare you gave
my nerves quite shock. | had heard
such strange stories about your being mad,
and all that, you know, so that my fright
can hardly be wondered at. My poor
Pietro, what you must have suffered y
Every nerve and fibre in the Italian S
body seemed to thrill under the influence
of those loving words and that angelic
smile but his eyes were still full of be-
wilderment, and his lips moved inaudibly
for several moments before he spoke.
''Why do you pity me p he said at last
How can you be glad to see me, when
you know that am here to take your
life %
Cyrilla sighed. "Can you not under
stand my Pietro, she said, that when LIFE
has become burden, it does not seem
such a difficult thing to quit itY'
Your life burden, he said, incred-
ulously. SIN this pretty nest, mated with
the husband OF your choice, your ilte
ought to be very precious to you, Cyrilly"
The opinion Of the world - said Cy-
rilla, with mournful ring in her voice.
Is there not such thing, Pietro, as
being welded to man with whom you
| have nothing in common? You have
read ''Locksley Hail. and you know
what | mean without my saying more.
Once [ had treasure within my grasp,
| but knowing its value, | threw it care
lessly away Do you think that life to
such one can be thing of much value %
She turned away her face, and buried
it in her handkerchief Fastini fell on
his knees before her.
"Cyrilla, Cyrilla say that you love
me, he cried. One of her hands was
lying carelessly on her lap he seized il
and covered it with passionate kisses.
She did no. repulse him; she only said
gently: "You must not do that you
know that you have vowed to kill me. .
mo, no. he cried passionatelv, start
ing to his feet 'sYou shall not die
will intercede for you with the mandarin
The Dog-star himself shall hear your
story, and pity you. Some other life
shall be sacrificed in place of yours yor
shall live Together we shall quit this
hateful England; together in my owl
sunny cline, IL Italy the beautiful, we
wilP'-
The clock on the maniei- piece chimet
midnight.
There sounds the knell of our doom =
said Gorilla with a mournful smile.
cit is the sig: al that summons you te
a new life-to a life of love, and freedom
and happiness - said the Italian L
tells me too" that [ have other worl
still left to accomplish. He laid fnge
lightly on her shoulder. THE man VIII,
calls you wife, the child who calls 20,
mother, they must dieI'
Cyrilla' eyes confronted those of tn
mailman steadily; not the culver of
nerve betrayed the feelings at work with
in her.
Fastini began to move towards tn
him by the button and held him. HI