Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-01-20

become enrolled among the members OF q
secret society. The mere fact that he be-
longed to it would have decided me; but
the mystery, the secret meetings the IN
known dangers, had an irresisti.
BILE charm for me-, and embraced
his offer with insane Joy;. nor was
it until it was too late to retract
that discovered to what l had really
pledged myself Then, indeed, was
so horror struck, that the sympathy I had
once had with the ends and aims Of the
fraternity died in my repugnance to the
means employed; avoided all par.
ticipation in its schemes as much as l
could from the first, and it was the
desire I felt to escape from the tolls into
which l had blindly rushed, which deter
mined me to come to England. Before |
left, however, l was summonded to meet
ing of the fraternity, at which the destiny
of my life was sealed Years and years
before, a brother had been pursued to the
death by some member Of the French
police whom the chiefs had hitherto failed
to identify; but recent political trial, in
the course Of which the events of q former
conspiracy were brought to light, had re-
vealed him, and the present assembly was
convened for the double purpose of SEN
fencing him to death, and deciding by lot
whose hand should carry out the decree.
For the lapse of time signifed nothing;
the vengeance of the society never dies.
The lot fell to me
81 was allowed to carry out my inten-
ton of pursuing the musical profession in
England, for the present habitation of the
condemned man was not known,
and it was suspected that he was
living under an assumed name in
that country; but was to hold myself in
readiness to seek and Stay him at a word
or a sign. 1t was with this horror upon
me that / commenced life; it was with the
ever haunting thought that l was des.
tined for an assassin, l who could not
bear to see an animal in pain, that ad-
dressed myself to earn my bread in a
foreign land. 1t was that necessity, and
the music, which brought me to the
relief of opium, which prevented
my going mad during the first
year of constant dread and expectation.
At the end of that time, began to hope
that the signal which had been 80 long
delayed would never be given, and my
spirits recovered and then met Marie,
and loved her. But did not intimate my
lovely word or sign, while there was yet
a chance that the hand which would fain
have clasped hers might become stained
with blood. 1t was not until heard that
the man had sworn to murder was dead,
and felt myself freed from the horrible
chain which had bound me, that / sought
to win her, and found, to my intense joy,
that l was beloved in return, and that
you, her father, approved of me. l will
not speak of my happiness, OF the new
life which sprang up with me-you know
it, you have Witnessed it. But now my
hopes are shattered, my short summer has
passed away, for it was false report
which asserted that the man who had in
Cured the vengeance of the Brotherhood
had eluded their grasp; and yoai-you are
Simon Sartenes, the man am hidden to
slayp' D8s fJ.ty fgF t,
Here, Victor, who had hitherto con-
trolled his feelings, in order to tell his
story clearly, threw himself upon seat,
and buried his face in his hands. M.
Menars had listened to him without ap-
parent surprise, calmly smoking his cigar
cite; when he heard that he himself was
the denounced man, he took it from his
lips, and blew the smoke out through his
nostrils. tttt
"Aha!" he said, II was to have been
the victim, then; only happened to have
a pretty daughter, and so my executioner
hesitates. There are advantages in being
APPARENT, then, after all. But, come, come"
he continued in a graver tone, patting the
young mans shoulder; II understand
something of men, and under no circum-
stances could you have brought yourself
to draw knife or pistol on one who was
unarmed. Oh. l know all about your
oaths, and how terribly they work upon
the imaginations of those who take them;
but you would have preferred perjury to
murder"
81 cannot say what might have DONE"
replied Victor Bernardo, raising his head
"There is but one resource left me now
Farewell forever; tell Marie that my last
thoughts we're for her"
Bah! Victor you must not commit
suicide to avoid the vengeance of the
Brothers that would be cowardly; be-
Y
not Italy, or even France; and the hand
of the assassin falters here, where the arm
of the law is so long and strong, and
where juries are not used to append the
saving clause of extenuating circum.
stances 80 their verdicts."
But the vengeance Of the society ex-
tends to the wife and children of the mem.
Der who turns traitor. Marie can never
be mine, and how can live without herr"
"Come, be calm, if you can" said NJ.
Menars Sit down again, Victor, and
listen to me- You have been duped de.
ceived | am not Simon Sartenes. He is
dead, as you were truly informed 1t is
true that was formely an agent of police,
and that | live in England because, in the
jealous prosecution of my duty, ! incurred
the vengeance Of a powerful political fra.
ternity. II is also true that I worked
much in concert with Sartenes, and that
We often adopted the same names and
DISCUSSES, in order to throw our enemies
"a tba trsnE hut all III. ,,.,ot 10 ,uaIl