The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Stories and Sketches.
The Tyrant of Rimini.

tall, somber-looking, middle-aged
man was haughtily walking down the
nyipcipal n; street Of Rimini, in Eastern
! Italg At an early hour in the morning Of
tbo I2th Of May, 1901. All pedestrians
ged as If dismayed at his approach, and
wall they might, for he was ne other
han sjgismondo-P -Pandolfo-MaIatesta the
mtocrat Of Rimini, and one Of the worst
tyraBts Of his terrible period.
Malatesta was followed by an escort Of
acbers and as he turned arounda corner
md directed his steps towards the court
house, an arrow, shot by an unknown
bapd, fcl at his feet. Malatesta picked
i up with a scornfuI smile. A parch-
ment slip was fastened to the point of
he arrow. On this slip the following
terrible words were inscribed:
Accursed Malatesta, thy end Is draw
Ing nigh. II viii be both horrible and
gnOmini0us."
As Malatesta read these words he
turned slightly pale. But he quickly
recovered his equanimity. Casting a
ddeIong glance at the house from which
The arrow seemed to have come, he NUT
bred, with terrible smile:
uThat house shall be torn down to-day,
sBd Oh It's site | will construct a gallery
q paintings and statuary. 1t shall be a
noble edifce, and 1t will add to my fame
Is one Of the best patrons Of the fine
arts. AS for the inmates of the house
why, they shall be attended to this very
morning
TheprUCession entered the courthouse,
where Malatesta Immediately descended
10 the gloomy basement of the building.
IN this basement were located the dun
geons where the prisoners Of state were
confined; also the tortue chamber with
all its dread paraphernalia.
During the infamous reign of Malatesta
these dungeons were always filled with
the victims of the tyrants vindictive-
ness, and the torture chamber resounded
day after day with the heart-rending
screams and profound groans Of the un-
fortunate persons whom Malatesta's
hangman and his assistants tormented.
On the morning Of the 18th of May,
50i, the torture-chamber was to be the
enc Of O truly revolving spectacle.
hou Malatesta entered the apartment,
over which two torches cast their lurid
light, he took his seat upon q stone
estrade. A secretary took his seat at
~ Hive rne prisoners brought il"
ordered Malatesta.
Inc secretary rang a bell. A minute
9ter side door opened. The sound of
elanking chains was heard. At last a
nournful procession, headed by the
hangman and his assistants, entered.
There we're ten heayily-ironed prisoners.
They were only half-clad in the coarsest
henpen garments. They looked pale
AND emaciated Their eyes were hardly
able y bear the glare Of the torchlights.
Tall their names" said Malatesfa.
me secretary read OFF tile following
dmes: ?
Palvieino Aesiello, Enrico Aesiello,
tiichaele Aesiello, Guglielmo 2 Pallayicini,
Alfonso Strayera, Manfredo Bifonini,
Andrea Borania, Carlo Borania, Marco
Iflstany, Antonio Montani.
Assoon as the name of o prisoner was
read he was rudely pushed one side by
The executioner. When the reading of
lae names had been completed, the
secretary said.
They are all here, Principe"
Malatesta rose to his feet, and said, in
a terrible voice:
You are all accused of being traitors
y tha State Of Riminip
We are not" firmly replied the pri-
.oaeIs We have tried to save the Re-
public Of Rimini from your traitorous
vaccinations, Pandolfo Malatestap
ha hal hal" laughed the tyrant.
Who elected you Prince Of Rimini r.
Sskd Che elder Aesiello, venerable
aan of seventy.
h, 40 oner said another prisoner,
En- Is usurper and a tvrant,
.aalatesta fairly foamed with rage.
Aaledettip lac roared.
Il, ioa are accused by everybody in
wv w elty except by your minions and
,i,oe You will speedily die the death Of .
19 graTely said old Aesiello.
hut first, you shall die; and the
.afeas and hawks shall eat your rotting
sS.'oasses, while /, after my death, shall
" y. remembered as the benefactor oi
.l5ls he who adorned his city
sla the most beautiful editices and.
leoanmants.o
tfrYs IL.
History does not lieIp said old
Aelello, solemnly.
4 A truce to all this nonsensei" shouted
sasesta. " Exeeutioner, perform your
saty. The scene that ensued beggars
For three solid hours the
IN, prisoners were tormented
ssa an the devilish ingenuity chara-
sislssle s d the cruel italian t0rtures of
sie ~. a!iudle Ages. The objeuE 0f this
n turing was to wrest from The Sufferers
'gs ssoatession that they were traitors 10
~ esate OF Rimini. Eight of the pris-
s-s sssEs remained firm. Two ef them,
81 ass to bear the dreadful agony, said
mat Malatesta wanted. He was
se5io Berania and Antonio Montani,"
~ s'la, ARE shrewd. They will Get OIL
~ w " SIMPLE decapitation. AZ for the
..s,S s% Wy, tins fate ID III store for YOU
s.ssa 4 saal be Knocked down with Il
sball hammer, and then your hearts
Yss sa cut out BY The exegutiener.
das y s'l.A 2, meet your death at noon to-
* the market place
bsri W. from bis seat and hurried
ilass.s9 ills palace. There several dis-
hi 8l'eN N artists from Rome awaited
sfss. ISIS painters, sculptors. The
Y ataiy az chat period. as q gem