The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-25

preaching wedding. n "a
The governor eemed stoS have, some
mysterious informant ion concerning me-:
They dealt with me suspicio usly and rig
orously. To vindicate myself III called
for my papers. which must be in my
room, but was told they had sought
thereland found . nothing. So all hope
The! third day Il was convicted of pre-
mc5iated murder, and the death sen-
tence was read. had come to this
forsaken, far from home, to die in my
prime by the axe! q. s3 ss'5' 81
The evening of the dreadful day that
decided my fate [sat in nv solitary cell,
thinking on my coming death, when the
door opened and man entered who
contemplated me In silence for some
time.
SIS it in this plight I find you again,
Iihad not recognized him by my dim
lamp, but the sound of his voice revived
old memories. 1t was Valetty, one Of
the few friends I knew during my
student-life in Paris. He said he hap
pened to come to Florence, where his
father resided, who was man of great
respectability. He had heard my story,
and came to see me once more, and
learn from me how I could have COM
mitted SO awful deed.
I told him all about it. He was
amazed, and adjured me to tell him, nv
sole friend: everything, and not pass
to him BY the hottest oaths that snake
the truth, that my only error was in be-
ing so blinded by the CLINT of gold that /
had not seen the improbability of the
unknown's story.
$50 you never knew Bianca?" he
asked. Is
I assured him had never seen her.
Valetty now told me that deep mys-
terry shrouded the affair. The governor
had fastened my trial, and there was a
rumor that I had long known Blanca.
and had murdered her from revenge for
her marrying another. told him this
all fitted the red cloak, but I could not
prove his share in the deed. Greatly
moved, Valetty embraced me, and
promised to do everything to save nv
I had little hope, but knew Valetty
was wise and understood law, and would
do all he could to rescue me. I was in
suspense two long days. At last Valetty
appeared.
II bring announcement, yet of a pain
full sort. You will live, and be set at
liberty, but with the loss of one hand"
Overcome with emotion, thanked INV
friend for having saved my life. He
said the governor had been inexhorable
and would not allow another trial; but
finally, not to appear unjust. he had
agreed that if a similar case might be
found among the Florentine archives,
my. punishment might be the same
which had then been inflicted. Valetty
and his father had been reading the old
records day and night, and at last had
found a precisely similar case, where the
sentence N:
Ellis left hand must be cut of. his
property confiscated, and he himself
forever balished."
So ran my sentence now, and was to
prepare Immediately for the fearful orr
deal which awaited me. will not de-
scribe the horror of the scene when I
stood in the open market-place and laid
my hand on the block, where the life
blood leaped from me in torrents.
Valetty took me to his house until I
recovered, and then generously provid-
ed me WITH money for travelling expen-
ses, since all my property had been
seized by law.
Invent to Sicily and took the first ship
for Constantinople. My hupe now lay
in the sum had given my friend. Il
begged him to let me reside with him,
but he astonished me by asking why I
did not 60 to my own house. He said a
strange man had bought in my name q
house in the Greek quarter, and told
the neighbOrs I was coming soon. i
went imm ediateIy with my friend and
was welcomed by old acquaintance.
One of the merchants gave me letter,
which the man who bought the house
left for me. read:
ZALENcos: Two hands are ready to work
without ceasing that you may not feel the
loss of one. The house and all in it are
yours, and each year you will receive enough
to place you among the richest of your peo-
pie. Forgive one who is more unfortunate
than you.
I could not imagine who had written
it. The merchant answered my Ques-
lions with: "He appeared to lie
Frenchman; he wore red cloak"
[ knew enough to understand that the
unknown was not quite lost to all honor
able feeling. found everything in my
new house arranged in the best man
ner, and shop stocked with goods finer
than ever had.
Ten years have passed, and more from
habit than necessity, I go on my journeys
with my wares; but Lave never again
seen the land of my great misfortune.
Every year receive a thousand gold
pieces. But the burden on my soul can
not be lifted. The terrible picture of
the murdered Binnca is forever in my
mind.-Translated from the German for
the Argonaut.