Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-11-13
In ClNERIS.

At the foot of the Vesuvian slope, to-
wards the southwest, lies the dead city
of Pompeii. Above and beyond it's bur
led streets few scattered houses shelter
the activity of to-day.
In one of the poorest and remote OF
one Of these houses, scarcely more than
a hovel, on low pallet bed, man Law
tossing feverishly from side to side.
He was "a powerfully built man, and
might once have been handsome, but
time and exposure had laid cruel hands
upon him, and there was little left to at
tract in the furrowed face, the sunken
eyes and the grizzled and matted beard
Beside him knelt woman. Size was
no longer young, but there were traces
of great beauty in her well-cut features,
in the marvellous dark eyes and the rich
0coloring of her complexion, set off by the
scarlet handkerchief around her neck.
Her hair was streaked with silver, but
was still glossy and abundant.
81 am dying" he said. "The end
will be soon. Swear to me" An ex-
preston of agony convulsed her features,
but she was silent. "Swear to me that
you will do my biddingp' There was a
look of entreaty in his eyes, but his voice
was imperious command. He stretched
out his hand towards her. "Felicitap
She took it.
81 swear! Too late! too later she
znoaned. "What matters anything now.
1'Send to Carlo Bassi, at Tore DELI
Annunziata, when I am dead He will
'aring the others, and they will do your
bidding. Then carry me up in the
might and lower me down into the era
ter. So only can my fathers crime be
expiated and my soul have rest"
She shuddered.
'"But Luigi-the authorities. How
can such thing be?"
"You had ever will like rock" he
answered. "You can do it secretly. l
trust you. You have sworn"
His vital forces we're fast ebbing away;
the exertion he had made had fastened
p the end. More and more feebly came
the breath, in short gasps, and one by
one the beads dropped through her fin
gers.
"You have sworn" once more came
She merest whisper. "Kiss mer'
She laid the crucifix upon his lips and
dressed hers to it and to his. It was the
last caress, but the cross lay between
them, and when she lifted her head she
looked upon the dead.
X X
Many years before was it that Luigi
and Felicia had been affianced lovers,
ssnd dwelt near each other in the beauti-
Gal island or Capri. He and his father
were alone. She was one OF several Sis
tiers and brothers, her mother being dead,
but her father still living.
Hot-tempered and cross grained was
Giovanni Moretto, not much loved by
either children or acquaintance, and only
600 ready to pi>k q quarrel with any one.
For this, occasion was not lacking with
Pietro Branca for neigLbor, and the
crossing of fowl over the boundary line
between them was enough for hot words
and hotter blows The dispute waxed
ever fiercer and fiercer; while Felicita's
fair young face was clouded with appre
hension, her eyes, which had been sunny
and sparkling, we're wet witt, tears.
Time passed on, mending nothing. The
END caue at last, anG dirk-thrust from
Pietro finished the quarrel. 1t was but
1.-The trembling of the balance whether
Pietro killed Giovanni, or Giovanni Pie
;sro; but it was written il the look of
fate that Pietro should do the deed,
Enough in his heart was no more the
intent to murder than in that of his
victim.
They met by chance in solitary
place, aud none was witness to the act.
Only in the dusk OF evening Pietro stole
homsward, and telling Luigi, bade him
prepare to fly with him. No thought of
resistance, no hope for the future, en-
tered the young mans mind. His hap
piness lay in ruins; at once and forever