Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-17

: The music still continued. but from
whence it came not one of Guido's guests
, could tell. 1t seemed everywhere; now fill
ing the whole palace and now sweeping uI
and down the room, or up and down the
palaces, as if all the spirits of melody and
sound were united in one general sportive
chase.
| The blue light grew brighter, filing the
whole room with its sinister glare-only to
ge out altogether when its intensity was
binding, leaving the room in inky dark
ness But only for moment. The men,
aeing music ended with the light, and was
almost Instantly succeeded by dirge, at
whoseinceptive note the cauldron at Guido's
feet sent out dull red blaze, making the
sombre black hanging of the chamber
sllsten like the dark and frightful walls of
a charnal house.
Still old Guido stood behind the cauldron,
waving his cleaning sword. Suddenly he
changed his regular movements into sharp
incisive sweeps, each making sulIen swish,
which sounded like viper's hiss. And
also with each downward movement of the
sword the color of the fire in the caoldron
changed. The effect was so terrible that
Gu'do's other guests we're moved and STAR
| tied nearly as much as the Count.
When crimson flames came from the caul-
dron there was no further change in the
colers Guido then stepped to the right,
and, resting the point of the sword on the
floor, crossed his arms over the hilt and
bowed his head.
The music had changed with each color,
| and with the final transition into crimson
the weird melody merged into a mournful,
stormy fugue. When this had continued
for few seconds Guido suddenly raised his
right hand.
'sBeholdp' he exclaimed, and directly
over the cauldron landscape appeared. 1t
was an opening in an old and beautiful
forest. In the foreground an old man was
walking with ayoung and beautiful woman.
They were smiling and happy. Suddenly
three men sprang out of the undergrowth,
and one of them stabbed the old man. He
fell dead and the three bore the woman
away. Then the scene changed from the
green forest to a salon. The murderer was
there, and SO was the abducted woman.
she was in deep agony and he was laughing
her misery into scorn. Snatching dagger
up from table she buried it in her BOSOM
AS this scene faded the Count sprang to his
feet.
"Go no further!' he cried. 81 confess all.
Guido LAMBERT, kill me, if you will, but
show me no more of my shameful crimesr'
"Sit down." commanded Guido, and he
was obeyed instantly.
The music ceased, but the crimson glare
continued. Guido's sword fell to tho floor
with clang.
'Listenv' he said. ''I have just shown
you how my father and my wife died. By
whose agency l need not say, that being al
ready seIf-confessed. The same man, not
yet satisfied, pursued mo still further with
his hatred, which was the outgrowth of my
being his successful rival in love. On the
morning of my daughter's twenty-fourth
birthday his hatred and malice compelled
US to leave Florence. She afterward mar
ried, but eventually died because of the
wrong this man did us. Knight say more,
but think what have already told you
will suffice. He has escaped my private
vengeance many times, and my horror of
the courts hindered my furnishing him
there. Now, l ask you if he is not worthy
of death"
But one word came through the pale,
cold lips of those twelve grave men. That
werd was:
.'Yesw
The just verdict came too late, and ven-
geance came to the condemned man from
higher place. The evil genius of the house
Of LAMBERT sat dead N his chair
"Thank God!" cried Guido, and his
weary, tortured life went out with that wild
shout of exultation. Enid and Paolo rush.
edin, but they were too late.
"T ou still have me, dear" he whispered.
Smiling through her tears, She Kissed him.