The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21
JOB DEPARTMENT..

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had clear conscience in this respect, for
more than ten years he had aimed his gun ~
no man. but he was, however, prudent,
and he took position to make a brave de.
fcnsc, if necessary.
Wife" said hc to Guiscppa, s.put down
your sack and be ready"
She obcNcd Immediately. Hc gave her
the gun from his shoulder-bclt, which might
crtmp his movements. He then loaded the
one he held. and advanced slowly toward
his house. skirting the trees which bor,lerc,l
the road. ready, at the least hostile demon.
lstration of the soldiers to throw himself
behind the largest trunk, whence he could
fire under shelter. His wife followed his
tracks, holding the spare gun and it's cart.
ridge -boX-thc business Of u good housewife
Is To load her husbands gun i'm case Of
combat.
On the other side Of the field. the adintant
was much troubled at seeing Matc0 advance
in this manner, with measured steps. gun in
i'an'land his finger on tho trigger "If, per.
chance" thought he, "Nlute0 should be
relative of Giannctto, or his friend, and he
wished to defend him, the contents of his
TWO guns could reach us. one after the
otscr, as sure as letter by the post if he
aimed at me. Notwithstanding our relation
ship" In this pcrpcSi,y. he took Il brave
resolution. to advance alone toward Mateo.
and relate the whole affair TO him, accostinr
him AS an old friend: but the short distance
that separated him from NIatco appeared
terribly long
"Ah, my brave comradc," cried he.
'how gees it: 1t is /, GAMBIA, your cousn.o
Ma,co, without replying, had stopped,
and, while the other spoke, slowly raised
the barrel of his "un, so that IL ointed 10
he Sky, II, the instant the ;lIiutant reached
him.
Good day, comra,ir." said the atljutant,
holding out his hand: lit is IL long time since
| last saw you.'
Good day, comra,lc,i'
" came 10 say how ito Won do. as passed
to YOU and my GOOD cousin, Pcmi. We have
'tauc IL long journey 10 day, hut we must
no complain Of fatigue, for we have made "a
famous capture. We have lust seized Clan
nctto Sanpiero.'
God b. rra.scd.' cried Guiscppa; she
stole ii nlii'iI- goat from Ms last week"
Thcs" words rrioiccd GAMBIA.
Cry "''' ''"'-
The knavr fought like linm," continued
'A' ;rilu'ali' somewhat mortified: 'shc killed
US" "f my men, and, not content with that.
broke Corporal Chnldcu's arm-but that is
no great harm: lic is onlv 81 lrcnchlnan.
Aftcrward, he was hidden sn finely that the
devil himself rould not have ioIud him.
should never have discovered him. had it
not been for my little cousin, For,unato.n
"f"runatu"' exclaimed Ma:co
"t"riunisio.' said GAMBIA; Yes. Clan.
hr'to was hidden un'icr that heap of straw
H"ndrr. But my little cousin showed me
his hidin" place. So | will tell his uncle in
town, and he can scnl him Il line present for
his trouble And his name and yours will
appear in the report ,ha, shall send TO the
attorney general
"i,hlnnl'on!" said Matoc, in thick and
husky voice.
They had reached the detachment by this
time. t;i;nnctto Wa, already king on a
litter, ready 10 depart. Wii,n he saw Mateo
IN Ganha's company he smiled strangely.
thcn turning his head toward The door of
the house, he slat s',vaecly on the sill cry
ing: "Tlr house of !; tra,ur"'
Only II man who had r.sulycd to die
would have dared to use the word .'trlitor''
in connection with l'alconc. A stab from
silit'io would have Immediately avenged
the insult. liui Maico made no other gcst-
uIc than carrAin" his hand TO his head as
1t overcome with gricf. Fortunate Lal
gone INTO the house when lie saw his father
arrive, bn, lie soon rcappea:eu, carrying a
bowl of milk which he offered to the pris.
oncr. his head hanging down.
Away, cur" cried the outlaw TO him.
c ''iaiSSfF 's"iaiSSf III Had' n iI iINh his htta' #5uri. and
Giannctto drank the water given lin by u
man with whom lie had just exchanged
shots. Aftcrwaiai he begged that they
would tic his hands so that they We're cross
ell Oh his breast, instead OF having them
bound behind his back
II like" said he, Ito lie At my case"
They FASTENED to satisfy him; then the ad-
jutant CAV. the signal of departure. babe
;nlicu TO Matco, who did not reply, and they
descended, with rapid steps, toward the
plain.
Ten minutes passed before Ala,co opcncd
his mouth The child looked. uneasily,
sometimes at his mother, then at his father,
who, leaning on his y,n, looked at him with
an expression of furious anger
"You begin WE'LL" said Mntro, finally, in
Il calm voice: bu, IL terrible one to whoever
kncw the man thoroughly.
My ta,n"r,@ cried tho child advancing,
tears i'll his eyes, as if to throw himself on
his knees. But Matco cried "Back!" and
he stopped, sobbing and motioulcss, few
steps from his father.
Gius"ppa drew near. She had Just per-
ccivcd the chain of the watch, one end of
which hung from f'ortunato's shirt.
"WhD gave you that watch" she asked, in
Il severe tone.
My cousin, the adjutant."
Falcomc seized the watch. and throwing IL
against a stone, broke il into a
thousand pieces.
''Wonan,' " said he, sis this my child."
The brown checks of Guscppa turned 4
vivid scarlet. Have a care what YOU say,
Nlafco. DO you remember to whom YOU
speak,"
Il ask Your pardon, wife. This child,
then, is the first ono of the race of Falconc
who has been guilty OF trrachcryo
The sobs and tears of Fortunate rcdoubled.
and Maico KEEP. his lynx eyes s,crnly fixed
upon him. Finally, he struck the butt end
OF his gun OH the ground, threw it over his
and took his way toward the
malus, bidding Fortunate follow him. The
child obcyed.
'iltuSti'pl ran allcf Marco, anu SelZeu his
arm. "ilc is your son." said She, in Il trcm-
bling voice, fixing her black eyes on those of
her husband. as if to read there what was
passing in his soul.
Leave me-" said Matco, Il am his faith
cr,'
The mother embraced her son, and entered
the house weeping: throwing herself on her
knees before an image of the Virgin, she
prayed fcrvcntly.
Meanwhile, Falconc walked down the path
some two hundred paces, and stopped on
rrachng little r;lvinc. He sounded the
earth. and found it soft and easy for digging.
The spot appeared a favorable one.
"furtunao,' said he, "s,und yonder near
that great stone.''
The child obcycd, and fell on his knees.
Say your prayers" said l'alronc.
My father, my father, do not kill me-"
SAY Your prayers" repeated Matco, in q
voice which made the chiid's flesh creep.
The child, sobbing and stammering re-
pca,el the 'l'alcr Nostcr" and the Gre
do At the end of each prayer the stern
father responded "Amcnr
Are those all the prayers YOU know." he
asked.
My father, also know the Ave Maria,'
and the litany my aunt taught me-"
tRcupat thpm,.'