St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-26
Petrucio de Cabeao's Ghost
and Its Lurid Tale of II
80
Woe. -
Martha de Pratio, False
and Fair, for Whom He e
Slew Colonna.
The Maids Revenge Upon the
:. Knight--Slain by His Z
Love. 80

the metal caSket that had contained the
ancient knight in ages past cast its
/ shadow upon the walls, and the reporter
fell into reverie, allowing his magma
ton full sway. What tales could the
fretted steel unfold if voice could but
speak from its hollow chest. What
deeds of chiyalry might not be given to
the reading public if he could but inter
view the ghost of the long since de-
parted flesh, and what additions
might be given to ancient history.
Plunged i'll deep thought, the re-
porter's eyelids closed, and he was
plunged into a profound sleep. Some
hours elapsed, when he 'awoke with a
start to find that the lights had been
extinguished, and the pale moon threw
its subdued light across the floor, and
gave
\ GIE0STLY ASPECT
to the room that was filled with archeol-
ogical relics. Before his eyes were
fairly opened, the old armor ratified as
if shaken by an unseen hand. and the.
reporters HAIR stood on end as he
strained his eyes to where it stood in
the shadow. Slowly the moons rays
moved toward the spot. and he sat spell
bound, awaiting the light to show him
the cause of the clamor. Suddenly a
lew voice came from the gloom and adj
dressed him..
Mortal, art awake??" it said.
In a voice scarcely audible from
terror, the reporter informed the hidden
voice that, to the best OF his knowledge
and belief, he was, but if it would be
considered favor to the speaker, he
would at once go oSleep again.
Fear not" said the voice, she who
now speaks to youis but the ghostly
semblance of one whose body long
since withered in the tomb. Would'st
have the tale of an illspent life, never
before told for mortal ears to hear?''
Visions OF colossal scoop fioated
before the brain of the reporter, and he
replied that, although he was sorry the
tale had been told to some immortal
newspaper man, long since departed
this life, he would, nevertheless, be
thankful. for, the favor, so he brought
his courage to bear upon the occasion,
and took MS note book and pencil to the
light and awaited the ghostly pleasure.
!. ''tOf my early life," began the voice
after a pause, Il do not intend to speak,,
for it was passed in much the same man
ner as all youths ofnoble houses. When
quite youth | had become proficient
in the use of weapons of war, and, upon.
attaining my twenty year, the name
of Petrucio de Cabea0 was voiced
throughout Florence as a knight of
:valor. One day in returning from
tourney in which had been particularly
SuccesSful-well do | remember ia
fair maid looked out at me from palace
window and smiled at me. In her eyes
i saw my fate. She, learned, was of
high degree. being kin to an old prince
of Florence, and / pressed my suit at
future time with such ardor that her
answering bushes told me that should
soon be successful in the attainment of
my dearest wish"
Here the voice paused, and sigh that
was very like groan came from the
deepest recesses of the old armor.
sat this point in my suit" continued
the voice, ''came Colonna back in tri-
umph from the wars, and the Roman
ally of Florence was the idol of all. Alas
to my peace and happiness, for my
maid. Martha de Pratio, was no eXcep-
ton TO the rule. and fell passionately
in love with the stern warrior. What
need to tell of the intrigues that fol-
lowed. How | and my friends, of
whom ] had not few, conspired
against the princely victor, and finally
caused an uprising among the people.
One day he rode from his fortress to
the city in company with a few of his
followers, and was discovered by the
rabble, who attacked him. | saw the
turmoil from affair." and, urging on my
steed, was soon in the midst of the
fray"
Here there was another pause, and
the armor clanked as if in rage, while
the reporter paused in taking his notes
and glanced in renewed terror at the
metallic mass.
''Filled with rage. L attacked him at
once by leveling my lance and rushing
at him full tilt. He saw me coming,
and with one sweep of his blade sew
cred the spear from the staff. Enraged
at this, pushed on again, and gave him
my sword point at the helmet. Quick
as thought he dealt me blow on the
caSque that caused me to reel in my
saddle, and | slid TO the ground. Had
the blow been an ounce harder it would
have finished me-. As it was, it cut
through the steel plate. and you can see
the cash now on the left side of the he'll
NETS crown. With cry of rage
rushed at him again just as he staggered
forward from a blow dealt by foot SOL
der from behind. He was a bold war
during the battle, so it was an easy mat
ter for me as he staggered to run him
through until the point of my blade
stuck"
Here something like sob shook the
shining figure, and looking up the re-
porter saw that the moon was now shin
ing full upon it, and showed out in. re-
lief the fretwork and designs upon the
steel. On the breast was the coat of
arms, two grlffinS, rampant, supporting
a ladder of nine bars. The enormous
shield leaned against the knees. its sur
face covered with gliStening eagles in
polished steel. Slowly the figure raised
one mailed hand. and lifting the visor
disclosed pale face that had been one
of exceeding masculine beauty, but now
wore an expression OF the deepest
melancholy, that was heightened BIZ an
ugly blOod-red scar that ran from the
dropping mustache almost to the right
eye.
No wonder you shudder,'' said de
Cabeao. "Thus died the Colonna,
lauded in the history of Florence. And
now to my own dread fate, for which
purpose | have barred to you this scar.
| fled to Malta and there Joined the
order of the Knights of St. john. But
fate held me III its sway and | could not
live without once more looking upon
my loved and lost Martha. Perchance
she might even regard me with favor.
So l returned and met her on the
rampant walk. She was all tenderness
and trembled with joy at the thought
that she would yet be mine. She asked
how | had slain ColOnna. and asked TO
hold the blade that had done to death
the princely tyrant. drew it from its
sheath, and she felt its weight in her
two fair hands, and pressed her lips to
the steel. There was flash of fire in
her = Che tJiPnnn full 70
where | leaned against the wall; and,
before | was aware of her purpose, she
had plunged the point full at my head.
in the exact spot where had stabbed
Colonna, crying, in a frenZied voice:
Die, traitor-to both love and honor
Then she, fled from the spot where ex
PRED"
The moons light had passed the fig
ure, and the reporter looked again to