Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-08-15

"" Romani, and there
! allghted. ordered Vincenzo to 60 on
70 the hotel, and send from thence my
own carriage and horses up to the VIII;
gates, where ] would wait for It.
also babe him pack my portmonteau ir
readiness for my departure that evening
as ! proposed going to Avellino, among
the mountains, for few days. He
heard my commands In silence and evil
dent embarrassment. Finally he said
''Do l also travel with the Eccel.
lenza2"
''Whv moi" answered with forced
sad smile. "Do you not see. AMIGO, that
/ am heavy-hearted? and melancholy
mon are best left to themselves. Be-
sides,-remember the Carnival-I told
you you were free to indulge In its mer-
riment, and shall now deprive you oil
your pleasure? No, Vincenzo, stay and
enjoy yourself, and take no concern for
mo"
''Vincenzo saluted me with his usual
respectful bow, but his features wore an
expression Of obstinacy.
1.-THE EccellenZa must pardon me" he
said, "but l have just looked at death,
and my taste Is spoilt for Carnival.
Again,-the Eccellenza is sad,-it is
necessary that should accompany him
70 Avellino."
saw that his mind was made up, and
was in no humour for argument.
"Ae you will" ! answered YEARLY,
''only believe me, you make foolish de-
cision. But do what you like; only ar
range all so that we leave tonight. And
now get back quickly-give no explana-
tions at the hotel of what has occurred,
and lose no time in sending on my car
rage. ! will wait alone at the Villa
Romani till 1t comes"
The vehicle rumbled of, bearing
Vincenzo seated on the box beside
the driver. l watched it disappear,
and then turned into the road
that led to my own dlshonoured home.
The place looked silent and deserted
not o soul was stirring. The silken
blinds Of the reception.rooms were all
closely drawn, showing that the mis-
tress Of the house was absent; 1t was as
II some one lay dead within. A vague
wonderment arose in my mind. Who
was dead? Surely 1t must be IL. the
master Of the household, who Law stiff
and cold in one OF those curtained rooms!
This terrible white-haired man who
roamed feverishly up and down outside
the walls was not melt was some angry
demon risen from tie grave to wreak
punishment on the guilty. / was dead,
] could never have kid the man who
had once been my fried. And he also
was dead,-the same murderess had
slain us both,--and--she lived. Ha!
that was wrong, she must now die, but
in such torture that her very soul shall
shrink and shrivel under 1t into DEVILS
fame for the furnace Of hell.
With my brain full of hot whirling
thoughts like these looked through the
carved heraldic work OF the villa gates
Here had Guido stood, poor wretch, last
night, shaking these twisted wreaths OF
iron and impotent fury. There on the
mosaic pavement he had flung the
trembling old servant who had told him
of the absence Of his traitress. On this
very spot he had launched his curse,
which, though he knew it not,
wasn the curse OF o dying man.
I was glad he had uttered
IT, Such malcdictions cling!
There was nothing hut compassion for
him In my heart now that he was dead.
he had been duped AL wronged even as
/; and I felt that Ills spirit, released
from It's grosser cla :. would work with
mine and aid in her punishment.
paced round the silent house till /
came to the private wicket that lead Into
the avenue; opened IL and entered the
familiar path. / had not been there
since the fatal night on which had
learned my own betrayal. How in
tenselY still were those solemn pines
how gaunt and dark and grim! Not u
branch Quivered-not o leaf stirred.
A cold dew that was scarcely q
frost gllttered on the moss at
my feet No birds voice broke
She impressive hush Of the woodland'S
nOrnIng dream. No bright hued flower
Snbuttoned its fairy cloak to the breeze,
VOt there was subtle perfume every
NheFe-the fragrance OF unseen violets
whose purple eyes were still closed In
aumber.
gazed on the scene as man may be-
cold in Q vision the spot where he once
vas haDDy., / walked few PAGES. thel
paused VIII strange ueatuS ~ my
heart A shadow fell across m!
path-It fitted before me, It stopped
n lay still. / saw It resolve itself
into the figure Of man stretched oul
in rigid silence, with the light beating
full on his smiling. dead face, and also
on deep wound just above his heart
from which the blood oozed redly, stain.
ing the grass on which he lay. Master
ing the sick horror which seized me ~
this sight, ] sprAng forwsrd,-the shadow
vanished instantly,-it was Q mere opti
cal deluslon, the result Of my over
wrought and excited condition. shud'
dered involuntarily at the image nv own
heated fancy had conjured up; should
always see Guido thus, thought, even
in my dreams
eoddenly . ringing, swaying rush OF
sound burst joyously on the silence;-