The Iola register., 1891-07-17

asking no questions. Fortunate IS the
servant who, accustomed to see his mas
ter drunk every night, swears to all out
siders that he has never served so sober
and discreet gentleman! That is your
character, Vincenzo-keep to it, and we
shall not quarrel" He smiled gravely,
and pocketed my piece OF gold without a
word-like a. true Tuscan as he was.
The sentimental servant whose fine feel
ings will not allow him to accept an ex-
ira "tip," is, you may be sure, hum
bug never believed in such an one.
Labour can always command It's price,
and what so laborious in this age as to
be honest? What so difficult as too Keep
silence on other peoples affairs? Such
herculean tasks deserve payment! A
valet who is generously bribed, in addi-
ton to his wages, can be relied on;if under
paid. all heaven and earth will not per-
suade him TO hold his tongue. Left
alone, at last, in my sleeping chamber,
remained for some time before actually
going to bed. i took off the black spec
taeles which served me so we'll, and
looked at myself in the mirror with
some curiosity. never permitted Vim
cenzo to enter my bedroom at night, or
before 1 was dressed in the morning.
lest he should surprise me without these
appendages, which were my chief dis
guise, for, in such case, / fancy even
his studied composure would have given
way. For. disburdened of my smoke
coloured glasses, / appeared what
L was, young and vigorous in
II Lnts
My face, which had been worn and
haggard at first, had filed up and
was healthily coloured; while my eyes,
the spokesman of my thoughts, were
bright with the clearness and fire of con-
stitutional strength and physical well
being. wondered, as l stared moodily
at my own reflection, how it was that /
did not look i'll. The mental suffering
continually underwent, mingled though
il was with a certain gloomy satisfaction,
should surely have left more indelible
traces on my conntenance. Yet 1t has
been proved that it is not always the hol
low-eyed, sallow and despairing looking
persons who are really in sharp trouble
these are more often bilious or dyspep-
tic, and know no more serious grief
than the incapacity to crafty their appe-
tites for the high favored delicacies of
the table. A man may be endowed with
superb physique and constitution that
is In perfect working order-his face and
outward appearance may denote the
most harmonious action of the life princi-
pie within him-and yet his nerves may
be so finely strung that he may be caps-
BILE Of suffering acuter agony in his mind
than If his body were to be hacked slowly
TO pieces by jagged knives and it will leave
no mark on his features while youth still
has aold on his flesh and blood.
So it was with me; and / wondered
what she-Nina-would say, could she
behold me, unmasked as it were, in the
solitude of my own room. This thought
aroused another in nv mind-another at
which l smiled grimly. / was an en-
gagged man. Engaged 70 marry my own
wife; betrothed for the second time to
the same womanl What difference
between this and my first eourtship of
herl Then, who so great fool as /
who so adoring, passionate and devoted!
Now, who so dsrkly instructed, who so
cold, go absolutely pitiless! The ckmax
TO my revenge is nearly reached l looked
through the coming days as one looks
through a telescope out to sea, and
could watch the end approaching like a
phantom ship-neither slow nor
fast, but steadily and silently.
I was able to calculate each
event in its due order, and knew there
was no fear of failure in the final result.
Nature itself-Jhe sun, moon and stars,
the sweeping circle of the seasons-all
seem to aid in the cause of rightful
justice. Mans duplicity may succeed in
Withholding truth for a time, but in
the end it must win its way. Once re-
solve, and then determine to carry out
that resolve, and it is astonishing 10 note
with what marvellous ease eserything
makes way for you, provided there be nc
innate weakness in yourself which causes
you to hesitate. l had formerly beeH
weak, l knew, very weak-else l haG
never been fooled by wife and friend,
but now, now my strength was
as the strength Of demon work.
ing within me. My hand had al.
ready closed with an iron grip on two
false unworthy lives, and had not sworr |
never to relax, never to relent," till my
vengeance was accomplished? l had! |
Heaven aud earth had borne witness &c |
my vow, and now held me to its stern |
fultilment.
ITO BE CONTINUED.