The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-06


| friend to God and the plague, lut ir',
both did stupid thing when they Io"~
| Count Fabio Romani."
| | started. but quickly controlled my
self into an appeal ance OF indifference.
| sIndeedr' ! saS carPlcssly. "Anc
pray who was he that should not deserve
to die as well as other people?'
The old man raised himself from his
STOPPING attitude, and stared at me will
his keen black eyes.
"Who was he? who was he? he cried
| IN shrill tone. ''Oh, he! One can see
you know nothing Of Naples. You have
not heard of the rich Romani? See you,
I wished him to live, He was clever and
bold, but did not grudge him that-no,
be was good to the poor; he gave away
hundreds Of francs In charity. hays
seen him often-I saw him married.
And here his parchment face screwed It
self into an expression of the most ma.
llignant cruelty. "Pahi hate bis wife
Ia fair soft thing, like white snskel I
used to watch them both from the cor
ners Of the streets as they drove along
ia their fine carriage, and wondered
how it would all end, whether he or she
would gain the victory first ! wanted
him TO win; I would have helped him to
kill her, yesi But the saints have made
Q mistake this time, for he is dead and
that she-devil has all. Oh, yesl God and
the plague have done foolish thing for
once"
listened to the old wretch with deep
ening aversion, yet with some curiosity
too Why should he hate my wife? l
thought, unless, indeed, he hated all
youth and beauty, as was most probably
the case. And II he had seen me as often
as he averred he must know me by sight.
How was il, then, that he did not re-
cognizs me now? Following out this
thought, said aloud.
| What sort OF a looking man was this
Count Romani2 You say he was hand
some-was he tall or short-dark or
fair?"
Putting back his struggling grey
locks from his forehead, the dealer
stretched out a yellow, claw-like hand,
as though pointing to some distant
vision.
"a beautiful manr' he exclaimed; ga
man good for the eyes to seel As straight
as you areas tall as you AREAS
broad as you arel But your eyes are
sunken and dim-his were full and large
and sparkling-your face is drawn and
pale-his was of a clear olive tint, round
and flushed with healthi and his hair
was glossy black-ahl as jet black, my
| friend, as yours Is snow whiter"
! recoiled from these last words in a
sort of terror: they were like an electric
shock Was indeed so changed? Was
it possible that the horrors of night in
the vault had made such a dire impress.
sion upon me2 Ny hair white?-mine!
| could hardly believe it. lfso, perhaps
Nina would not recognize me-she might
be terrified at my aspect-Guido him
self might have doubts of my identity.
| Though for that matter, | could easily
prove myself to be indeed Fabio Ro-
mani-even il | had to show the vault
and my own sundered coffin. While
revolved all this in my mind the old man,
unconscious Of my emotion, went on
with his mumbling chatter.
"Ah, yes, yes! He was fine fellow
| a strong fellow. l used to rejoice that
| he was so strong. He could have taken
the little throat of his wife between fin
ger and thumb and nipped it-sOl and
she would have told no more lies.
wanted him to do It'll waited for it. He
would have done it surely, had he lived
| That is why | am sorry he died"
Mastering my feelings by a violent
effort, forced myself to speak calmly
to this malignant old brute.
why do you hate the Countess Ro-
mani so much?" asked him with stern
ness. HAS she done you any harm?"
He Strengthened himself as much as he
was able and looked me full in the
eyes.
"See youi" he answered with sort
of leering laugh about the corners OF
his wicked mouth. 81 will tell you
why hate her-yes-I will tell you, be-
cause you are man and strong. | like
strong men, they are sometimes fooled
by women, it is true, but then they can
take revenge. l was strong myself
once And you-you are old, but you
love jest-you will understand. The
Romani woman has done me no harm.
She laughed once. That was when her
horses knocked me down in the street.
| was hurt, but saw her red lips widen
and her white teeth glitter, she has q
baby smile, the people will tell you, SC
innocent! Twas picked up, her carriage
drove on, her husband was not with
her, he would have acted differently
But it is no matter, l tell you she
laughed, and then | saw at once the
| likeness"
THE likeness!" l exclaimed impa
tiently, for his story annoyed me-
what likeness?"
| Between her and my wife" the deal
er replied, fixing his cruel eyes upon
me with increasing intensity of regard
''Oh, yes! | know what love is. know
too that God had very little to do with
the making of women. 1t was long
time before even he could find the Ma
donna. Yes, yes, / knOwl l tell you
married a thing as beautiful as morn.
ing in springtime, with little head
that seemed to droop like flower under
its weight of sunbeam hair, and eyes.
ah, like those of a tiny child when it
looks up and asks you for kisses. was
absent once-I returned and found her
sleeping tranquilly-yes! on the breast
of a black-browed street-Singer from
Venice-a handsome lad enough and
brave as lion. He saw me and sprang
at my throat held him down and knelt
upon his chest-she woke and gazed
upon us, too terrified TO speak or scream
she only shivered and made q little
moaning sound like that of spoiled
baby. / looked down into her PROSTATE
lovers eyes and smiled. i will not hurt
you said. Had she not consented,
you could not have gained the victory.
All ask Of you is to remain here for Q
few moments longer He started, but
was mute. bound him hand and foot,
so that he could not stir. Then took
my knife and went to her. Her blue
eyes glared wide-imploringly she turned
them upon me-snd ever she wrung
her small hands and shivered and
moaned. plunged the keen,
bright blade deep through he.
soft white flesh-her lover cried out