San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-01

good hum0ured 1ltCle GGrman W~nOSDokS
bad French and worse Italian, and who
shook hands cordially with US all. On
learning who | was he bowed low and
smiled very amiably. THE best l can
offer to you, Signor," he said, sis that
you may have no occasion for my
services. You have reposed yourself?
That is well-sleep steadies the nerves.
Ach! you SILVER! True, it is, the morn
ing is cold"
| did indeed experience a passing
shudder, but not because the air was
chilly. 1t was because l felt certain, so
terribly certain, of killing the man l
had once loved we'll. Almost / wished l
could also feel that there was the slight
est possibility af his killing me, but, no!
all my instincts told me there was no
chance of this. / had a sort of sick pain
at my heart, and as / thought of her, the
jewel-eyed snake who had wrought
all the evil, my wrath against
her increased tenfold. | Won
dered scornfully what she was
doing, away in the quiet convent where
the sacred Host unveiled, glittered on
the alter like a star of the morning. No
doubt she slept; it was yet too early for
her to practise her sham sanctity. She
Slept, in all probability most peacefully,
while her husband and her lever called
upon Death to come and decide between
them. The slow clear strokes of a bell
Ginning from the city tolled six, and as
its last echo trembled mOurnfuliy on the
wind there was a slight stir among my
companions. | looked and saw Ferrari
approaching with his two associates. He
walked slowly, and was mui1led in a
thick cloak; his hat was pulled over his
hrOws, and / could not see the expression
of his face, as he did not turn his head
once in my direction, but stood apart
leaning against the trunk OF a leatlCSs
tree. The seconds on both sides now
commenced measuring the ground.
eve are agreed as to the distance,
gentlemen" said the Marquis. Given
ty PAGES, | think?"
Twenty PAGES" stiffiy returned one
of Ferrari'S friends, a battered-looking
midGle-aged rOu with ferociOus nous
taches, who | presumed was Captain
Ciabatti.
They went on measuring carefully and
in silence. During the pause | turned
my back on the whole party, slipped off
my spectaCleS and put them in my pocket.
Then / lowered the brim of my hat
slightly so that the change might not be
observed too Suddenly-and resuming my
first position, | waited. 1t was daylight
though not full morning, the sun had
not yet risen, but there was an opaline
lustre in the sky, and one pale pink
streak in the east like the floating pen
non from the lance of a hero, which her
aided his approach. There was a gen.
tie twittering of awakening birds, the
grass sparkled with a million
tiny drops of frosty dew. A
curious calmness possessed me. |
felt for the time as though | were a me-
| chanical automatiOn moved by some
| other will than my own | had no pas
sion left.
The weapons were now loadcd,-and
| the Marquis, looking about him with a
! cheerful business-like air, remarked
Il think we may now place our
men?"
This suggestion agreed to-, Ferrari left
| his place near the tree against which
| he had in part reclined as though ia
tigued, and advanced to the spot his
| seconds pointed out to him. He threw
off his hat and %overcoat, thereby show
| ing that he was still in his evening dress.
His face was haggard and of a sickly
paIaness-his eyes had dark rings Of
pain round them, and were full of a keen
and bitter anguish. He eagerly
grasped the pistol they handed
to him, and examined it close
ly with vengeful interest. | mean
while also threw off my hat and coat
the Marquis glanced at me with careless
approval.
"You look a much younger man with.
out your spectacleS, COnte,' he remarked
as he handed me my weapon. | smiled
indifferently, and took up my position
at the distance indicated, exactly oppo-
site Ferrari He was still occupied in
the examination of his pistol, and did not
at once look uD.
Are we ready, gentlemen?" demand
ed Frsccia with courteous GOODNESS.
quite ready was the response. The
Marquis D'Avencourt took out his hand
kerchief. Then Ferrari raised his head
and faced me FUZZY for the first time.
Great Heaven! shall l ever forget the
awful change that came over his
pallied conference.-the confused mad
look of his eyes-the startled horror oil
his expression! His lips moved as
though he were about to utter an eXcla
nation, he staggered.
"One!' cried D'AvencOurt
We raised our weapons
"Two!'
The scared and bewildered expression
of Ferrari'S face deepened visibly as h
eyed me steadily in taking aim.
smiled proudly gave him back glance
for gIance,-I saw him waver, -hit
hand shook.
Three and the white Handkerchief,
huttered to the ground. Instantly anC
together, we fired. Farrari'S bulle
whizzed past me, merely tearing my Goa
and grazing my shoulder. The smok,