Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-09-04

alarm looked and saw her whom ! had
loved, no longer lovely or beautiful She
was behind stand, on which a wax can
die was burning Close beside her was
the dog that had been barking He was
watching the movements of a man who
was much nearer to me, but as his back
was turned | could not see his face In a
moment | obtained a glance at his face,
heard his voice, saw that he had dagger
in his hand 1t was Pietro. Ny blood
was hot. | wanted to strike him down.
But kept my place, listened to his
angry words, that will not repeat even
to you. 1t is enough to say that they
confirmed my worst suspicious. ACCUSE
tions and confessions left no chance for
doubt. For time my anger abated l
was not thirsting for revenge, | blamed
myself for the trust had shown. was
weak with the feeling of modification,
disgrace and shame. | even thought of
retreating as | had come.
| did not entertain this thought long.
The treacherous male villain advanced
toward the woman, and declaring that
liz AA'NN NCiAililILICu CIIi1lt lIldG WOulu
cause his arrest if he did not escape to the
mountains that night, demanded the
money she had last received from Amer
lea. AS she besitated about giving it to
him, he went toward her with his dagger
in his hand and declared with a terrible
oath that he would take it from her by
force. As she screamed the dog leaped at
the would be robber, and in 50 doing over
turned the stand and candle. | sprang
forward to strike the wretch to the
ground. | did what intended He fell,
and in doing so his dagger entered the
heart of the frightened woman before
him. Her blood spurted on his face and
hands. The fierce dog sprang and applied
his jaws to his throat. The candle on the
floor set fire to the woman's dress and
lighted up the room. | surveyed the scene
with as much composure as would a bed
of flowers | had planted. l leisurely
came out upon the road and returned to
the city. bought some cigars and wine,
and took them on board the steamer,
where | shared them with the passengers
and some of the crew. | slept that night
as | had not since | left America No
sense of wrong kept me awake.
Those who went ashore the next morn
ing brought back word of terrible MUIR
der that had been committed the night
before. One of them gave me 8 paper
containing an account of it. | have pre-
served it, and you can find it in the bun
die leave with you. As | was reading
the paper and smoking a cigar on the deck
of the steamer noticed that there was an
excited crowd on La Promenade Marina,
which is generally occupied by pleasure
seekers. | took a glass and observed it.
A wild mob was following a prisoner, who
had obviously made an attempt to escape
from the police. His hands were fastened
together with chains. A dog was follow
ing him, and every little while he would
snap at him. As he did so the boys would
shout. understood all about the matter
Two days afterward there was quiet
funeral in the little chapel where | was
married. The body over which services
were held was that Of a false wife, who
had been murdered by her false lover,
Nicolai Pietro At least that was the way
the papers spoke of it. | heard the bell
strike twenty three times in succession in
tolling. That was the number of her
years. | will confess that was affected
each time the bell struck for the eight
zenith year That was for the year of our
marriage | afterward learned that the
dog that followed the murderer in anger
followed the hearse of the murdered
woman in sorrow and leapt into the grave
where they placed her. l am glad that
there are creatures in the world with lust
intelligence enough to see the good in
people without discovering the evil.
A trial for murder in Italy is not de-
ferred till the crime is forgotten Neither
is it Of long continuance. Nicolai Pietro
was tried and convicted before | left Italy
The case was clear All the evidence was
against him. 1t was well known that he
had long sustained improper relations
with woman whose husband was out of
the country. He was seen going to her
house early in the evening. He was found
there by persons who were attracted to
the cottage by an unusual light. His
face, hands and clothing were covered
with blood. A dagger, known to be his,
was sticking in the bosom of the muir
dered woman. A dog belonging to her
was clinging to his throat. The character
Of the man was as bad as it well could
be. The night before the murder rob
berry had been committed and he was sus-
pected of it. Articles belonging to the
man who was robbed were found in the
pocket of Pietro. The evidence was per
fectly conclusive; there was absolutely no
defense
With this account my visitor stopped
He had evidently completed the story he
had to tell. At my request he informed
me about his return from Messina to New
York on vessel, where he paid his pas
sage by acting as assistant to the cook.
He likewise told me of his brief stay in
eastern cities and of his coming to Chi
cago, where, under an assumed name, he
obtained employment i'll a restaurant on
Clark street 1t was while there that he
discovered me.
AS he had completed his story and got
it off his mind | supposed he would at
once leave me. But to my surprise he re-
manned and showed no signs of going At
/ length he said: There are all the papers
about the matter and my confession, writ
/ ten out more fully than have made it to
/ you. You know what should be done
with me. You can take me to the Italian
consul or the police station. | will go
with you now, or you can come for me at
any time. You will find me ready" 1t
was to no purpose that informed him |
| should never reveal his secret while be-
/ lieved that he was alive 1t did not cheer
him up when told him that my
/ present convictions were that the
guilty had suffered for their crimes
in the way they should, and
| that with them the matter should end