The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-08-28

than handle it so boorishly. Yet h
kills his men, too, but In a butcher-lik,
Numerically without grace or refine
ment. should say he was about on
par with our two associates, Ferrarf
seconds"
reused myself from a reverie int,
which had fallen.
"What men are they?" inquired.
Zone calls himself the Capitano Cha
BATH, the other Cavaliere Dursi. at you
service" answered Freccis indifferentIy
'Good swearers both, and hard drinker
filled with stock-phrases, such as 'oul
distinguished dear friend Ferrari,
wrongs which can only be wiped out by
blOod'-all bombast and braggadocio
These fellows would as soon be on on,
side as the other"
He resumed mis- smoking, and we al
three lapsed into silence. The drive
seemed very long, though In reality the
distance was not great. At last VIZ
passed the Casa Ghirlande, a supert
chateau belonging to distinguished no
bleman, who in former days had been g
friendly neighbor to me, and then ouI
vehicle jOlted down a gentle declivity
which sloped into q small valley, where
there was good-sized piece of smooth
fiat greensward. From this spot could
be family discerned the castellated tur,
rets OF my own house, the Villa Romani
Here we came to a standstill. Vincenzc
jumped briskly down from his seat be-
side the coachman and assisted us to
alight The carriage then drove off to q
retired corner behind some trees. We
surveyed the ground, and saw
that as yet only one person
besides ourselves had arrived.
This was the surgeon, a dapper
good humoured little German, who spoke
bad French and worse Italian, and who
shook hands cordially with US all. On
learning who l was he bowed low and
smiled very amiably. 1.-THE best | can
offer to you, Signor," he said, sis that
you may have no occasion for my
ssvices. You have reposed yourself2
That is well-sleep steadies the nerves.
Ach! you shiveri True, it is, the morn.
ing is cold"
l did indeed experience a passing
shudder, but not because the air was
chilly. 1t was because felt certain, so
terribly certain, of killing the man l
had once loved well. 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 sort of sick pain
at my heart, and as | thought Of her, the
iewel-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; il was yet too early for
her to practise her sham sanctity. She
slept, in all probability most peacefully,
while her husband and her lover called
upon Death to come and decide between
them. The slew clear strokes of a bell
Ginning from the city tolled six, and as
its last echo trembled mOurnfullY on the
wind there was slight stir among my
| looked and saw Ferrari
with his two associates. He
walked slowly, and was muffled in a
thick cloak; his hat was pulled over his
brows, 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 leafless
tree. The seconds on both sides now
commenced measuring the ground.
1--WE are agreed as to the distance,
gentlemen" said the Marquis. "Twen-
ty PAGES, think?"
Twenty PAGES" stiffly returned one
of Ferrari's friends, battered looking
middle-aged roue with ferocious NOUS
taches, who l 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 nv
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 i'm 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 million
tiny drops of frosty dew. A
curious calmneSs possessed me.
felt for the time as though | were me-
autOmation moved by some
Dther will than my own. | had no pas
sion left.
The weapon were now loaded
The Marquis, looking about him with a
cheerful business-like air, remarked:-
II think we may now place our
nen?"
This suggestion agreed TO, Ferrari left
II al 10.
he had in part reclined as though IA
igued, and advanced to the spot his
seconds pointed out to him. He threw
'ff his hat and overcoat, thereby show
ng that he was still in his evening dress.
lis face was haggard and of sickIy |
eyes had dark rings of !
'ain round them, and were full OF keen
md bitter anguish. He eagerly |
'rasped the pistol they handed |
o him, and examined it close
y with vengeful interest. | mean
while also threw off my hat and coat
he Marquis glanced at me with careless |
approval
You look much younger man with
tut your Spectacles, Conte," he remarked |
IS he handed me my weapon. smiled |
and took up nv position
t the distance indicated, exactly Oppo-
lite Ferrari. He was still occupied in
he examination of his pistol. and did not
t once look uU.
Are we ready, gentlemen" demand
d Freccia with courteous GOODNESS.
Quite ready was the response The
larquiS D'Avencourt took out his hand
erchief. Then Ferrari raised his head
nd faced me fully for the first time.
ireat Heaven! shall l ever forget the
wfuI change that came over his
allied conference.-the confused mad
'ok of his eyes-the startled horror of
is expression! His lips moved as
lough he were about to utter an excla-
staggered.
..lnni', crinh In.