The Iola register., 1891-07-31

old guitar, and the song they sang was
familiar to me. Stayl where had l
heard it--let me listen!
''Sciore limones
LIE voglio far mort de passione
Zompa llari lliral"
Hal I remembered now. When I had
crawled out of the vault through the
brigand's hole of entrance-when my
heart had bounded with glad antictpa-
tions never to be realized, when i had
believed in the worth of love and friend
ship.-when had seen the morning sun
glittering on the sea, and had thought
poor fooll-that his long beams were ike
so many golden flags OF Joy hung up in
heaven to symbolic the happiness of my
release from death and my restoration to
liberty then-then had heard a sailors
voice in the distance singing that ''ritor-
nello," and had fondly imaged its i'm
uassIoped lines were all for me! Hate
full music-most bitter sweetness!
/ could have put my hands up to my ears
to shut out the sound OF it now that
| thought of the time when l had
heard it lastl For then 1 had possessed
a heart-a throbbing, passionate, sensi-
tive thing,-alive to every emotion OF
tenderness and affection,-now that
heart was dead and cold as stone.
Only its corpse went with me everywhere,
weighing me down with itself to the
strange grave it occupied, grave where
in were also buried SO many dear delu-
sions,-such plalntive regrets, such
pleading memories, that surely 1t was no
wonder their small ghosts arose and
haunted me, saying, "Wilt thou not
weep for this lost sweetness?" "Wilt
thou not relent before such q remem-
brance?" or"Hast thou no desire for that
past delight?" But to all such inward
temptations my soul was deaf and mex
orable; justice-stern, immutable justice
was what / sought and what meant to
have.
Maybe you find it hard to understand
the possibility of scheming and carrying
out so prolonged vengeance as
mine? If you that read these pages are
English, l know it will seem to you we'll
nigh incomprehensible. The temperate
blood of the Northerner, combined with
his open, unsuspicious nature, has, ad-
nit, the advantage over us in matters of
personal injury An Englishman, so /
near, Is llCdpduIo Ol iOhS
and deadly resentment, even against an
unfaithfnl wife-he is too Indifferent, he
thinks it not worth his while. But we
Neapolitans, we can carry "vendetta''
through lifetime-ay, through genera
tion after generation! This is bad. You
say-immoral, unchristian. No doubt!
We are more than half pagans at heart;
we are as our country and own ira
ditions have made us. 1t will need an
other visitation of Christ before we shall
learn to forgive those that despitefully
use US. Such a doctrine seems to US q
mere play upon words-a weak maxim
only fit for children and Ipriests Be-
sides, did Christ Himself forgive Judas?
The gospel does not say so!
When | reached my own apartments at
the hotel felt worn out and tagged. l
resolved to rest and receive no visitors
that day. While giving my orders to
Vincenzo, a thought occurred to me.
went to cabinet in the room and I'M
locked a secret drawer. In it lay a
strong leathern case. l lifted this, and
bade Vincenzo unstrap and open it. He
did so, nor showed the least sign of sur
prise when pair of richly ornamented
pistols was displayed to his view.
''Good weapons?" remarked, in a
casual manner.
My valet took each one out of the
case, and examined them both criti'
cally.
'They need cleaning, Eccellenza"
''Good!" said briefly. "Then clear
them and put them in good order.
may require to use them"
The imperturbable Vincenzo bowed
and, taking the weapons, prepared tt
leave the room.
STAY"
He turned. i looked at him steadily.
II believe you are faithful fellow,
Vincenzo," said.
He met my glance frankly.
THE day may come" I went or
quietly, ''when l shall perhaps put youl
Gdelity to the proof"