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

| all is we'll between US because IL IS tnt
blessed Christ's birthday" vincenzo
stopped and regarded me wistfully.
"Well!' said calmly, "what has the
big Nicolo or his brother to do with
me?"
My valet hesitated-looked up-theu
down-fnally he said simply, ''Mav the
saints preserve the Eccellenza from al
harml"
/ smiled gravely. "Thank you, my
friend! / understand what you mean.
Have no fear for me. l am now going
to lie down and rest till five o'clock OF
thereabouts-and / advise you to do the
same At that time you can bring me
some coffee"
And l nodded kindly to him as I left
him and entered my sleeping apartment,
where threw myself on the bed, dressed
as was. l had no intention of Sleep
ing-my mind was too deeply en-
crossed by all / had gone through.
III could enter into Guido's feel
ings-had l not suffered as he was
now suffering?-nay! more than he
for he, at any rate, would not be buried
alivel l should take care of thatl He
would not have to endure the agony
of breaking loose from the cold grasp
of the grave to come back to life
and find his name slandered and his va
cant place filled up by a usurper. Do
what would, could not torture him as
much as l myself had been tortured.
| That was pity-death, sudden and al
most painless, seemed too good for him.
| | held up my hand in the half light and
watched it closely to see II it trembled
ever So slightly. mol it was steady as a
rock-I felt | was sure of my aim
would not fire at his heart, l thought
| just above it-for l had to remember one
thing-he must live long enough to rec
ognize me before he died. That was the
| sting l reserved for his last moments!
The sick dreams that had bewildered
my brain when was taken III at the au-
berge required to me. | remembered
the 1.-the figure, so like Guido,
that had gided in the In
dian canoe towards me and had
plunged a dagger three times in my
heart! Had it not been realized? Had
not Guido stabbed me thrice?-in his
theft of my wife's affectiOns-in his con-
tempt for my little dead child-in his
ISLANDERS on my name? Then why such
foolish notions of pity-of forgiveness,
that were beginning to steal into my
mind? 1t was too late now for forgive
ness-the very idea of it only arose out
of silly sentimentalism awakened by
Ferrari's allusiOn to our young days
days for which, after all, he really cared
nothing. Meditating on all these things,
| suppose l must have fallen by imper
ceptible degrees into dose which grad
ually deepened till it became profound
nd paf raS HING alaan From this | waS
awakened by a knocking at the door.
l arose and admitted Vincenzo, who en-
tered bearing a tray of streaming
coffee.
"IS it already so late?" / asked him.
at wants quarter to tive," replied
Vincenzo-then looking at me in some
surprise, he added, "Will not the Eccel
lenza change his evening dress?'
nodded in the af1irmative-and while
l drank my coffee my valet set out a suit
of rough tweed. such as l was accus-
toned to wear every day. lie then left
me, and l quickly changed my attire,
and while did so considered carefully
the position of affairs. Neither the
Marquis D'AvencOurt nor Captain Free
ella had ever known NE personally when
| was Fabio Romani-nOr was it at all
probable that the two tavern Compan-
ions of Ferrari had ever seen me. A
surgeon would be on the field-mOst
probably stranger Thinking over
these points, | resolved on bold stroke
it was this-that when turned to face
Ferrari in the combat, / would do So
with uncovered eyeS-I would abiure
my spectacleS altogether for the occa-
sion. Vaguely | wondered what the eff
feet would be upon him. l was very
much changed even without these dis
guising glasses-my white beard and
hair had seemingly altered my
aspeCt-yet knew there was something
familiar in the expression of my eyes
that could not fail to startle one who
had known me well. My seconds would
consider it very natural that should re-
move the smoke cOlored spectacles in
order to see my aim unencumbered-the
only person likely to be disconnected by
my action was Ferrari himself. The
more thought of it the more deter
mined l was to do it. had scarcely
finished dressing when Vincenzo entered
with my my overcoat, and informed me
that the Marquis waited for me. and
that close carriage was in attendance
al the private door of the hotel.
Permit me to accompany yOu, Eccel-
lenza!" pleaded the faithful fellow. with
anxiety in the tone of his voice.
Come then, amic0!' l said checrily.
eff the Marquis makes no objection
shall not. But yOu must promise not to
interrupt any of the proceedings by so
much as an exclamation"
He promised readily, and when |
Joined the Marquis he followed, carry
ing my case of pistols.
''l1e can be trusted, / SUPPOSE" asked |
D'AvencoHrt, glancing keenly at him |
while shaking hands cordially with me.
ITO the death!' / replied, Iaughingly. !
HE will break his heart if he is not al |
lowed to bind up my woundS!''
Il see you are in good spirits, Conte," !
Captain Freccia as we took our |
seats in the carriage. 1T is always the |
way with the man who is in the right.
Ferrari, fear, is not quite so cOmforta-
BILE"
And he proffered me a cigar, which |
accepted. just as we were about to start
the fat landlord of the hotel rushed
towards US, and laying hold of the car
riage door-"Eccellenza," he observed
in confidential whisper. ''of course this
is only matter of coffee and glorias
They will be ready for you all on your
return. / KNOW understand And
he smiled and nodded a great many
times, and laid his finger knowingly on
the side of his nose. We laughed heart
ly, assuring him that his PerSpicuity
was wonderful, and he stood on the
broad steps in high good humor, watch
ng US as our vehicle rumbled heavily
lway.
Evidently" remarked. ''he does not
duel as a serious affair."
Not he :" replied Frcccia. He ha.