Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-22

her A glimpse of her beautltul race, alDelJ
cold as marble to him, was food and drink,
life itself to the poor scholar. All else was
less than nothing in his thoughts
He discovered that she went on foot
every afternoon to attend vespers at the
Church of St Lucia, in the Via TraJano'
At first he contented himself with watch
ing her from the shadow of pillar and
following her homeward at distance. In
the church, no saint depicted upon its
walls, or shrined above its affairs received
such homage from those who worshiped
there as did the beautiful devotee from the
unhappy lover. Whether she knew it or
not was impossible to discover from her
impassive face hundred times more inn
passive than usual when she detected the
sorrowful eyes fixed upon her as she knelt.
One evening, when she had fingered long
er than usual and the few worshipers had
departed, leaving her alone with him IN
the church, he accosted her.
He began by stammering appeal for
pardon for his bOldness; but surveying him
with a look Of naughty surprise she would
have passed out Of the church without
word, had he not placed himself before her.
You shall listen to me-" he said hotly.
/ 81 love you; l am dying for you. God did
not give you such beauty that you might
destroy those who adore you with cruelty.
Have you no word of kindness for memo
Pity"
"Allow me to pass" was her reply, cor
will call the sacristan."
"Have you no hearth" he cried violently
Gam to listen to the rawlings of every
adventurer who crosses my pathY" she
said, in the same cold tone.
"Adventurerw he gasped, his face flush
ing deep crimson with rage and shame,
~ an adventurer"
"What else?" she replied calmly. "How
should you dare-a beggar in rags-speak
of love to me?"
If she had meant to insult and exasper-
ate him, she had succeeded but too well.
With his eyes starting from his head, and
the foam on his lips he glared at her
moment; then, lifting his hand, he struck
her 1t was an act of frenzy, the concen-
tration of his long suffering and despair in
one supreme moment Of utter abandon.
The next instant he was groveling upon
the ground, kissing the hem of her gar
ment. bathing it in tears and sobbing
prayers for pardon, self accusations, curses
upon his own brutality; while she, tower
ing above him in her outraged pride,
gazed down at him with white face and
slow, deep tone; coward"
yes, yes" he CRIED still kneeling;
''worse than a cowardl a villain, dog!
Oh. that /, who would have died for you,
should have done thisl Blasted be the
r hand that was raised against you! But you
shall be revenged. Yes, | myself will re-
e venge you"
' She made no reply, but pushing him
: aside with her foot, went out of the
1 church, leaving him kneeling upon the
r floor, weeping and calling maledictions
? down upon his own head.
+ The next morning before she had arisen
a her maid brought her parcel which haC
Z been left at the door by a messenger. Sup
a posing it to be some article from a trades
!, man she united the wrapping and founC
8 beneath a small wooden box. Removing
/, the lid she gazed within and dropped thu
e box with a cry of horror.
n There, at the bottom of the box, its fin
It gers contracted, as with the agony of tn
Is blow, was mans hand severed at tn
g wrist A bit of paper lay beside it Of
q which were written these words:
n "The infamous hand that desecrated love
" You are revenged."
For a long time she lay silent an
% thoughtful, with the strange parcel besid
r her. Gradually the cold, proud expressio
,e of her features gave place to a look neve
" seen there before. At last she arose, an
( gazing at the severed hand for some mt
X ments lifted it from the box and kissed th
N lifeless fingers
IN All that day she remained at home, !
is the seclusion of her chamber, and all da
ne a curious struggle seemed to be going o
s. in her mind. Now she paced to and fro i
& an agitated way; again she sat in her cha
d. with her cheek resting upon her han'
of buried in profound meditation.
At nightfall she suddenly arose, dressC
60 herself in a plain walking costume, an
w putting on a thick veil left the hou
,o alone There was no hesitation in her ST.
th as she went along the darkened streets
ir, ward the commoner quarter of the city
fc. Arriving before a large, gloomy bull
ed ing, whose tenants were evidently of Il
it poorer class, she spoke to the concierge;
,e, "You have a sick gentleman among yo
hit lodgers2"
"Signor Carnese2" replied She ma
De- ooh, yes, poor young gentleman. He
he badly wounded. He will not say no
he butt
of "Show me his room"
d a Whatever questions he might have fl
ne. inclined to ask were etfectually silenced
1t the piece of gold thrust into his har
es- Leading the way to the very top of
full house, he pointed to a door, and sayi
yed "That is his room, signora," took hims
down stairs again.
a She entered the apartment cautious
the The poor scholar was lying upon his /
yed with his face to the wall-she could S
ngs even in the darkened chamber, how hi
int, gard and white it was. Outside of
net coverlet rested his right ARM bandaged
her the wrist. As she approached him he stir
and moaned:
ow, "Water."
h She found glass upon the stand near
yed hand and placed it to his lips. She
18th moved her veil, and as she bent over
the he saw her face.
"You" he said, striving to rise. ]
Or she pressed him gently back upon the
Oth low.
1 or yes" she answered softly, ''it is l."