Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-12-15

| III hacked out moment OF the
signal gun so began my CHASTITY task
by walking slowly about, iostling as
best could among the crowd, but
with my eyes fixed anXiously upon
each balcony in turn in a feverish
searching for my brother
At last l saw him, leaning boldly
above a fowerdecked rail, and al
though his face was shielded by a
mask, l knew him by his noble
shoulders. Hurriedly | secured a
bunch Of pure, white roses, then dart
ing across the street, managed to Sc
cure an empty chair upon the balcony
beside him.
In another instant the warning gun
had doomed and for moment heaven
itself seemed raining flowers, and
storms, yea, even hurricanes of roses,
hyacinths and violets burst furiously
upon the air,
Did he know Alicia's disguise,
wondered, and then for a moment |
cursed my own stupidity. How should
| know her in that passing throng?
The starry eyes would. beyond all
doubt be yelled, and the silvery voice
would hardly reach my ear in such a
Babel of confusion.
] turned and scanned my brothers
poor disguise, hoping, | knew not
why, for something that would aid
me in my dire dilemma. Another in
slant and my heart grew light. Fer
nando turned, and my eye caught in
stantly golden CLEAN, the glitter Of
a shining star, pinned directly above
his heart.
so that is your private badge Of
recognition, muttered bitterly, and
then began to sean more closely than
ever the occupants of the gorgeous
carriages.
At last she came drawn by,
four-milk white, prancing steeds,
whose necss were hung with crimson
roses, and then for the first time dis
cerned that my brother held a mon.
strous bunch Of the same rare, fra.
grant blossoms.
Curiously, eagerly. 1.-THE starry eyes,
behind snowwhita veil, searched
everywhere the teeming balconies.
and at last, just as she reached his
seat, Fernando rose and bending
toward her displayed his golden bau-
BILE.
He bent and dropped the ruby clus
ter directly at her feet and rush Of
feeling seemed TO oyerpower her, for,
forgetful Of both time and scene, she
touched her fingers to her lips and
waited a kiss directly to the giver.
1t was the moment that | sought,
and all the fury Of my jealous rage
awoke at once and aided me.
Coward / Kissed, ITO steal
woman's love" And then, as the
man, half puzzled at my words,
turned suddenly and took one step my
way, rose, and, throwing my roses
in his face, sprang like tiger at his
breast and stabbed him to the heart
exactly over the spot so lately shield
ed BY the golden trinket.
There was a shrek from the street,
so fierce, so loud aud so long that for
an instant everything was still, but
when | crept unhindered from the
spot only a second later, the battle
had begun again and the tragedy Of
love and rage was over and forgotten.
Why | was not stopped / do not
know, unless it was that some had
seen the dagger and believed the
whole thing to be farce to add ex.
element to their pleasure However
it was l eluded them all and quickly
undoing my disguise, left il to be
trampled with the flowers while
hurried away from the sweet con.
fusion
Turning my back upon the city I
went my way until on the following
day ! found myself mounting the
marble steps that led to the gambling
den at Monte Carlo Half way up the
stairs, with the memory Of nv evil
deed still burning in my brain. /
stopped suddenly, chilled to the very
marrow, for just before me, noble.
handsome as Of old, beheld nv
brother Fernando
My God" shouted hoarselv
What have I done. What have
doner'
Fernando quickly descended the
steps and stood beside me. Have
you been losing, Pedro?" he said
kindly. IF 50 take this" and he
held handful Of gold before me,
while | stared in stupid horror.
"When-when did you come here2r
! asked him wildly, and for answer
Fernando took me by the arm and
led me slowly away.
''You are my brother, Pedro. and
will tell you all, he said ia a
strangely mournful tone. "You See.
| was fool enough to fall in love and
the lady's-Alicia's husband has re-
turned" he finished sadly
! caught my breath with a sitting
gasp. Does this man, Alicia's hus.
band, resemble you?" asked in horror.
In form, yes, in face, no, he re-.
piled briefly.
With a sudden sob Of weakness + (
told him the awful story, and Fer
nando, noble Fernando. only took me
by the hand and said compassionately:
Yours has been hard lot, Pedro.
Deformed and hideous from your
birth, but let us not add more Of
IL. 4