The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-19

his story to friend or mine. rs ne
was accustomed to receiving such calls,
he treated me courteously and told ev-
erything with great indifference, as
though he were speaking of some one
else. He spoke Of the woman and OF
her Life.
eve have lived together for 10
years, he said as he concluded. Il
am patient, she, too, and we lve-as
God wills it. My two greatest cqnsola-
tions are the esteem Of mankind and the
devotion of this unhappy woman.
went home. I wrote all that even
ing and all the following morning. Tbs
next day went to see my friend with
the manuscript.
Itwas the hour when the merchant"
was enjoying the breeze on the balcony.
After little alluded to the aversion
which my friend had felt for him
stYou must get over that, " l said,
ssfor you have made a mistake.
'It can't bel" he exclaimed, with his
usual self confidence.
LAY all joking aside, . I replied,
Hand read these pages. It is a histor-
ical narrative that I have written since
last saw you The principal actor is
your despised merchant I give you
my word Of honor that, save few nee.
essary explanations, I have not altered
the story in any way. y
Ny friend took the manuscript and
began to read. After little he raised
his eyes, looked at the man on the bal
cony, then looked at me and continued
to read. As he progressed he looked Of
tener at me and a. the man, at the man
and at me, and he became graver and
grayer. When he had reached the last
lines, cry of admiration escaped him,
and he jumped up, took my hand and
asked in moved voice, ssWill you give
me your word of honor that it is all
true?'
..Every word, % answered
..And that he is the man?' he pur-
sued
"And that he is the man, y repeated
Without another word he took his hat
and with quick steps walked off. went
to the window, saw him cross the
square and enter the door Of the oppo-
site house. After. a few minutes re-
marked that the man on the balcony
had disappeared. Shortly afterward he
came out again, and a few moments lat
er my friend recrossed the square.
ST know you, said to myself, run
ming to open the door for him. II know
what you went to do. - My friend ap-
peared at the door. "You,'' I continued
aloud, .'you went to kiss that mans
forehead. .
He looked at me, smiled, and then,
throwing his arms around my neck, he
answered, with a cry Of joy: mo; Twas
not worthy Of that. lwent to kiss his
hands -
It was the summer of the year 1861,
at the time when rumors Of the deeds OF
the brigands were flying all over Europe,
those historic days when Pietropaolo
carried in his pocket the chin Of Glib
eral'' with it's beard in Napoleonic
style; when in Montenuleto those who
cried, 'sViva lItalia!'' we're buried
alive under a pile of corpses; when in
Viesti they ate the flesh Of the peasants
who dared to disobey the orders Of their
robbers; when Colonel Negri, near Pom
telandolfo, saw the bloody members of
the soldiers disposed as trophies and
hanging from the windows; when the
poor Lieutenant Baci, wounded and cap
tured in fight, was killed after eight
hours of horrible tortures; when parties
of maddened people left their village in
the night to go and welcome tium-
phantly the brigands; when stacks OF
grain were fired, houses demolished,
whole families captured; when people
were hung and scalped and butchered,
and when, to stimulate and increase
the general slaughter, from the left side
of the Tiber came arms, money and
benedictions.
On one Of the last days Of July, lit
tie after sunrise, in deserted valley OF
the province of Cagritanata, soldier
on horseback moved forward toward
San Severe. He had started on the pre-
yious night to carry an order from the
colone! to the commander of a "colonna
mobile. - He carried under his coat an
answer to that order, in which the COM
mander said that he would 60 at 8
O'Clock the next morning to hiding
place in neighboring mountain where
he knew there was band Of brigands
| which Of late hid been terrorizing the
neighborhood The bearer of the letter
was man of 80, tall, spare, with very
bright eyes, a pointed mustache and
that frown between the eyebrows which
denotes the habit of thought His ex-
preston was ore of deep gravity, to
which his large hat, with its two points,
lent shadow of sadness, and the stern
! ness and decision Of his bearing denote
strength both Of body and of soul that
answered well to the necessities of the
times and the surroundings