The Dickinson press., 1894-03-31
DA WN.

a farewell interview with her, but he
could not obtain it.
There were times when his misery
almost maddened him, when he blamed
himself wildly for his folly, when be
cried out that his own weakness had
cut short two fair lives, when he would
have given his hearts blood to have
undone what he had done.
One morning, two days before the
day for the execution, there came to
him q note, written in quaint, tremb-
ling hand, headed from Mary Street,
Leicester Square, and signed andrea
Fieschi''-a note frcm dying man,
who begged Of him to go without loss
Of time and see him on II matter of life
and death.
Alan was there before three hours
had passed. and. on inqutring, was told
that the Italian gentleman who was oc-
cupyiEg the drawing rooms, was sup
posed to he dying; he had met with
an accident some months before. the
landlaly said, ana had never been well
aftcrwari.
Go to him." sfied Alan. eagerly, "and
tell him that the gentleman to whom
he wrOte-Alan BranSton. of Elms-
thorpe tir1ngc--is waiting to see him.
In Il few minutes he stood by the
bedside of the dy ing mana handsome
man. and evidently patrician-who
looked into his face with dim, wistful
eyes.
You are Alan BraEston ?' he interro-
gated; and tine answer was a quick,
almost impatient, Yes"
You loved and wished to marry Hya-
cinth Vane, now in prison for the-the
murder of Gertrude Frascr?''
Yes" said Alan; and the dim eyes
looked more keenly at him.
You have suffered,'' remarked the
stranger. II see lines on your face.
white threads in your hair. ] have seen
signs Of anguish and woe that have
known no rest aud no cessation. I
should not tell you my secret now,
but that know 1 am going to die.
and the telling Of it cannot hurt me,
while it may save her. Send for q
magistrate and what other witnesses
you desire; I will tell you my story
once, and all may hear it."
=
Alan Branston, Mr.. Barton. one of
the kcenest London magistrates, and
Alton Chevril, one of the barristers who
had done his best in defending Hya-
cinth, were all assembled in the dying
mans room. He looked at them with
steady eyes and a calm face; he hesi-
tated one-half minute, while Alan's
heart beat so strongly with excitement
and suspense that it seemed to him
every one must hear 1t.
Il am perhaps quixotic In what I
am doing" said Count Fieschi; 'but
my doctors say that I shall die be-
fore forty-eight hours are over my
head, and l may as well save that
young girls life, if can. have done
many bad actions, and few good
ones. 1 have cheated the law and
the scaffold. l may tell you that I
murdered Lady Fraser-let me add also
that, if ever Il woman OH earth justly
deserved her fate, she did; that, Il
the time and the opportunity came
again, /! would repeat the deed. No
weak, sickly thought of repentance has
Ing. and that young girl may live"
Mr.. Barton caught Alan Branston.
as his tall, strong figure swayed to and
fro: the wonderful strength that had
upheld him so long gave way now
that there was a glimmer Of hone.
Count Fieschi smiled q slow. satirica]
smile.
''Give him some brandy" he said. 81
know what it is. I once loved q woman
like that, and she deceived me. Let
him listen to me; tell him time Is
short"
Time Is Short" whispered Mr.. Bar.
ton In Alan's ear; ''every moment is
worth gold, and we have so much tc
do
The words were magical in their ef
feet; Alan stood up again, and again the
count smiled.
II understand It," he said. II loved
a woman just as much as that once
Who teaches women? Not heaven, ]
am sule-there is no art so cruel bu
| that they understand it; there is moth
ing they cannot do. The woman lovet
and slew knew all that the world
of coquetry and cruelty holds. Sh,
was one Of those cursed with bcauti
full face, who used the beauty HEAVIER
had Given her to work misery and de
struction among her fellow creatures.
LET me tell my own tale-what sh'
did to me. tried her in my owl
mil:d, condemned hcr--took the law int,
my own hands and slew her. Let M
tell you what she did. Three year
ago WAS good in heart and soul, de
voted to my country. 1 had grea
hopes, fiery ambition; longed to i'm
itate the great men Of my native land
and devote my life to her service
Bella ItaIia-I had no other love.
II met the siren who has wrecke,
my life, admired her, and for a tim
resisted her. I said to myself, N
love but that of Italy I stecled m
heart against the warm glances Of he
eyes. against the lovely smiles OF he
red lips, against the touch of her whit
hands; and. when she saw that a fey
sweat smiles and looks would rot NOV
rle. she set to work to ruin me.
"Siie did not love-llot in the least
out she had Il thirst for cOnquests
Mems hearts We're playthings to liel
she loved to torture them. She 81,
that I had resolved to steel my hear
against her, and she resolved to wi
me. She never gave ME any rest unit
she had made me love her.
do you know how we Italians love
We love with a fire such as you col
Englishmen never know. She iighte
this fire in my heart solely to gratif
her own vain love of conquest. 81,
made me love her; and loved her q
madly as any man ever loved woman
laid my heart and soul at her fee
and then she was content. I lived
a FOOLS paradise for few days; the
l asked her to be my wife. She lausl
ed at me; and my hot blood boiled wit
rage. I said b, her:
You have aroused the love in III
heart; You must he my wife.
"She laughed again. and the fl
burned more ttercely in my bl ,ol.
sworc that she should be ,nine 81
was frightened: and tried to temp 1rl,
by q few soft words aud looks. I'll
day came when she spoke 1t rs,urnir
to England. still laughing at tba u
tion Of being my wife. We had :l;,s!
words, and swore that Il st.n tli.! n
keep the promise she had made ne.
would follow her to the end of Il
: Il world and kill l,er.
II Patriotism, country, honor. fldclit
: all became less than nothing to II,
! bore my pain until I coull bear
no longer, and then followed llcr
England. read in IL provincial new
paper that she was at Dene Hall.
!. q knew her well. If had asked aft
J. y her in the broad daylight she wc,,