Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-10-17

Fortunately meeting no one on my
way-out into the storm and darkness,
towards the Campo Sanfo, the abode
of the all-wise though speeches. Dead.
! had work 10 do thcre-work that
must be done. / knew that III / bad
ne taken the prccaution or dragging
my too devoted servitor, he might.
despite his protestatiOns. have been
tempted TO track me whittier / went.
As it was. 1 felt myself safe, for four
hours must pass. i knew, before Vim
cenzo could awE;-e from his iethargy.
And I was absent for some time.
Though / performed my task as
quickly as might be, IL took me long
err than I thought. and filed me with
o loathing and reluctance than ]
had deemed possible. 1t was a grue-
some, CHASTITY piece of wOrk-a work
of preparation.-and when | had I'M
ished IL entirely to my satisfaction. |
felt as though the bony fingers of
death itself bid been plunged deep into
ny very marrow. / shiyered with
cold. my limbs would scarce bear me
upright, and my teeth chartered as
though ] were seized by strong arue.
But the flXity OF my purpose strength
ened me till all was done-tiIl the
stage was set for the last scene of the
tragedy. Or comedy what y0a viii. /
know that in the world nowadays.
you make n husbands dishonor more
of n whispered Jest than anything
else-you and your heavy machinery
of the law. But TO mel am So
strangely observation-disclosures Is a
hirterer evil than death. If all those
who are deceived and betrayed felt
thus, then Justice w8nld need to be
come mor just. IT is fortunate .
for the lawyers that we
are not all honorable men!
When / returned from nv dreary
walk in the driving storm I found Vim
cenzo still fast asleep. i was glad OF
this. for had he seen me in the plight
] was he would have had good rea-
son TO he alarmed concerning both my
physical and mental condition. Per
ceiying myself in the glass, / recoiled
as from an image of horror. / saw a
man with haunted. hungry eyes
cleaning out from under "A mass Of dis
ordered white hair. his pale. Eaggard
face set and stern as the face of q
merciless inquisitor Of old Spain. his
dark cloak dripping with glittering
rain drops, his hands and nails stain
ed as though he had dug them into
the black earth, his boots heavy with
mire and clay, his whole aspect that
Of one who had been engaged in some
abhorrent deed too repulsive TO be
named. 1 stared at my own reflection
thus and shuddered; then / laughed
softly with a sort OF fierce enjoyment.
Quickly ! threw of all my soiled habit
ments and locked them u Of sight,
and arraying myself in dressing gown
and slippers, l glanced at the time.
1t was half-past one-already the
morning Of my bridal. / had been ab-
sem three hours and a half. I went
into my salon and remained there
writing. A few minutes after two
o'clock had struck the door opened
noiselessly and Vincenzc looking still
very sleepy.appeared with an express
sion OF inquiring anxiety. he smiled
drowsily and seemed relieved 10 see
me sitting quietly in my accustomed
place at the writing table. j surveyed
him with an air of affected surprise.
"Ebbene. Vincenzo! What has be-
come of Won all this while?"
"EccelienZa," he stammered, "it was
the Lacrima:-I am not used TO wine,
] have been asleep "
j laughed, pretended 10 stihe a yawn
on ny account, and rose from
my easy chair.
"Neramente," / said lightly. $50 have
1, very quietly. And if / would ap-
pear as a gay bridegroom, II is time
] went TO bed. Buona notte."
"Buonae N otte, signore."
And we severely retired 10 rest, he
satisfied that / had been in my own
room all the evening. and /, thinning
with a savage joy at my heart Of what
1 had prepared out there In the dark
ness, with no witnesses Of my work
save the whirling wind and rain.