Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-05

from the fountain and went on his
way"
You followed"
.Yes, Eccellenza, at a little dis
lance. He next visited a common tay-
ern In one of the back streets Of the
city and came out with two men.
They were we'll dressed-they had
the air Of gentlemen spoiled by bad
fortune. The Signor talked with them
for some time-he seemed much ey-
cited. / could not hear what they
said except at the end, when these
two strangers consented to appear as
seconds for Signor Ferrari and they
at once left him, to come straight TO
his hotel. And they are arrived, for
| saw them through a half-open door
as | came in, talking with the Mar
quis D'A%vencourt."
well" l said, land what Of Signor
Ferrari when he was left alone by his
two friends?"
There is not much more to tell,
Eccellenza. He went up the little hill
TO his W studio, and l noticed that
he walked like a very old mar with
his head bent. Once he stopped and
shook his fist in the air as though
threatening some one. He let himself
In at his door with a private key-and
/ saw him no more. 1 felt that he
would not come out again for some
time. AS / moved away TO return
here / heard a sound as of terrible
weeping"
And that is all. v~incenzoT
THAT is all, Eccellenzo."
I was silent. There was something
in the simple narration that touched
me, though / remained as determin-
ately relentless as ever. After a few
minutes / said:
You have done well, VincenZo. You
are aware how grossly this young
man has insulted me-and that his
injurious treatment can only be wiped
out in one way. That way is already
arranged. You can set out those pis-
tolls you cleaned"
VincenZo ~obeyed-but as he lifted
the heavy case of weapons and set
them down on the table, he yentured
to remark, timidly:
1.-The EycellenZa knows Ii Is now
Christmas day."
II am aware of the fact" l said,
somewhat frigidly.'
III liz WISH udNhlNChs bC WILL NhH
Coming back just now, ! saw the big
Nicolo-the EccellenZa has doubtless
seen him Often?-he is a v~ine-grOwer,
and they say he is the largest man in
Naples-three months since he nearly
killed his brother-ebbenne! Tonight
that same big Nicolo is drinking Chi
anti with that same brother, and both
shouted after me as / passed, 'Hola!
Nfnoanun EIo nnnn1t oil "a vyaII hnturnnn
us, because it is the blessed Christ's
birthday" VtncenZo stopped and re-
garded me wistfully.
"Wellm | said, calmly, what has the
big Nicolo or his brother to do with
me-"
My valet hesitated-looked up-tben
dOwn-inally he said, simply: May
the saints preserve the Excellence
from all harm!"
/ smiled %gravely. THANK you, my
frierd. / understand what you mean.
Have no fear for me. | am now going
to lie down and rest till ) o'clock or
thereabouts-and l advise you to do
the same. At that time you can bring
me some coffee"
And / nodded kindly to him as I left
him and entered my sleeping apart
iltDls NHtIt L lhIcm IulSCll Oi lliE
bed, dressed as I was. I had no inten-
ton of sleeping-my mind was toe
deeply engrossed by all I had gone
through. / could enter into Guido's
feelings-had l not suffered as he was
now suffering?-nayi more than he
for he, at any rate, would not be
buried alive! l should take care of
that! He would not have to endure
tho Won af hrnnlip- Innca c-cn, a.,
cold grasp of the grave to come back
TO life and find his name slandered and
his vacant place filled by an usurper.
DO what / would, l could not torture
him as much as | myself had been
tortured.-That was a ~pity-death. sud
den and almost painless, seemed too
good for him. l held up my hand In
the half-light and watched it closely
10 see IL IL trembied, ever so slightly.
No! 1t was steady as a rock-I felt |
was sure Of ms aim. | would not fire
at his heart, / thought, just above it
for l had to remember one thing
he must live long enough TO recognize
Inc before he died. That was the
sting ! reserved for his last moments!
The sick dreams that had bewildered
my brain when / IVES taken i'll at the
tAhiAN w Nlt' Il Iclitthi-
cred the 1.-THE figure. so like Guido,
that had glided in the InGian canoe to-
wards ME and had plunged a dagger
three times In my heart. Had it not
been realized? Had not Guido
stabbed me thrice?-in his theft of
my wife's affections-in his contempt
for my little dead child-in his SIAN
ders on my name? Then why such
foolish notions of pity--or forgiveness
the very .dea Of It only arse cut OF
a silly sentimentalism awakened by
Ierrari's allusion to III young days
days for which. after ali, he really
cared nothing. Meditating on all these
things, | suppose / must have fallen.
by impereeptible degrees. into q doze,
which gradually deepened Until it be-
came a profound and refreshing sleep.
Is o<-sf5e-
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