The Press., 1896-07-09
IOZI.
By OPIE READ.
Copyright, 1908, by the Author.l

Copyright, 1806 by the Author.J Among the effects of T. R. Ludds, whose death wns recently announced by the Chicago newspapers. was found manuscript written by young woman. It was entitled "A Confession" and at tached to it was the following note in the handwriting of MT. Ludds:
 "This was sent to me by the writer thereof, Laura Brizman, who, few years ago, held sway as an acknowledged beauty, and, lest some one may wonder how I came possessed of this confession, let me say that Laura Brizman had promised to be my wife. "
 
 don't ask for sympathy-1 ask for nothing except an unprejudiced reading of these lines, and yet don't see how l can hope even for so much consideration. There may come a time when to some extent I shall bo vindicated, and, with this in view, shall set down ill minute detail tho strange experience which be- fell me.
 One afternoon, while returning home on a suburban train after a day of shop ping, most peculiar feeling suddenly came over me. For few moments my mind seemed to be ill a strange tumble, falling or turning over and over, and during the time my heart fiuttered with fright, but suddenly became calm, and out of that whirlwind of emotion came the conviction that had lived hundreds of years ago. We all have felt this inn pressiOn, and I had felt it many times ! before, and after moments perplexity had dismissed it as a mental phenome- non that mover could be understood, but this time it was more than an impress sion-indood it was clarified into de- fined rocollection-and l remembered the following incidents of former life
 It must havo been at least 300 years ago when I lived ill Florence. My fla l ther, LOpelO DcnZi, was rich mer- chant, and I an only child. l could get but fitful glimpses of my childhood, but I we'll remembered the day l was | 15, when was given as bride to All tonic MorasO. How thrillingly this came up and took possession of mo that afternoon, and how l attempted to roa- son with myself. I tried to calm myself with a strong view of the prcsont-that | l way train, looking out on all Illinois prairie, but tho soft air and tho delicate perfume of all Italian garden camo and made my senses swim. And then the recollection of my marriage was so strong that reason turned an ardent ad- vocate and urged me to recall the details of my happy wedding.
 | Antonio MOrasO How brave and hand some he was, with curling hair and eyes | of softest luster! I could recall every feature of his faco, and so distinctly on a sudden did remember, or rather hear again, the music of his voice that was thrilled - thrilled back into the rushing age of the present. Again did argue with myself, striving to make my self believe that had been asleep, but as sat looking out over a Dutchman $ cabbage patch the recollection of my life in Florence came back with height ened color, and now, no longer attempt ing to hold my mind ill restraint, loosened it and let it fly back to the mar row streets of Danto's town.
 A bride at 15, but with what 0 happy willingnessl I loved Antonio with 6 passion that could not exist in this cold, commercial age. The wedding eve, with its knightly company! How its music and its incense came back to me. Thor came a hazo through which I could scarcely see, and then Antonio and were living in a charming old house. Most of all remember ono evening; we were sitting ill the garden.
 "Zozi,' said he, with his arm fondly about mo, "is 1t not a cruel fate that at somo time death will separate us?'
 "Oh. don't speak of that, love-" implored
 ''It was on my mind," he went on drawing mo closer to him, "but be- lieve that we shall live again. do mol