Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-30

| TINS other piece oI excellent masquer-
aiding take place at the same time.
Inc wedding was to be as private as
sad bereayements,' as she herself
| said with a pretty sigh ana fearful.
pleading glance. II would take place
IN the chapel OF San Gennaro, adjoiu-
| ing the cathedral. We were married
there beforel During the time that in
| teiYened, Nina IS manner was Somewh It
| singular. me she was often tlmld,
ANA sometimes half conclllatory. Now
| ana tnen / ceugnJ her large dark eyes
hAed N me with a Startled, anxious
| iook, but this expression soon passed
away, she was SUBJECT, TOO, TO Wild
hts of merriment, and anon to mooas
of absorbed and gloomy silence.
could plainly see that she was strung
up to an extreme pitch OF nervous eN-
element and irritability, but | asked
her no questions. III thought
she tortured herself with memories,
all the better-if she saw, or fancied
she saw, the resemblance between ME
and her dear dead Fabio,' it suited
me that she should be so racked and
bewiidered
came and went to and from the
villa as | pleased | wore my dark
/ glasses as usual, and not even Giacomo
could follow me WITH his peering, IN
quisitiye gaze, for since the night he
had been hurled so fiercely TO the
ground by Guido's reckless ana impa
tient hand the poor old man had been
paralyzed, and had spoken no word.
He lay in an upper chamber, TENDED
by Asumta, and my wife had already
written TO his relatives in LJmbaTuy
asking them to send for him home
"Of what use to keep him?" she had
asked me.
Truel OF what use to give even
roof shelter to a poor old human Great
ure, MANNED broken, and useless for
evermore? After long years Of faith
full service, turn him out, cast HIM
forth, If he lie Of neglect. starvation,
and ill-usage, what matter?--he is a
worn out tool, his day is done-lea him
perish. / would not plean for him
why should 1? | had made my own
plans for his comfort-plans shortly
to be carried out; and in the meantime
Assunta nursed him tenaerly as he
lay speechless, with no more strength
than a year-old baby, and only be-
wildered pain in his upturned, lack
luster eyes One incident occurred
during these last days Of my vengeance
that struck sharp pain to my heart,
together with sense of the bitterest
anger. had gone up TO the villa
somewhat early in the morning, and
on crossing the lawn | saw a dark
form stretched mOtionless on one OF
the paths that led directly up to the
house. ! went to examine II, and
started back in horror--it was my dog
Wyyis shot dead His silky black
head ana fore paws We're dabbled in
bo0d-his honest brown eyes were
glazed with the film Of his dying
agonies Sicbened and iuiuriated at
Tie sight, / called to a "a ,a.
was trimming the shrubbery
Who has done ,Ala .omanded.
The man looked ptyingly at the poor
bleeding remains, and said, in low
voice:
1t was madam's order, signor The
dog bit her yesterday; we shot aim at
day break"
stopped to caress the faithful ami
mails body, and as | stroked the silky
coat my eyes were dim with tears
How ala it happen?" | asked in
smothered accents. Was your lady
hurt?'
The gardner shrugged his shoulders
and sighed.
"Mal-no! But he tore the lace on
her dress with his teeth and grazed
her hand. 1t was little, but enough
He will bite no more-povera bestia!'
gave the fellow five francs.
Il liked the dog" said briefly
he was a faithful creature. Bury him
decently under that tree" and /
pointed to the giant cypress on the
lawn. and take this money for your
trouble"
He looked surprised but grateful,
and promised to do my bidding. once
mere sorrowfully caressing the fallen
head OF perhaps the truest friend |
ever possessed, | strohe hastily into
the house and met Nina coming cut OF
her morning-room, clad In one Of her
graceful trailing garments, in which
soft lavender hues were blended l'.o
the shaded colors Of late and early
violets.
80 Wyvis has been shot?" ! said
abruptly.
She gave a slight shudder.
"Oh, yes! is it not sad? But ] was
compelled to have it done. Yesterday
! went past his kennel within reach Of
his chain, and he sprung furiously at
me for no reason at all. See!' And
holding up her small hand she showed
me three triling marks in the delicate
flesh, II felt that you would be so