Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29
Continued.

gendarnes will have him, then he will
be in the galleys for life, and she will
die. Yes-yoU may be sure Of that
If grief does not kill her quickly
enough, then she will kill herself, that
is certain! She is slight and frail to
look at as flower, but her soul is
strong as iron. She Will have Ler own
women are made so, and it is generally
the Notwithstanding among them Who
have the most courage"
Dur conversation was here inter
rupted by one Of the sailors who cane
for his masters orders. The talkative
skipper, with an apologize smile and
bow, placed his box of cigarettes be-
side me where | sat, and left me to
my own reflections.
was not sorry to be alone.
needed little breathing time-a rest
in which to think, though my thoughts
like new solar system, revoly2G
round the red planet of one central
idea, Vengeance. "a false woman de-
SCI fCo NCCtIll Cll IDlS ollu PIC O11il-
ian mariner said so. GO and kill her,
go and kill heri" These words reiter-
ated themselves over and over again III
my ears till | found myself almost ut
tering them aloud, My soul sickened
at the contemplation of the woman
Teresa-the mistress of a wretched
brigand whose lame was fraucht with
korror-whosc looks were terrifc-she,
even she could keep herself sacred
from the prOfaning touch of other
mems caresses-she was proud of be-
ing faithful to her wolf of the noun
tainS, whose temper was uncertain and
treacherous-ske could make lawful
beast of her fidelity to her blood
stained lover-whiIe Nina, the welded
wife of noble whose descent was lofty
and unsullied, could tear off tie fair
crown of honorable marriage and cast
1t in the dust-cOuld take the dignity
Of an ancient family and trample upon
it-cOuld make herself so low and vile
that even this common Teresa, know
ing all, might, and most probably
would, refuse to touch her hand. con-
siderlng it polluted. Just God! what
had Carmeio NeTi done to deserve the
priceless jewel of a true wOman's
heart? what had | done to merit such
foul deception as that which | was
now called upon to avenga? Suddenly
| thought of my child Her memory
came upon me like a ray of light
had almost forgotten her. Poor little
biCssom!-the slow not tears forced
themselves between my eyelids. as l
called UP before my fancy the picture
OF the soft baby face-the young I'M
troubled eyes-the little coaXing mouth
always budding into innocent kisses!
What should l do with her? When the
Elan of punishment | had matured in
my brain was carried out to it's utmost
should | take her with me far, far
away into some quiet corner of the
world, and devote my life to hers?
Alas! alas! She too, would be a woman
and beautiful-she was a flower born
of poisoned tree: who could say that
there might not be a canker worm hid
den even in her heart, which waited
menCe its work of destruction! Oh
men! you that have serpents coiled
round your lives in the shape of fair
false wOmen-if God has given you
children by them, the curse descends
upon you doubly. Hide it as you will
under the society masks we are all
forced to wear, you know there is
nothing more keenly torturing than to
see innocent babes look trustirgly in
the deceitful eyes of an unfaithful wife.
and call her by the sacred name of
Mother" Eat ashes and drink worm
wood, you shall find them sweet in
comparison to that rauseating bitter
ness! For the rest of the day l was
very much alone. The captain of the
brig spoke cheerily 20 me now and
then, but we were met by light con-
trary winds that necessitated his Civ
ing most of his attention to the man
agement of his vessel, so that he coulC
not permit himself to yield to the love
of gossip that was inherent in him
The weather was perfect, and notwith.
standing our constant shifting anC
lacking about to catch the errati,
breeze. the gay little brig made merry
and rapid way over the sparkling Med
iterranean, at a rate that promised on
arrival at Palermo by the sunset of tn
following day. AS the evening cam
on the wind freshened, and by tn
time the moon scared like a larg
bright bird into the sky, we were scud
ding along sideways. the edge of on
vessel leaning over to kiss the wave
that cleaned like silver and gold
tiecked here and there with pho sphoT
escent fame. We skinned almost IN
der the bows of a magnificent yacht
the English flag fioated from her mas
her sails glittered purely white in tn
moonbeams, and she sprung over tn
water like sea-gull. A man. who's
tall athletic figure was shown off t
advantage by the yachting costume h
wore. stood on deck, his arm. threw
round the waist of a girl beside hin
We were but a minute or two passin
the stately vessel, yet l saw plain1
this loving group Of two, and-I pitie
the man! Why? He was English III
doubtedly-the son of a country whel
the very soil is supposed to be oGorol
Of girtue-therefore the woman besit
him must be perfect pearl of purit,
an Englishman never makes { mistal
in these things! Never? Are W
sure? All, believe me, there is II
much difference nowadays betwe,
women of opposite nations. On
an-nc In 1,.illi1ncr q nG1.nit