Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-25

Z lenZaI
why, MOI" | answered, with
forced smile do you not see, AMIGO.
That | am heavyhearted and melan-
choly men are best left to themselves
Besides remember the carnival
told you you were free to indulge in its
merriment, and shall | not deprive you
OF your pleasure? No Vincenzo; stay
and enjoy yourself, and take no con-
Germ for me"
Vincenzo saluted me with his usual
respectful bow, but his features wore
an expression OF obstinacy.
"Eccellenza must pardon me-" he
said, but have just looked at death,
and my taste is spoiled for carnival.
Again--the eccellenza is sad-it is &C.
essary that | should accompany aim
to Ayellino."
saw that his mind was made up,
and | was in no humOr for argument.
AS you will" | answered, YEARLY,
! only believe me- you make a foolish
decision. But do what you like; only
arrange all so that We leave tonight.
l
explanations at the hotel of what has
occurred, and lose no time in sending
on my carriage | will wait alone at
the villa Romani till it comes"
The vehicle rumbled off, bearing
Vincenzo seated on the box beside the
then turned into the road that led me
to my own dishonored home. The
| place looked silent and deserted-not
a soul was stirring. The silken blinds
of the reception-roOms were all closely
| drawn showing that the mistress of
the house was absent; it was as if
some one lay dead within. A vague
wonderment arose in my mind. Who
was dead? Surely it must be IL, the
! master of the household, who lay stiff
and cold in one of those clrtained
rooms! This terrible white-haired man
who roamed feverishly up and down
cuts. lie the walls was not met was
some angry demon risen from the
| grave TO Wreak punishment on the
| guilty. | was dead could never
rave killed the man Who had once
been my friend, And he also was
dead-the same murderess had slain
us both--and she lived! Ha! that was
| Wrong--she must debut in such
torture that her very soul shall
shrink and shrivel under it into q
devils flame for the furnace of hell!
With my brain full of hot whirl-
ing thoughts like these | looked
through the carved heraldic work of
the villa gates Here had Guido
stood, poor wretch, shaking these
twisted wreaths of iron in impotent
fury. There on the mosaic pavement
he had flung the trembling old SER
want who had told him of the alb
scnce OF his traitress on this very
SPOT he had launched his curse, which
though he knew it not, was the curse
Of q dying man ! was glad he had
uttered it-such maledictions cling!
There was nothing but compassion for
him in my heart now that he was
dead He had been duped and wronged
even as T., and | felt that his spirit,
released from its grosser clay, would
work with mine and aid in her pun
ishment
paced round the silent house till
/ came t. the private wicket that led
into the avenue; | opened it and en-
tered the familiar path. / had not
been there since the fatal night on
which | had learned by own betrayal
How intensely still were those solemn
pines-how gauut and dark and grim!
Not branch quivered-not a leaf stir
red A cold dew that was scarcely a
frost glittered on the moss at my feet
No birds voice broke the impressive
hush of the woodlands morning
dream No bright-hued flower unbut-
toned its fairy cloak to the breeze, yet
there was subtle perfume every
where-the fragrance OF unseen vic
lets whose purple eyes We're still
closed in slumber,
l gazed on the scene as man may
behold in vision the spot where he
, once was happy. | walked a few
PAGES. then paused with a strange
beating at my heart. A shadow fell
; across my path--it fitted before me
, ii stopped--it lay still | saw 1t re-
solve itself into the inquire OF mar
stretched out In rigid silence, with the
light beating fun on its smiling
dead face, and also on a deep wounC
just above his heart, from which the
blood oozed redy, staining the grass
or which he lay. Mastering The
sick horror which seized me at this
sight. | sprung forwarn-the shadow
vanished instantly-it was mere op
teal delusion, the result Of my over
5 wrought and excited condition.
shuddered inyoluutarily at the image
j my own heated fancy had con'ureC
up should | always see Guido thus
% thought. even in my dreams?
Suddenly a ringing, swaying rush o
sounds burst joyuusly on the silence
n the numbering trees awoke, thei
( leaves moved their dark branche
y ! rufyera1 and Tho grasses lifted nj