The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
MARIA PERRONE
Murderess and Saint.
by 8. II. Crockett.
Copyright. 1897. bv s. n. Crockett.

yellow and black. i had Just been fnaue a Gen
eral-younger by twenty years than they make
Generals nowadays. but, though | say II. with
= deal more experience in fighting. ! was ro
diplomat then, nor had I any thoughts of sit
ting in council as Minister OF War. But. new
ertholess, I was . young General. still unmar-
rled, and clad In tho cavalry light blue and scar
let, with great silver spurs, which Is the most be-
coming of all uniforms; and in consequence of
all this / was we'll enough pleased with myself.
There was in that year little fighting save of
the dangerous, ungracious sort which consists
in securing tho countryside after Drigands Of
ones own race and bringing them TO tho market
place Of . convenient town to be tried and shot
by squads. Pahi the work, though necessary
enough. left an W taste In my mouth after Mem
tnna and Solferino. and. what was best Of all.
clearing Sicily with Garibaldts redshirts.
After tho Government had "quitted" Apulis
and generally polished up the heel Of the boot
for my sins they made me Inspector Of Prisons,
and a dreary job It was. 1t was like this:
A bowling, obsequiouss yndic. n speech of well
come. a meal fowl drowned in rice and sleeps
fat but mere bootlacos when you got at the
bird. bad olives. worse wine. and more speeches.
Thon came n fly blown town hall, 4 malodorous
prison, from which Sir Syndic tried all his arts
to dotsin tho General Inspector as long as possi-
BILE. Then there were the usual prisoners
petty larceners mostly, tho great ones being en-
gagged in filling Syndic's chairs. n stray brigand
or two. lambs thrown to tho wolves to save
their moro clever comrades. But all. brigand.
brawlcr. drunkard, TALLER. syndlo, had each
his own complaint to make, TO which Mt 1rst I
used TO listen patiently.
They wore innocent-all innocent. Tho holy
virninTk now It. the blessed saints, too. and would
one day make It plain. And then-ah then tho
false witnesses against the g%uiltless would have
conviction brought,home to them-with a knife
presumably. All, all was the same-dull repe-
tition, hateful to one who loved the camp and
the fierce light which CLEANS along the fighting
line, when each man 10 going in to strike till he
dies for your fatherland. But l forget; You
happy ISLANDERS have never been trodden down
for centuries. never seen the tyrant's flag flaunt
hatefully from your fortresses and set up on
festal days In your SQUARES. And now after the
deliversnoo I who had fought without being
shamed was sent with the escort OF n subaltern
TO inspect prisons. I heard afterward that some
one high in authority considered me a young
cock whose comb would not be the worse for
quitting. But 1t was cursedly dull work.
Nothing new, nothing interesting. not 40 much
- Q pretty girl crossed my path within arms
length as I worked my way southwark along
the eastern s~eaboard-syndics, speeches. gar
bage on plates. innocents In prison. 30 the dreary
procession passed by, till one day / came 10
htTAui- EO, tuhb 10 NOT IS hnCIout anu ulStln-
guished name, but II will serve.
Then in the nrst ward OF tho prison I saw a
face and l heard q voice which though q hun
dred years old / shall not forget.
Tho warder opened a door, as he opened all
the others, and with . sharp word called to at
tention a woman who stood mp straight, look
ing deep into my eyes. Tho light fell upon her
through the high barred window. Her hands
were clasped In front Of her. Her tall. 1.-the
figure showed rounded and graceful even
through the sack-like prison habit. Darkly
passionate. stormily moist blue black like tho
thunder cloud striding the Gulf Of laramie up
from the Mediterranean. 90 seemed TO me tho
eyes of tho woman who stood before me.
MARIA Perrone, wife Of Leo Perrone. brigand,
for murder in the second degree!" announced
the wardor. ~saluting with . face like q mask.
Whom did she murder" I asked of him
quickly.
"one Giovanni Lupo. a soldier Of tho country
militia Of her own province"
Hooked keenly at tho woman. whose dark
eyes had never swsrvsd q moment from mino
since the opening of the cell door revealed her.
Arc you innocent OF the crimel" asked
her. expecting tho usual denial.
81 killed the man! ~ she replied impassively>
standing like an angel carved In the niche OF n
duomo.
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