Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-18

| for he, at any rate, would not b.
buried alive, | should take care 0
| that! He would not have to endure TIT
| agony of breaking loose from TIL
/, cold grasp Of the grave to come bacl
| to life and find his name slandered
| and his vacant place filled up by
| usurper. Do what [ would I coulC
| not torture him as much as l mysel
had been tortured. That was a pity
death, sudden and almost painless
| seemed too good for him. | held I'll
my hand in the holf light and watched
it closely to see if it trembled eve
so slightly. No! it was steady as /;
rock-I felt | was sure Of my aim.
would not fire at his heart, I though
but just above it-fOr l had to re
| member one thing-he must I've Ions
enough to recognize me before III
died That was the sting | reserved
for his last moments! The sick dream:
that had bewildered my brain when
was taken i'll at the auberge REQUIRED
to me- l remembered the 1.-the figure
so like Guido, that had gilded in the
Indian canoe toward me and h2C
| plunged a dagger three times in my
| heart Had it not been realized? Had
not Guido stabbed me thrice?-in
! his theft Of my wife's affections-ln
| his contempt for my dead child-in his
| ISLANDERS on my name! Then why such
! foolish notions of pity-of forgiveness
| that were beginning to steal into my
mind? 1t was too late now for for
| giveness-the very idea of it only rose
! out of a silly sentimentalism awaken
ed by Ferrari's allusion to our young
days-days for which, after all, he
really cared nothing. Meditating on
all these things, suppose I must have
fallen by imperceptible degrees into a
became a profound and refreshing
sleep. From this I was awakened by
q knocking at the door. I arose and
admitted Vincenzo, who entered bear
ing a tray of steaming coffee.
''Is it alreary so late?" l asked
him.
1T wants a quarter to five" replied
/ Vincenzo-then looking at me in some
surprise, he added, viii not the eccel-
lenza change his evening-dress?
| nodded in the affirmative-and
while I drank my coffee my valet set
out a suit Of rough tweed, such as 1
was accustomed to wear every day. He
then left me, and l quickly changed
my attire, and while I did so | con-
sidered carefully the position of at
fairs. Neither the Marquis D'Aven-
court nor Captain Freccia had ever
known me personally when I was
FabiO ROmani-nor was it at all prob
able that the two tavern companions
of Ferrari had ever seen me. A sur
geon would be on the field-most prob
ably stranger. Thinking over these
points, | resolved on a bold stroke-lt
was this-that when | turned to face
Ferrari in the combat, [ would do so
with uncovered eyes-l would alb
jure my spectacles altogether for the
occasion. Vaguely | wondered what
the effect would be upon him. | was
very much changed even without these
Disgusting glasses-my white beard
and hair had seemingly altered the
aspect of my eyes that could not fail
to startle one who had known NE well.
My seconds would consider it very
natural that | should remove the
smOke-colored spectacles in order to
have my air unincumbered-the only
person likely to be disconnected by my
action was Ferrari himself The more
[ thought of it the more determined
I was to do it. | had scarcely finished
dressing when Vincenzo entered with
my overcoat, and informed that the
marquis waited for me, and that a
close carriage was in attendance at the
private door Of the hotel.
Permit me to accompany you,
eccellenza." pleaded the faithful fell
low, with anxiety in the tone of his
voice.
Come then, amico!" I said, cheeriIy.
eff the marquis makes no objection
I shall not. But you must promise
not to interrupt any of the proceed
He promised readily, and when l
joined the marquis he followed, carrs-
ing my case of pistols.
He can be trusted, l suppose?"
asked D'Avencourt, glancing keenly at
him while shaking hands cordially
with me-
''To the death!' [ replied laugh
ingly. He will break his heart if
he is not allowed 10 bind up my
wounds"
Il see you are in good spirits,
cunte,' remarked Captain Freccia, as
we took our seats in the carriage. 1t
is always the way with the man who
is in the right. Ferrari, I fear, is not
! quite so comfortable"
And he Droffered me a cigar, which
l accepted. Just as we were about
| to start, the fat landlord Of the hotel
rushed toward us, and laying hold
/ of the carriage "Eccellenza," he
observed in a confidential whisper,
''Cf course this is only a matter OF
| coffee and glorias? They will be ready
! for You all on your return. [ know
! l understand, And he smiled and
nodded a great many times, and LAID
his finger knowingly on the side OF
his nose. We laughed heartily, as
surfing him that his perspicuity was