Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-06-10

the steep passes OF al Alpine Soi sc
the cold snow is at my feet hear the
rush and roar of thousand torrents
A crimson cloud floats about the sum
nit OF a white glacier-it parts asun-
der gradually, and in its bright center
face smiles forth! nina! my wife,
my soul" / cry aloud | stretch out
my arms-I clasp her. bah. 1t is this
good rogue of an innkeeper who holds
me in his musty embraced ! struggle
with him fercely-pantingly.
"Fool!" | shrek in his ear. Let
me go to her-her lips pout for kisses
let me go"
Another man advances and seizes
me; he and the innkeeper force me
back on the pillow-they overcome me,
and the utter incapacity of a terrible
exhaustion steals away my strength
/ cease to struggle. Pietro and his
assistant look down upon me.
''E morto!" they whisper one to the
other
/ hear them and smile. Dead? Not Il
The scorching sunlight streams
the thirsty flies buzz with persistent
loudness-some voices are singing
La Fata di Amdif! fl can dstin-
guish the words
"Chiagnaro la mia sventura
81 non tuorne chiu, Rosetta!
Tu d ATalfi la chiu bella,
Tu M Fata 81 pc me!
Viene, vie, regina mia,
Viene cure a chistO core,
Ca non c'e non Sc no sciore
Non c'e stella comm a te!"*
That is true song, Nina mia! Non
ce stella comm a tel" What did Guido
say? "Purer tnan the Flawless dia-
mond-unapproachable as the furthest
start" That foolish Pietro still poll
his wine-bottles. | see him-his meek
round face is greasy with heat and
dust; but | cannot understand how he
comes to be here at all, for | am on
the banks of a tropical river where
huge palms grow wild, and drowsy
alligators lie asleep in The sun Their
large jaws are open-their small eyes
glitter greenly. A light boat gides
ever the silent water-in it | behold
the erect little figure OF an Indian
His features are strangely similar to
those Of Guido. lie draws a long thin
shining blade OF steel us he approaches.
Brave fellow,-he means to attack
single handed the crue. creatures who
lie in wait for him on the sultry shore
He springs to land-G watch him with
a weird fascination. He passes the
alligators he seems not to be aware
OF their presenCe-ha comes with
swift, unhesitating step to met is
he plunges the cold steel dagger, and
draws it out again dripping with
blood! Once-twce-thri e,--and yet
| cannot die! | writhe-I moan in bit
ter anguish! Then something dark
comes between me and the glaring sun
something cool and shadowy, against
which / fling myself despairingly
Two dark eyes lock steadily into mine
and a voice speaks
BE calm, my SON be calm. Com
mend thysell to Christi"
It is my friend the monk recognize
him gladly He has returned from
Ills errand of mercy Though I can
scarcely speak, | hear myself asking
for news of the boy. The holy man
crossed himself ievoutly.
May his young soul rest in peace!
] found him dead"
L. l.,
Dead-so soon. | cannot understand
1t; and | drift off again into a state
Of confused imaginings. AS | look
back now to that time, | find have no
specially distinct recollection of what
atterward happened to me. | know
| suffered intense, intolerable pain
that through all the delrium of
my senses | heard a muiiled, mean-
choly sound like a chant or prayer |
have an idea that | also heard the
tinkle of the bell that accompanies the
Host, but my brain reeled more wildly
with each moment, and | cannot be
certain of this. | remember shrek
ing out after what seemed an eternity
of pain, Not to the villa, no, no.
not therei You shall not take me
curse on him who disobeys mel"
| remember then a fearful sensation
as of being dragged into a deep whirl-
pool, from whence | stretched up APP
pealing hands and eyes to the monk
who stood above mel caught a
drowning glimpse of a silver crucifiX
glittering before my gaze, and at last
with one loud cry for help, | sunk
downtown! into an abyss of black
night and nothingnessl
To be continued.