Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-25
Continued.

left his place near the tree against
which he had in part reclIned as
though fatigued, and advanced to the
spot his seconds pointed out to him.
He threw off his hat and oyercoat,
thereby showing that he was still in
his evening-dr His face was bag
gard and of a sickly paleness-h1s
eyes had dark rings of pain round
them, and were full Of a keen and Bit
ter anguish. He eagerly grasped the
pistol they handed to him, and ex-
amined it closely with vengeful in
terest. | meanwhile also threw off my
hat and coat-the marquis glanced at
me with careless approval.
You look a much younger man
without your spectacles, conte," he
remarked as he handed me my
weapon. l smiled indifferently, and
took up my position at the distance
indicated exactly opposite Ferrari.
He was still occupied in the eXamlna-
tion of his pistol, and did not at once
look up.
"Are you ready, gentlemen" de-
ness.
Quite ready" was the response.
The Marquis D'Avencourt took out his
handkerchief Then Ferrari raised his
head and faced me fully for the first
time. Great Heaven! shall | ever
forget the awful change that came
over his pallid countenance- con-
fused mad look of his eyes-the
startled horror of his expression! His
lips moved as though he were about
to utter an exclamation-he staggered.
"One!" cried D'Avencourt.
We raised our weapons.
"Two!"
The scared and beWildered express
sion of Ferraris face deepened visibly
as he eyed me steadily in taking aim.
/ smiled proudly gave him back
glance for glance saw him waver-
his hand shook.
''Three!" and the white handher-
chief fluttered to the ground. In
stantly, and together, we fired. Fer
rari's bullet whiZzed past me, merely
tearing my coat and grazing my Shout
der. The smoke cleared-Ferrarl
still stood erect, opposite to me, star
ing straight forward with the same
frantic far-off look-the pistol hac
dropped from his hand. Suddenly he
threw up his arms-shuddered-
with a smothered grOan fell, face for
ward prone on the sward. The sur
geOn hurried to his side and turned
him so that he lay on his back. He
was though his dark
eyes were wide open, and turned
hlindly upward to the sky. The front
of his shirt was already soaked with
blood. We all gathered round him.
"A good shot!" inquired the mar
quis. with the Indifference of a prac-
ticed duelst
"Ach! a good shot indeed" replied
the little German doctor, shaking his
head as he rose from his examina-
non of the wound. Excellent! He
will be dead in ten minutes The
bullet has passed through the lungs
close to the heart. Horror is satisfied
certainly"
At that moment a deep. anguished
sigh parted the lips of the dying man.
Sense and speculation returned to
those glazing eyes so awfully up
turned. He looked upon us all doubt
fully one after the other-till finally
ais gaze rested upon me. Then he
grew strangely eXcited-his lips moved
he eagerly tried to speak. The doc
tor watchful of his movements, poured
brandy between his teeth. The cor
dial gave him mOmentary siren gth-he
raised himself by a supreme effort.
Let me speak," he gasped family,
Ito him!" And he pointed to me-
then he continued to mutter like q
man in a dream-"to him-alone--
aFone!-to him alone!"
The others, slightly awed by his
manner, drew aside out of hearing and
l advanced and knelt beside him,
stopping my face between his and the
morning sky. His wild eyes met
mine with a piteous, beseeching ter
ror.
In Gods name" he whispered,
thickly, who are your"
You know me- Guido!" | answered,
steadily. L am Fabio Romani, whom
you once called friend! | am he whose
wife you stoIe!-whose name you
slanderedi Whose honor you de-
spised! All! look at me well! your own
heart tells you who | ami
He uttered a low moan and raised
his hand with a feeble gesture
Pablo? Fabio?' he gasped He
died. saw him in his coffin
/ leaned more closely over him. Il
was buried alive" I said with thrill
ing distinctness. Understand me,
Guido-buried alive! 1 escaped-no
matter how. l came home-to learn
your treachery and my own dishonor!
Shall l. tell you more?"
A terrible shudder shook his frame
his head moved restlessly to and
fro, the sweat stood in large drops
upon his forehead. With my own
handkerchief | wiped his lips and
brow tenderly-my nerves were strung
up to an almost brittle tension-I
smiled as a woman smiles when on the
verge of hysterical weeping.
You know the avenue" L said,
the dear old avenue, where the night
ingales sing? l saw you there, Guido
with her!-on the very night of my
return from death-she was in voI1r