Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-10

Fool" I Shrek in his ear. lie
me go to her-her lips pout for kisse;
let me go!"
/ Another man advances and seize:
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
: l cease to struggle. Pietro and his
assistant look down upon me.
e morto," they whisper one to the
other.
: I hear them and smile Dead? Not l,
/ The scorching sunlight streams
, through the open door of the inn
the thirsty flies buzz with persistent
! loudness-some voices are singing
La Fata di AmaIfi'-I can distin.
guish the words
"Chiagnaro la mia sventura
! ST non tuorne chiu, Rosetta!
TIL d. Analfi Ia chiu bella,
tn IA Fata 81 pc ME!
Viene, vie, regina mia,
Viene cure chistO core,
Ca non c'e non sic no sciOre
Non c'e stella comm a te!"*
That is true song, Nina mia! Non
c'e stella comm TEL" What did Guido
say? "Purer tnan the FIawless dia-
mond-unapproachable as the furthest
start" That foolish Pietro still poIishes
his wine-bottles. see him-his meek
round face is greasy with heat and
dust; but l 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 glides
over the silent Water-in it I behold
the erect little figure of an Indian.
His features are strangely similar to
those of Guido. He draws a long thin
shining blade of steel rs he approaches.
Brave fellow!-he means to attack
single-handed the cruel creatures who
lie in wait for him on the sultry shore
He springs to land-I watch him with
weird fascination. He passes the
of their presence-he comes with
swift, unhesitating step to met is [
whom he seeks-it is in my heart that
he plunges the cold steel dagger, and
draws it out again dripping with
blood! -twice-thricei- vet
[ cannot die! l writhe-I moan in bit
ter anguish! Then something dark
comes between me and the glaring sun
something cool and sh9dowy, against
which 1 fling myself despairingly.
Two dark eyes lock steadily into mine,
and a voice speaks:
BE calm, my son, be calm Com
mend thyseli to Christi"
1t is my friend the monk. | recognize
him gladly. He has returned from
lis errand of mercy. Though [ can
scarcely speak, | hear myself asking
for news of the boy. The holy man
crossed himself IeToutIy
May his young soul rest in peace!
found him dead"
[ am dreamiiy astonisehd at this.
Dead-so soon. l cannot understand
it; and I drift off again into a state
OF confused imaginings. AS [ look
back now to that time, find I have no
specially distinct recollection of what
atterWard happened to me. I know
suffered intense, intolerabIe pain
that through all the delirium of
my senses [ heard a muff1ed. melan-
choly sound like a chant or prayer. I
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 I cannot be
certain Of this. I remember Shrek
ing out after what seemed an eternity
of pain, Not to the villa! no, no.
not there! You shall nct take me
curse on him who disCbeys mel"
| remember then a fearful sensation
as OF being dragged into a deep whirl-
pool, from whence I stretched uD an
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
doWn-down! into an abyss of black
night and nothingness!
To be continued.