Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-05

the devil curse you!"
Again the gendarmes clashed their
swords suggeslively-and the brigade
resumed his suilen attitude of sup
pressed wrath and feigned Indifference.
But the man 20 whom he had spoken
staggered and seemed about TO fall
his pale face grew paler-he moved
away through the curious open-eyed
by-standers with the mechanical air
o. one who knows not whether he be
alive or dead. He had evidently re-
ceiyed an unexpected shock-a wound
that pierced ueeply and would be a
long time healing.
| approached the nearest gendarme
and slipped tive-rapc piece into his
hand.
May one speak," | asked, careless
ly. The man hesitated
For one instant, signor. But be
brief"
l addressed the brigade in low
clear tone,
Have you any message for one
Andrea Luziani? | am a friend Of
his"
He looked at me ard a dark smile
crossed his features.
andrea is a good soul. Tell him if
you will that Teresa is dead. I am
worse than dead. He will know that
| did not kill Teresa. | could not
She had the knife in her breast before
l could prevent her 1t is better So"
"She did that rather than become
the property of another man."
quired.
Carmelo Neri nodded in acquies-
cence, Either my sight deceived me,
or else this abandoned william had
tears glittering IN the depth of his
wicked eyes.
The sendarme made sign, and |
withdrew. Almost at the same moment
the officer in command of the little de-
tachment appeared, his spurs blinking
with measured metallic music on the
hard stones of the pavement-he
sprung into his saddle and gave the
word-the crowd dispersed to the right
and left-the horses were put to a
quick trot, and in a few moments the
whole party with the bulky frowning
form of the brigade in their midst had
disappeared. The people broke up
into little groups, talking excitedly Of
what had occurred, and scattered here
and there, returning to their homes
and occupations--and more swiftly
than one could have imagined posi-.
bic, the great square was left almost
empty. paced up and down for awhile
thinking deeply; | had before my
minds eye the picture of the slight
fair Teresa as described by the Siciian
captain, lying dead in the solitudes
Of the Montemaggiore with that self
inflicted wound in her breast which
had set her free of all mems love and
persecution There were some women
then who preferred death to infidelty :?
Strange! very strange, Common wo-
men OF course they must be-such as
this brigade's mistress; your daintily-
fed, silk-robed duchess would find a
dagger somewhat a vulgar CONSIDER
she would rather choose a lover, or.
better still, score of lovers. 1t is
only brute ignorance that selects a
grave instead of dishonor-m modern
education instructs us more wisely,
and teaches us not to be oversquea-
mich t,sfH I,a l. t,,.,
given word or promise. Blessed age
of progress! Age of steady advance
ment when the apple of vice Is so cum
ningly disguised and so prettily paint
porcelain dish and hand it about among
our friends as a valuable and choice
fruit of yirtue-and no one finds out
the fraud we are practicing, nay, we
scarcely perceive it ourselves, it Is
such an excellent counterfeit
AS | walked to and fro. / found my
self continually passing the head Of
fee of the Carabinieri, and, acting on
sudden impulse Of curiosity. | at
last enterd the building, determined
to ask for a few particulars concerning
the brigade's capture / was received
by a handsome and intelligent-lookiBg
man, who glanced at the card with
which | presented myself, and saluted
me with courteous affability.
"Oh. yesl" he said. in answer to my
inquiries, 'Neri has given MS a great
deal of trouble But we had our sus-
picions that he had left Gaeta. where
he was for a time in hiding. Afew stray
bits Of information CLEANED here and
there put us on the right track"
Was he caught easily, or did he
show hght?"
He gave himself up like a lamb,
signorl 1t happened in this way. One
OF our men followed the woman who
lived with Neri, one Teresa. and
traced her up TO a certain point. the
corner of a narrow mountain pass
where she disappeared. He reported
this, and thereupon we sent out an
armed party. These crept at midnight
two by two. till they were formed in
a close ring round the place where
Neri was judged 10 be. With the first