Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-22
Continued.
white-haired fisherman,

tortured DfdlH. j es 81 wa" % "N'i'
changed, | looked worn and old-no
one would recognize me for my former
sell. All at once, with this thought, an
ide. occurred to me--a plan OF ven
geauce. so bold so new, and Wlthal
so terrible. that / started from my
Sc t as though stung by an adder /
pa I'd up and down restlessiy, VITA
this lurid light of fearful revenge
pouring 10 on every nook and Granny
of my darkened mind. From whence
mad come this daring scheme? What
devil. or rather what angel of retribu-
ton. had whispered it to my soul?
Dimly | wondered--but amid all my
wonder | began practically to arrange
the details Of my plot. ] calculated
every small circumstance that was
likely to occur in the process OF car
rying it out My stupehed senses be-
came aroused from the lethargy OF
despair, and stood up like soldiers on
the alert. armed to the teeth. Past
love pity, pardon, patience-pooh'
what were all these resources of the
worlds weaknesses to me2 What was
it to me that the bleeding Christ for
gave His enemies in death? He never
loved a woman. Strength and resolu
ton returned to me. Let common
sailors and fag-pickers resort to muir
der and suicide as fit outlets for their
unreasoning brute wrath when wrong
ed but as fer me. why should ! blot
my family scutcheon with a merely
vulgar crime? Nay the vengeance Of
a Romani must be taken with as
sured camness and easy elaboration
no haste. no plebeian fury no eifemi-
Late fuss, no excitement ! walked
up and down slowly. medltating on
every point of the bitter drama in
which / had resolved to enact the
chief part, from the rise to the fall
OF the black curtain. The mists cleared
from my BRAIN breathed more
eas my nerves steadied themselves
BY degrees-the prospect of what
pJgposed doing satisfied me and
Gained the fever in my blood. | be
Sime perfectly cool and collected. |
ildulged In no more futile regrets for
the past-why should | mourn the loss
OF a love never possessed? 1t was not
as If they had waited till my supposed
sudden death-noi within three
months of my marriage they had fool
sd me. for three whole years they had
lndGlSed in their criminal amour.
while !, blind dreamer, had suspected
nothing Now ! knew the extent Of
my injury; | was man bitterly
wronEed, Wiley duped Justice reason,
and self-respect demanded that /
should punish to the utmost the mis-
cradle tricksters who had played me
false The passionate tenderness !
had felt for my wife was GONE
plucked II from my heart as | would
have torn a thorn from my flesh
flung It from me with disgust as ! had
fung away the unseen reptile that had
fastened on my aeck in tho vault The
deep warm friendship of years l had
felt for Guido FerraM froze to it's
very foundations-and in its place
there rose up, not hate. but pittless.
Unreasonable contou IT. A stern dis
dain of myself also awoke in me. as
remembered the unreasuning Joy with
Which | had FASTENED as | thought
lone. fun Of eager anticipation and
Romeo-likc ardor An idiot lcaping
merrily To his death over mountain
thasm was not more fool than |, But
the dream was oyer-the domsiun of
my life was passed. | was strong 10
avengel would be swift to accom-
plish. So, dayky musiug for an hour
or more, decided on the course had
to pursue. and 10 make the decision
final | drew from my breast the crucl-
AZ that the dead monk Cipriano had
aid with me In my coffin and kissing
il, | raised IL alOft, and swurc by that
sacred symbol never TO rclent. never to
relax, never TO rest tin had brought
my vow OF just vengeance 10 its ut
most fulnllment The stars calm
witnesses of my oath, eyed me earnest
~ from their judgment thrones In the
quiet sky there was brief pause i'm
the singing Of the nghtjngales. as
though they too listened the wind
sighed plaiutiyels. and scattered
aANNNtl vi lhNSANlINt blossoms Hike
snow at my feet Even SO, ! Thought.
fall the last leaves or my White DAYS
days OF pleasure days d, sro.t Illusion.
days Of dead remembrar.r even so
let them wither and peris Utterly for
eyer' For from heucefora uy life
must be a chain Of finely tempered
steel hard cold, and unhreakahle-.
formed into links strong enough ta
wind round and round two false lives
and imprison them SO closely as 90
lenye no means az escape. This was
What must be done and ! resolved to
do lt. With q firm quiet step turned
60 leave the ayouue opened the lit-
tle private wicket and passed into the
dusty road A changing noise caused
me 20 look up as / went by the prin-
eipal entrance of the Villa Romani.
servant my own mau-seryant bv the
by was barring me great gates FOR
the ufnhf IiyYepas ,.- g.. -f.,