Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-18
Continued.

assembled company with smile a
their troubled faces.
Gentlemen l said cur feast hai
broken up in a rather disagreeabl,
manner-and | am sorry for it, The
more especially as it cOmpels me tC
part from you. Receive my thanks fol
your company, and for the Friendship
you have displayed toward me! l. dc
not believe that This IS the last time
/ shall have the honor of entertaining
yOu-but if it should be SO, | shall al
any rate carry a pleasant remembrance
of you into the next world IF on the
contrary | should survi re the combat
Of the morning, l hope to see you al
again or my marriage-Gay, when
nothing shall occur to mar our merri-
ment. In the gOodnight!'
They closed round me, pressing my
hands warmly and assuring me OF
their entire sympathy with me in the
quarrel that had occurred. The duke
vas especially cordial, giving me tC
understand that had the others failed
in their services, he himself, in spite
of his dignity land peace-loving dispo-
sition, would have volunteered as my
second. / escaped from them all at
last and reached the quiet Of my own
apartments. There | sat alone for
more than an hour, waiting for the re-
turn OF VincenZO, whom | had sent to
track Ferrai. | heard the departing
footsteps Of my guests as they left the
hotel by twos and threes-I heard
the equabe voices Of the marquis and
Captain Freccia ordering hot coffee to
be served to them in private room
where they were to await the other
seconds-nOw and then | caught few
words OF the excited language of the
walters who were volubly discussing
the affair as they cleared away the re-
mains of the superb feast at which,
though none knew it save myself,
death had been seated. Thirteen at
table! One was traitor and one must
die. | knew which one. No PRESENT.
ment lurked in my mind as to the
doubtful result of the coming combat.
1t was not my lot to falI-my time had
)
No! All the fateful forces of the
universe would help me to keep alive
till my vengeance was fulfilled. Oh,
what bitter shafts of agony FerarI
carried in his heart at that moment,
thought. How he had looked when |
said she never cared for nim! Poor
wretch! | piticd him ever while l re-
at ! ic II
as | had suffered-he was dipped as |
had been duped-and each CULVER OF
his cOnVulscd face and tormented
frame had been fraught with satisfac-
ton to me! Each moment of his life
was now pang to him. Well! it would
soon be over-thUs far at least | was
merciful. | drew out pens and paper
and commenced to write few last
instructions, in case the result Of the
fight should be fatal to me. l made
them very concise and brief knew
while writing, that they would not be
needed. Still-fOr the sake of form
wrote-and sealed the document, | di-
rected it to the Duke di Marina.
looked at my watch-it was past one
o'clock and Nincenzo had not yet re-
turned. | went to the window, and
drawing back the curtains, surveyed
the eXquisitely peaceful scene that lay
before me. The moon was still high
and bright-and her reflection made
the waters of the bay look like a war
rior's coat of mail woven from Il thou
sand glittering links of polished steel
Here and there, from the masts Of
anchored briggs and fishing-boats
cleaned a few red and green lights
burning dimly like fallen and expiring
stars. There was a heavy, unnatura
silence everywhere-it oppressed me
and l threw the window wide open fol
air. Then came the sound of bell.
Ginning softly. People passed to ant
fro with quiet footsteps-some pauseC
to exchange friendly greetings. l re
membered the day with a sort of pans
at my heart The night was over
though as yet there was no sign o
dawn-and-it was Christman morn
ing.
CHAPTER XIV.
The opening of the room aroused m
from my meditations. l turned
find Vincenzo standing near me, ha
in hand-he bed just entered
"Ebbene!" I said, with a Cheerful
aiT-"what news?'
"Eccellenza, you have been obeyee
Signor Ferrari IS now at hi
studio"
You left him there?"
Yes. eccellenza. and Vincenz
proceeded to give me a graphic aC
count Of his adventures. On leaving tn
banqueting-room, Ferrari had take
a carriage and driven straight to tn
Villa Romani-Vincenzo, unpreceivet
had swung himself on to the back {
the vehicle and had gone also.
ARRIVING there continued II
valet, The dismissed the fiacre-an
rang the gate-bell furiously six {
seven times. No one answered. [ hi
myself among the trees and watche,
There were no lights in the villa vii
dows-all was darkness. He rang
again-he even shook the gate
though he would break it Open !
last the poor Giocomo came, half III
dressed and holding a lantern in h
hand-he seemed terrified ar
trembled so much that the lantel