Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-10-21

aple' Justlce-stern, lMmuLaule JustIce
was what | sought and what | meant
to nave.
May be you ind it hard to under
stand the possibility OF scheming and
carrying out SO prolonged a vengeance
as mine? II you that read these pages
are English, know 1t will seem to
YOU weil-nigh incomprehensible. The
temperate blood OF the %northerner,
combined with his open, unsuspicious
nature, has, | admit, the advantage
over us IN matters OF personal injury.
An Engllshman, so | hear, is incap-
aple OF nourishing a long and deadly
resentment even against an unfaithful
"lie-he is too Indifferent. he thinks
IL not worth his while. But we Nea-
Polltahs, we can carry n vendetta"
through a life-time-ay, through rem
grafton AFTER generation. This is bad,
you say-immoral, unchristian. No
We are more than half pagans
az heart, we are IS our country and
our traditions have made us, II will
heed another visitation of Christ no.
lore we shall learn how TO forgive
those that despitefully use us. Such
a doctrine seems to us a mere play
upon words-a weak maxim only fl
Tor children and priests. Besides, did
Christ himself forgive Judas? The
gospel does not say so!
When | reached my own apartments
al the hotel | felt worn out and
tagged, | resolved to rest and receive
no visitors that day. While giving
my orders to Vincenzo a thought oc-
Cured to me. | went TO "A cabinet in
the room and unlocked a secret
drawer. In it lay a strong leathern
case. | lifted this, and babe Vincenzo
lnstrap and open it. He did so, nor
showed the least sign OF surprise when
a pair of richly ornamented pistols
was displayed to his view.
Good weapons" | remarked, in a
casual amer.
My valet took each one out of the
case, and examined them both criti-
cally.
They need cleaning, eccellenza,'
Good" | said, briefly. Then clean
them and put them in good order. |
may require to use them"
The imperturbable Vincenzo bowed,
end, taking the weapons, prepared TO
leave the room.
STAY"
He turned. | looked at him steadily.
Il believe you are a faithful fellow.
Nincenzo," / said.
He met my glance frankly.
The day may come" | went on,
quietly, when | shall perhaps put
your fidelity TO the proof
The dark Tuscan eyes, keen and
clear a moment before. flashed
brightly and then grew humid.
"Eccellen2a, you have only to com
mand! ! was a soldier once-I know
what duty means. But there is a bet
ter service-gratitude. am your
poor servant, but you have won my
heart. | would give my life for You.
should you desire it,"
He paused, half ashamed of the emo.
ton that threatened to break through
his mask OF impassibility, bowed
again and would have left me, but that
| called him back and held out nv
hand.
Shake hands, amio," ! said, simply.
lie caught 1t with an astonished vet
pleased look-and STOPPING, kissed II
before | could prevent him, and this
time literally scrambled out of my
presence with an entire oblivion of
his usual dignity. Left alone, | con
sidered this behavior Of his with half
rained surprise. This poor fellow
loved me it was eyident-why. | knew
not. ] had done no more for him
than any other master might have
done for a good servant. / had often
spoken to him with impotence. even
harshness; and yet / had won his
heart"-so he said. Why should he
care for me? why should my poor
old butler Giacomo cherish me so de.
yotedly in his memory; why should
my very dog still love and obey me.
when my nearest and dearest, M wife
and my friend, had 50 gladly forsaken
me, and were so eager to forget me!
Perhaps fidelity was not the fashion
now among educated persons? Per
haps it was a worn-out virtue. left to
the bas-peuple-to the vulgar-and TO
animals? Progress might have at
taiped this result-no doubt it had.
] sighed YEARLY. and threw myself
down in an armchair near the win
dow, and watched the white-sailcd
boats skimming like f1ecks Of silver
across the b~lue-green water. The
tinkling OF a tambourine by and by
attracted my wandering attention. and
looking into the street just below my
balcony | saw a young girl dancing.
She vas lovely 10 look at, and she
with exquisite grace as well az
modesty, but the beauty Of her face
was not so much caused by perfection
of feature or outline as by a certain
wistful expression that had in Il some
thing of nobility and pride. I watched
her; at the conclusion OF her dance