Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-23

allowed 10 depart my nearG DeaJ
wildly--"when you have become one
of us.
"Who are you2"
"That will not concern you If you
We're born under lucky star. If not,
you will have cause to know We are
about to draw lots with an object.
The pistol barrel touched my temple
again.
"Win you share in the drawing or
say goodhy to lifof'
"What do we draw for" / gasped
in terror.
"To decide who shall kill the daugh-
ter of traitor. We never kill the Gull
pi'it himelf Our revenge is moro ingen-
ious. We leave i'm to the last Do
You consent to become ono of US in this
lottcryy"
"No," faltered. and then ere tho
word had left my lips, 50 strong is The
love of life l relented and gasped,
Yes "
Then draw"
A box was placed underneath my
hand, and again voice cried, Draw
| thrust in my hand and drew out a
small marble.
"You have had a fair chance" tho
same voice said. "You are the first.
There are 80 white balls and red y
And still we We're in darkness as the
box went round
A lamp was lighted, a lamp only
throwing small circle of light upon
black table, and each man approached,
held his hand in that circle and open
ed it.
White white white, whitel knew
mine was the red felt it burning my
flesh as | gripped it within my hand,
and as opened it beneath the light it
rolled forth-rcd
"When you have earned your admit
lance, You will be one of us, the
spokesman said, and then | was CON
Quoted down the pitch dark stairs and
thrust ont into the street.
gazed around to locate myself and
nj last found my way back across the
Seine and to my hotel. cannot believe
the events of the night. | am too i'll to
realize them.
1t cannot be truel It is too horriblel
Oct. lot is true Pinned on the
covcrlct of my bed this morning was "a
| piece of paper on which was scrawled,
'If You go to inform the police, you
I Will be assassinated as You leave the
/ office / can write no more. 1t is truei
oct 1J.I have seen her, seen the
woman whom | have been hidden to
/ kill-tO kill because her father has Of
| Tended a bloodthirsty clique 1t was at
| the opera. | was sent so that l might
| know her and remember her. Can | ever
forget her? My stall was close to her
| box. | have seen the loveliest woman
/ in this world, watched her for an hour
only and become her slave She noticed
it. She blu-hed, and yet looked kindly
upon me. She did not could not, real
iZe that she had been marked for slaugh-
ter for her fathers sins.
Oct Isl have met her, clasped her
hand, gazed into her eyes and told her
with mine that | adore her. | could al
most bless the evil minded gang who
made all things so smooth for me, who
gave me the entree to her, Fools They
do not know that | will give my life
willingly for her. But of what avail
will that be? They will kill me first
md then choose another to murder her.
Astrea de Lance! The sound itself is
musicl | must warn her. l must save
her But how?
oct 3O-It is all over. She is minei
a month ago | knew her not, and to-
day she has owned-owned with the
bushes Of innocence-that she loves
mo, loves me, Josiah Marsden, one not
worthy of her lightest thought The
world is dream.
oct 31.-I have received another
note from the assassins, pinned on my
coverlet, as before. They call me 'com-
raden now, but show impotence and
say | must earn admittance within the
next IA days-kill her and earn admit
tance
Nov, EFT has been terrible day
l have told her everything, told her
my history, and we have considered
what to do. She trusts me. She will
quit Paris suddenly leaving it to me tc
follow when | can without drawinG
those ficnds upon her, and we shall bc
married. | have seen her father II,
consents.
Nov. al have fooled them. A hal
written note urging her to meet me il
an unfrequcnted part Of Paris, which
Intentionally left in my room, drew at
tcntion from her for one night, and sh,
has left Paris to wait for me in London
While man was logging me as
walked she was far away. Perhaps the!
will revenge themselves upon me, but
care not. She is safe and well provided
for.
Nov 10 have heard from her
She has passed through London and i
staying in Scotland, where / know sh
will be safe.
Nov. 25.-IIer father was discovered
shot dead in Paris this morning. | dar
not tell her. Who will be the next
What is this namoless gang? What i
their purpose? | dare not say here
am overcome with dread at every hon
Of the day. Every shadow is IA lurkin:
assassin.
ROME, May 3, 1S72.-Six month
since | have written in my diary, 81,
months Of misery Touring through
southern Europe, always followed, al
ways watched, my heart aches to Sc
her again, but dare not, for with III