Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-09-19


nothing In ray pockets. but the small
change I keep for your compatriots
Now. 81 you viii be good enough TO
explain"
There is nothing 70 explain. si~nore.
I ara Giuseppe Nontanari. who was 70
marry Rosetta Nfcon.'
You have taken too much trouble,
gnore-er-NontsnaSi Willis said.
insolently civil. Still. am as yet in
the dark Is this perhaps part Of the
ceremony OF announcement
MontRnsri's eyes cleaned. Il care
nothing for the signore's words he
said; 1t is with what he has done /
that I have 70 deal. Three months |
aso Rosetta and I were happy IN the 4
thought OF passing our lives together.
she danced and sang the whole day |
through. Now she weeps-she turns
from me-she will hear nothing OF
marriage. This ! owe 70 the signors.
The debt Is heavy
Willis now moved uneasily. The
| pathos Of this statement. simply made,
| planted a certain sting. and his mind
engaged In 8 rapid reconstruction Of
the past. accused him OF cutting a
4
"Montansri." be said. upon my hon
or there has been nO-wrong-only-
u know that" interrupted the other
with passion. else the signore would
not be standing there-alive. Yet, be
mistakes-there has been wrong. Ro-
settR Is spoiled for her own people
her simple home She has become
dreamer OF dreams. The Mother OF
God knows how IL Win all end"
Well. what are you going 20 do?'
Willis cried What's the use OF ban
dying wordsf" He had opened the
little penknife IN bis pocket. resolved
that his adversary should not go IN
marked
The signore is at least a brave
man. For one chance OF life would be
swear 10 leave Roms7"
And the chanceT''
TO cross. by the plank. TO the other
side OF the dome"
In spite OF himself the young man
% drew back A sudden paralyzing fear
1 came over him. TWO boards had been
tied together by the workmen and fixed
r across the opening IN the dome They
spenned al aperture nearly three hun
dred feet from the marble floor OF the
church: and this was the bridge he
had been invited 70 traverse. To even
! contemplate such q passage seemed
suicidal.
willis glanced down at the lights
: giimmering on an altar far below. AS
he looked. procession OF priests
u crossed the nave. their chanting mel
d lowed by distance The sound recalled
y hir 70 the necessity OF action; re
% stored his self-command. Turning, be
E measured his antagonist with his eye
4 There Was no reinsurance in the sight
- Of the tgerish play Of those splendid
~ muscles. evident under the light. loos'
OF clothing A hand 10 hand struggle
~ With no weapon but a penknife. agains
Il that armed and supple strength. coul'
"a end in only one way To appeal 10 tn
u vorkmen would be equally useless
Montanari would be upon him at tn
70 first call for help
II ''This-chance. he said at length
ia with sarcastic emphasis. why DO 20
give it"
n Montanari shrugged his shoulders
~ There may be many reasons. II
be killed the slgnore he would not suffer
but 70 cross the dome so--even II on
ne arrives safely al the other side"
~ The pause was sufficiently elOquen
Then he continued: Perhaps Il IS N
be fancy. perhaps I may not wish
he commit murder"
et. willis laughed unpleasanuy IN al
ok probation Of the others possib
he irony.
II Would you consider your handg eles
on- II should tsko a header OF thu
boerd7"
tn Montanari ignored the Questio
Mt Let me urge the signore 70 hasten
his be said 1T grows late. Every 10
TO ment The passage becomes more di
ne ncult"
re- What guarantee have / that -
won't stick your knife under my ri
the moment I turn nay back7"
ooo That is as the sigEore pieases
think He has his choice. and he uu
'es- take tt--now."
Il suppose IL makes no difference
soi- you whether leave Rome by the re
20 ular route or BY the gate Of the Pr
's"- estant cernsteryT"
That also IL as the signOre please
Willis fingered the knife in bis pos
Ct After ail--why not die like q m
and not like a monkey caDering 90
tight rope Yot--he hesitated: life
D'Ae dear AZ z5--and there was q chan
so. summonfrg AL his resolution.
'ush made hfs choics, setting bis feet Ct
mar tiouSly upon the narrow paths
'ne, whers return was impossible %
nlGs ~xr~ oa~sfufIv ref ARMY he was n