Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-12-03

uIAhleQ lcI HEAAtANfs ne hdA Atl Al "
nearby court, and was to be seen
no more. Francesca was visibly an
noyed. That evening she pleaded with
me to remain at home, but / had a
special engagement. As / went out
! cautioned the night porter 70 Let no
one disturb her.
/ had previously ordered carriage;
I II was waiting at the curb. stepped
forward, and, STOPPING over, pulled
/ open the door. That instant pair OF
long. bony hands pushed through the
aperture and clutehed me by the
throat With a strength that seemed
TO be Herculean / was dragged inside,
bound hand and foot, and gagged.
"Maledittol" evclsimed the one with
the fingers in a cultural snarl, and !
recognized the voice Of the old signor.
The other was Pietro. The latter slid
out, climbed 20 the box, and dashed
the horses into a gallop.
/ tried 70 cry out, but with the gag
! was dumb. Fancy my state Of
mind.
Finally we brought up before a for
bidding-looking house in a narrow, de-
serted street, and l was lifted to the
curb. The horses were given their
heads, and as they wandered aimlessly
away into the night ! was roughly
seized, carried in through dark hall
way, down narrow passage 20
squalid, dingy room, where / was de-
he, ha
door after US. then said something to
the signor in italian that made the old
man growl with fiendish approval. The
latter, turning to me with a sardonic
leer, muttered: make happy re mo-
ments; IL ees few" Both went out
through another door, and heard the
bolt slide into place.
They were going TO murder me, and
do It with diabolical fnesse.
] was given the tortures OF anticipa-
ton while they leisurely discussed the
method. My thoughts wouldn't come
cohesively. for my brain grew soggy
and obstinate and refused 10 compre-
bend
All at once. as II struck with a blow,
Francesca came into my head. Fran
cescal could see her, athome. tucked
in her dainty bed: her beautiful face
nestled softly against the pillow.
But the bolt clicked, the door opened !
and my executioners had returned. |
With stealthy, catlike movements they |
approached me; was helped to my |
feet and placed upright in an angle |
Of the room Pietro glided back, leav- |
ing the old signor standing before me; |
his hard, rigid face set; in his eyes |
the cold, sinister CLEAN Of pent-up hate
and ferocity.
Facing me, and assuming the dignity |
Of Roman judge, he proceeded in a
solemn, vibrating voice: ''No man can |
leeve who deeshonor re name PAUL.. |
Francesca, my honor, my love, re steal.
To-day she re meestris, tomorrow
worse, Ze play ne game-ze lose. l
kill you"
Leaning forward with convulsive ire
NOR, thought he was about to plunge |
the blade into my heart. How l |
strained for speech-but the gag, / was
uhlhbs an WY hiA It iAbb sum
/ was dying a thousand deaths.
For an instant there was the still
ness Of the tomb; then the rumbling |
wheels Of carriage sounded from
without. Suddenly this stopped, voice
called "Whoa!" Then the pattering
of fast moving feet in the passagewsy;
someb body violently grasped the knob
Of the door to the room-it would not
open.
The signor and Pietro stood breath
less, transfixed.
A key scraped in the lock, the doom
flung back; on the threshold stood
Francesca.
"Matre di Dio!" hoarsely breathed
the old man.
Francesca, scantily attired, hair dis
heveled her eyes ablaze with a fever
ish glow, her cheeks whittier than ala
baster.
My heart gave a great throb Of joy.
A moments hesitation, and she
grasped the meaning of the scene be.
fore her in one overwhelming i'm
pulse. With heartrending cry of an
guish she leaped forward, seized the
signor's hand, and fell on her knees
before him.
Father! father! For the love OF
Jesus spare him! Kill memo, wait!
See what ! have got! Wait. father;
that's a good father!" She fumbled
in her bosom and drew forth a paper.
There, father, see; he's my love, my
life!"
Back, child; zee ees my deeshonor,
I kill him!" he replied, as he spurned
her from him.
Frantic with alarm, she rushed up
to Pietro. "Pietro, my brother. you
love me-see, read! I am his wife"
Pietro took the paper reluctantly,
glanced at it skeptically, suddenly gave
a start and read eagerly.
"Fatherl father!" he almost
screamed. "Come-lookl il is a mar
riage certifcate!"
With a hurried stride the old man
was at his side. They examined the
document with almost frenzied cum
T.