The Van Buren press., 1903-09-12


with passion, else the signore would
not be standing there-aliye Yet, he
mistakes-there has been wrong, Ro-
setta is spoiled for her own people
her simple home She has become a
dreamer Of dreams. The Mother OF
God knows how it will all end"
Well, what are you going to Go?"
Willis cried What's the use of ban
dying words?" He had opened the
little penknfe in his pocket, resolved
that his adversary should not go un-
marked
The signore is at least a brave
man. For one chance OF life would he
swear to leave Rome?"
And the chance?"
ITO cross, by the plank, to the other
side Of the dome"
In spite of himself the young man
drew back. sudden paralyzing fear
came over him. Two boards had been
tied together by the workmen and fixed
across the opening in the dome, They
/ spanned an aperture nearly three hun
dred feet from the marble floor Of the
church; and this was the bridge he
had been invited to traverse. To even
contemplate such a passage seemed
| suicidal
Willis glanced down at the lights
glimmering on an altar far below. AS
he looked, a procession Of priests
crossed the nave, their chanting mel
| lowed by distance, The sound recalled
him to the necessity OF action; re-
stored his self-command Turning, he
measured his antagonist with his eye.
There was no reinsurance in the sight
of the tgerish play or those splendid
muscles evident under the light, loose
clothing. A hand to hand struggle
with no weapon but penknife, against
that armed and supple strength, could
end in only one way. To appeal to the
workmen would be equally useless
Montanari would be upon him at the
first call for help.
"This-chance," he said al length,
with sarcastic emphasis why do you
give it?"
Montanan shrugged his shoulders
There may be many reasons II |
killed the signore he would not suffer;
but to cross the dome so-eyen If one
arrives safely at the other side"
The pause was sufficiently eloquent
Then he continued; Perhaps It is my
fancy, perhaps | may not wish to
commit murder
Willis laughed unpeasanuy IN APP
probation Of the others possible
irony
Would you consider your hands clean
II | should take a header of that
board?"
Montanari ignored the question
LET me urge the signore to hasten" "
he said 1T grows late Every mo-
ment the passage becomes more diff
ncult"
"What guarantee have | that you
won't stick your knife under my ribs
the moment ! turn my back?'
"That Is as the signore pleases to
think. lie has his choice, and he must
take it-now,"
81 suppose It makes no difference to
you whether leave Rome by the reg
ular route or by the gate of the Prot
estant cemetery
"That also IS rs the sIgnore plcascs "
Willis fingered the knife in his pock-
ct. After all-why not die like man
and not like q monkey caperIng on n
ught rope, Yct-hc hosiJated, life Is
dear at 23-and Dhorc was a chance
So, mmmonlng an his resolution he
made hls choice, setting his feet eau
lIously upon the narrow pathway
where return was impossible Step
ping carefully yet firmly he was sur
prlsod ct the clclrncss Of his head, the
eyonncss OF his heart beats, lie could
not have been more at ease crossing
the lloor below lhus he advanced
nearly to the middle Of the panks
There they were roughly wired to-
gethcr. and with the weight Of his
body they began 20 SAP. Feeling the
support give under his feet he inyol-
UNFAIRLY looked downward There was
IN instant singing In his cara, q cloud
of bIacncBs then of Ore, spread be-.
fore bis eyes an Icy sweat started
from every pore, his very soul seemed
wrcnchIng itself from his body ny
an cnort Of viii almost mporhVmnn.
no stopped, closing his eyes ara rrly-
Ink to master inc youigo threatening
him,
He heard the chan. of the ro'unng
Ipncaw II mWol u,u hi. Urt deaf.
| cnmg him. Rmaau departed from hla
mcLod brain, and imagination mo-
luupr held In choot, rlo.nI F.r Noaa.
uroIpsg time no roo.ud IArulru pace
on n thread suspended rom world 20
world. the sport OF nntJa Then at
last, from the darkness surrounding
him, started the aflrlRhtol faces OF the
wurmen looming vague monstrous
through the gloom Powerful hands
seized him hs no iollorod NJ the edge
Of the railingl=a creature from whose
haunted face even little Rosetta would
have shrunk, crossing horaelt
'TWns Ever Thus,
| Husband I'm nm uRidp Ia hiA Wifpl=li