Evening journal., 1903-09-04
A BIT OF 81
PLEASANTLY
ror,n,nni1 .

mon for getting rid Of an enemy. one
to stab him in the back. the other to
poison him.
Anton Cardi was infatuated with Wit
torla Careno, but she being married
woman he had concluded TO wed Lucia
San .hcz whom he did not love. but
who possessed a fortune. No sooner
had the wedding taken place than 81
enor Careno fell m and died. leaving
vittorla widow. Then Cardi was be-
side himself with anguish that he had /
not waited. His wife had some inkling |
OF the cause Of distress he could not |
conceal. and since she loved him she, /
too. was miserable. One day she met
Vittoria and turned her back upon her.
"Why do you treat me IN this wayT'
asked Vittorin.
Because you hold my husband IN
thrall"
"He holds himself In thrall," replied
signora Careno Il care no more for
him than that and she snapped her
fingers.
Lucia was encouraged at this, think
ing that n Anton's love was not re-
turned Il would at last wear itself
out She told her husband what Wit
toria had said. but Il had no effect up
on him, he believing that Il was nat
ural denial for yittoria TO make to his
own wife. Indeed. when Vittoria, 10
/ prove what she had said. made a friend
| OF Lucia. Anton was infatuated enough
/ 70 suppose thnt Nittoria was deceiving
his wife with a view 10 gaining oppor-
/ tunities to be near him. Supposing
/ that the woman he loved would marry
him II he were free TO marry. he re
solved to get rid OF his wife by poison.
Lucia was used to taking every morn
Ing at IL o'clock a Hight breakfast OF
/ luncheon. as we would call It In Ameri-
ca. consisting OF few fancy biscuits
and a glass OF wine. A servant usually
set Il out on a table some time during
l the morning for her mistress TO take at
the usual hour. One morning Anton
! passed through the room where the
! luncheon stood ready. 10 was 10 o'clock,
and his wife would not partnke OF II
for an hour. Nevertheless he resolved
10 avail himself Of the opportunity TO
drop poison In the wine. He would re-
mnin near and see that 20 one except
she FOR whom Il was intended drank II.
i While he was waiting a summons
came to him from the grand duke, with
whom ne stood IN high favor. 10 come
at once TO the palace There was moth
ing to do but 10 obey. Should he leave
the glass Of poisoned wine or empty II
whore It would do no harm7 There wns
no one ia the house. for his wife had
I, gone out. She would return before II
drink the wine, and the culprit, being
away at the time. would not be sus
T. pected Of foul play. He resolved 4
n leave II where II stood.
- He had scarcely left the house whei
d he met vittoria.
Good morning, signor Carpi" sh
said. II am going 10 call upon you
. wife. Is she at homer
y mo" replied Anton; "she is out. 70
had better choose another time"
r. Il will go IN and wait for her. Sh
has told me that she is never out Ion
I'm the morning" And she proceede
e on her way
= II must 60 back" said Anton TO IN
. dukes messenger a young noble o
powerful frame and OF a merry, dew
may care disposition.
= what To keep company with
lady when your sovereign command
your presenceT
r 1T is very important that return Il
{ my house at once"
e "And ! say Il is important that yol
e obey the dukes summons"
Anton started 20 20 back. but tn
messenger caught him about the waist
and as he was of light weight carrie,
him on, laughing at his struggles con
siderlng It a fine thing TO be keeping
) him from a meeting with a lady. Tn
fear that Vittoria might drink tho poi
soned wine gave Anton strength to re
2 sist, but with all this TO stimulate hin
1 1 he was unable 10 break away from hi
tormentor, who carried him into IN
= presence Of the duke, whom he toll
n with great merriment how he had KEEP
q him from an appointment
"Ha. ha. Signor Carpiw laughed IN
r duke. I'VE must make an example O
l. n married man who desires 10 tcte-i
u tete with a lady in his own house dul
l. ing his wife's absence. Lock the doors
Come. have sent for you 10 play
game OF cards. What shall be IN
stalker
For an hour the duke kept Anton q
r. the game. Anton was so preoccuple
that he scarcely knew one card fror
another Finally he showed his SUI
fering SO plainly that the duke gave u
Y an amusement that was becomin
painful and let his prisoner go. thoug
he jollingly warned him in future [
70 be less open In his appointments.
At 10 O'Clock Antcn rushed iuto hi
house wondering whether he woul
find VlttOria or his wife dead. II
m found them both lamenting over tn
ie body of his favorite hound. The mi
ment be saw that Nittoria was safe
r sank sanseiess into a chair.
Lucia had come in and found vi
y toria waiting for her. Presently Lucl
n went into the room where luncheo
IS had been set out to find the dog dyin
Dr. and the wineglass empty. She calle
ID her friend and they both suspected th
10 wine had been poisoned. When Anto
'n came in excited and fell in n swoo
rs both knew that he had attempted I
~ kill his wife.
y Lucia banished her husband from he
m forever vittoria reported the matte
AZ to the duke. who permitted Anton
lcave Italy. He lived but short tint