The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-07-17

HilSHtU her sentence. lie CaINtu INTO
| a nearby court. and was to be seen
no more Francesca was visibly an
| moved. That evening she pleaded with
me TO remain at home. but / had a
| special engagement. As / went out
| cautioned the night porter to let no
one disturb her.
] had previously ordered a carriage;
IL 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 clutched me by the
throat. With strength that seemed
to he Herculean / was dragged inside,
| bound hand and foot. and gagged.
"Maleditto!" exclaimed the one with
the fingers in cultural snarl. and l
recognized the voice of the old signor.
out. climbed TO the box, and dashed
the horses into a gallop.
I tried to cry cut. but with the gag
| was dumb. Fancy my state of
mind
Finally we brought up before for
| bidding-looking house in narrow. de-
serted street. and | 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 to
/ squalid dingy room. where | was de-
| posted on the floor Pietro locked the
/ door after us. then said something to
the siPBor in Italian that made the old
man growl with fiendish approval. The
latter. turning to me with sardonic
leer. muttered: make happy re mo-
ments: ii ees few" Both went ont
through another door, and l heard the
bolt Slide into place.
They were going TO murder me, and
DO ii with diabolical finesse.
I was given the tortures of anticipa-
| ton while they leisurely discussed the
method. My thoughts wouldn't come
cohesiyely, for my brain grew soegy
and obstinate and refused to eompre-
| bend.
All at once, as II struck with blow,
Francesca came into my head. Fran
cesca! | could see her. at home. 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; I 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 a Roman judge. he proceeded in
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. Re play re game-ze lose. I
kill YOU"
Leaning forward with a convulsiye ire
NOR. ! thought he was about to plunge
the blade into my heart. How I
strained for speeeh-but the gag, was
dumb. Nh. why did lie not strike,
| was dying 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, a voice
called whoa" Then the pattering
Of fast moving feet in the pass ageway;
some body violently grasred the knob
Of the door to the room-it would not
/ open.
The signor and Pietro stood breath
1 less. transfXed.
\ key scraped in the lock the door
flung back; on the threshold stood
/ Francesca
"Matre di Dlo!" hoarsely breathed
the cid man.
Francesca. scantily attired. hair dis
| heyeled, her eyes ablaze with fever
ish glow. her checks whittier than ala
baSter
My heart gave great throb Of JOY.
4 moments hesitation. and She
grasped the meaning of the scene be
fore her in one Overwhelming i'm
/ pulse With a heartrending cry Of an
guish she leaped forward. seized the
siguor's hand. and fell OH her knees
before him.
Father! father! Fer the love of
Jesus spare him, XII me-no. 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: gee ees my deeshonor.
Xii, him" he replied, as he spurned
her from him
Frantic with alarm, she rushed mp
10 Pietre. "Pjeiro, my brother. you
love me see read, I am his Wife"
Pietro took the paper reluctantly,
glanced al il skertically, suddenly gave
start and read eagerly.
Father, father" he almost
screamed. "Come-look! il is a mar
riage certifeate!"
With hurried stride the old man
was at his side. They examined the
document with almost fren1ied cum
ming In low, quick tones they dis