Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-11-05
A BIT OF
PLEASANTLY
[Original.l

IL was III the Gays OF the BOrS1aS,
when there were two methods COM
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
toria Careno, but she being a married
woman he had concluded to wed Lucia
Sanchez, whom he did not love, but
who possessed a fortune. No sooner
had the wedding taken place than ST.
gnor Careno fell i'll and died, leaving
Vittoria a widow. Then Cardi was be-
side himself with anguish that he had
not waited. His wife had some inkling
of the cause of a 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 way?"
asked Nittoria.
Because you hold my husband in
thrall."
"He holds himself in thrall," replied
Signora Careno. 81 care no more for
him than that" and she snapped her
fingers.
Lucia was encouraged at this, think
ing that if Anton's love was not re-
turned it would at last wear itself
out, She told her husband what Wit
toria had said, but it had no effect up
on him, he believing that it was nat
ural denial for Vittoria to make to his
own wife. Indeed, when Vittoria, to
prove what she had said, made friend
of Lucia, Anton was infatuated enough
to suppose that Vittoria was deceiving
his wife with view to gaining oppor-
tunities to be near him. Supposing
that the woman he loved would marry
him If 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 light breakfast or
luncheon, as we would call it in Ameri-
ca, consisting Of a few fancy biscuits
and glass of wine. A servant usually
| set 1t out on a table some time during
the morning for her mistress to take at
the usual hour. One morning Anton
passed through the room where the
luncheon stood ready. 1t was 10 clock,
and his wife would not partake Of it
to avail himself of the opportunity to
drop poison in the wine. He would re.
main near and see that no one except
she for whom it was intended drank it.
| While he was waiting, a summons
came to him from the grand duke, with
whom he stood in high favor, to come
at once to the palace. There was moth
ing to- do but to obey. Should he leave
the glass Of poisoned wine or empty 1t
where it would do no harm? There was
no one in the house, for his wife had
gone out. She would return before II,
drink the wine, and the culprit, being
away at the time, would not be sus-
pected Of foul play. He resolved to
leave it where 1t stood.
| He had scarcely left the house when
he met Vittoria.
Good morning, Signor Carpi," she
said. II am going to call upon your
wife. Is she at homer"
NO. replied Anton; "she is out. You
had better choose another time"
II will so in and wait for her. She
has told me that she is never out long
in the morning." And she proceeded
on her way.
81 must go back" said Anton to the
dukes messenger, young noble of
powerful frame and Of merry, devil
may care disposition.
what! To keep company with a
lady when your sovereign commands
your presence?"
''It is very important that l return to
my house at once.'
"And I say it is important that you
obey the dukes summons"
/ Anton started to go. back, but the
messenger caught him about the waist,
and as he was Of light weight carried
him on, laughing at his struggles con-
sidering it fine thing to be keeping
him from meeting with lady The
fear that Vittoria might drink the poi
soned wine gave Anton strength to re-
sist but with all this to stimulate him
he was unable to break away from his
tormentor, who carried him into the
presence of the duke, whom he told