The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-08-14

nut fietro wasn't there when .h,
hnished her sentence. He darted INT,
nearby court, and was to he ,e.,
no more. Francesca was visiblv an
noyed. That evening she pleaded with
me 20 remain at home, but / had :
special engagement. As / vert ON,
cautioned the night porter TO let y,
one disturb her. = ~
had previously order ed a carr;ao.
II was waiting at the curb. steppef
forward, and. STOPPING over, pulled
open the door. That instant pair O,
long, oony hands pushed through tn.
aperture and clutched me by tn.
throat. With strength that seemed
10 De Herculean I was dragged inside
bound hand and foot. and gagged
Maieditto!" exclaimed the one with
the fingers in cultural snarl. and
recognized the voice of thu old signor
Inc other was Pietro. The latter slid
out, climbed to the box, and dashed
the horses into a gallop.
tried to cry out, but with the rao
! was dumb. Fancy my state OF
mind
Finally we brought up before for.
oldding-looking house in marrow. de.
serted street. and 1 was lifted to the
euro. The horses were given their
heads, and as they wandered a,mlessly
away into the night I was roughly
seized, carried in through dark hall.
way, down a narrow passage to a
squalfd, dingy room. where was de-
posted on the floor. Pietro locked the
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 sardonic
ieer. muttered: snake happy re mo.
ments; 1t 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 finesse.
l was given the fortunes of anticipa-
ton while they leisurely discussed the
method. MY thoughts wouldn't come
cohesively. for my brain grew soggy
and obstinate and refused to compre-
hend
All at once. as If 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 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. Ze play re game-ze lose. !
kill you"
Leaning forward with convulsive tire
NOR, I thought he was about to plunge
the blade into my heart. How I
strained for speech-but the gag. was
dumb. All, why did he not strike!
was dying . thousand deaths.
For an instant there was the STILL
ness of the tomb; then the rumbling
wheels of a carriage sounded from
without. Suddenly this stopped, q voice
called "Whoa!" Thea the pattering
of fast moving feet in the passageway;
violently grasped the knob
of the door to the ro0m-it would not
OPEN
The signor and Pietro stood breath
less, transfixed.
A KEY scraped in the lock. the door
flung back; ON the threshold stood
Francesca.
.sMatre di Dio!" hoarsely breathed
the old man.
Francesca, scantily sttired. hair dis
heveled. her eyes ablaze with fever
ish glow, her cheeks whittier than ala
baster.
NV heart gave q great throb Of joy
A moments hesitation, and she
yrasped the meaning Of the scene be
fore her in one overwhelming i'm
pulse. With a heartrekding cry Of an
yuish she leaped forward, seized the
sipnor's hand, and fell on her knees
before him.
"Father! father! For the love Of
Jesus spare him! Kill memo, wait!
See what I have got! Wait, father;
hats good father!" She fumbled
h her bosom and drew forth paper.
There, father. see; he's my love. my
ife!"
"Baclx. child; zee ees my deeshonor.
kill hint" he replied. as he spurned
her from him.
Frantic with alarm, she rushed up
10 Pietro. "Pietro, my brother. you
owe me-see, read! I am his wife,"
Pietro took the paper reluctantly.
at it skeptically. suddenly gave
, start and read eagerly.
"Father! father!" he almost
.Come-look! it n . mar
Rage certificate!"
With Z hurried stride the old man
vas At his side. They examined the
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