The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-05
A BIT OF
PLEASANTLY
Ioriglnal

foriginall
It was in the days Of the Borgias,
when there were two methods com.
mon for getting rid OF an enemy, ono
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 81
gnor Caren0 fell III and died, leaving
Yittoria a widow Then Cardi was be.
side himself with anguish that be had
not waited. His wife had some inkling
OF the cause Of a distress be could not
conceal, and since she loved him she,
too. was miserable One day She met
Vittoria and turned her back upon her.
tVhy do you treat me in this wayG1
asked Yittoria.
Because you hold my husband in
thrall"
tile holds himself in thrall, replied
signora Careno II care no more for
him than that and she snapped her
fingers
Lucia was encouraged at this think
ing that if Antons 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
uraT denial for Yittoria to make to his
own wife. Indeed, when Yittoria 10
prove what she had said, made a friend
of Lucia. Anton was infatuated enough
to suppose that ytttoria was deceiving
his wife with a view to gaining oppor-
tunitles 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 II o'clock a light breakfast or
luncheon. as we would call it in Ameri-
ca, consisting of few fancy biscuits
and a glass Of wine. a servant usually
set it 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. twas 10o'clock,
and his wife would not partake Of ii
for an hour Nevertheless he resolved
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 ii was intended drank it,
While be 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 70 % but to obey. Should he leave
the glass Of poisoned wine or empty il
| where 1t would do no harm? There was
no one III the house. for his wife haC
/ 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 t,
leave It where It stood
| lie had scarcely left the house whei
he met Kittoria.
Good morning, Signor Carpi,' shI
said. Il am going to call upon you
wife, Is she at homer
mo, replied Anton; "she Is out. YoJ
had better choose another time"
Il win 20 IN and wait for her sht
has told me that she is never out lons
ia the morning And she proceeded
on her way
7 must 60 back" said Anton to tht
! dukes messenger, a young noble 81
powerful frame and OF a merry, deyi
may care disposition
what TO keep company with 4
lady when your sovereign commands
your presence =
1t is very important that ! return K
my house at once
And I say II Is important that yor
obey the dukes summons"
Anton started to 10 back. but tht
messenger caught him about the waist
isand as he was OF light weight carried
him on, laughing at his struggles con
sidering it a fine thing to be keeping
him from a meeting with a lady The
/ fear that Yittoria might drink the poi
soned wine gave Anton strength to re
sist but with all this to stimulate hir
he was unable 10 break away from bis
| tormentor, who carried him into tht
/ presence Of the duke, whom he told
with great merriment how he had KEEP
him from an appointment
"Ha ha, Signor Carpi" laughed tht
duke We must make an example d
married man who desires to tete-a
tete with lady in his own house dur
ing his wifes absence Lock the doors
Come, | have sent for You to play {
game Of cards, What shall be the
stake|
For an hour the duke kept Anton a
the game Anton was SO preoccupie6
that be scarcely. knew one card from
another Finally he showed his sui
fering 50 plainly that the duke gave vi
an amusement that was becoming
painful and let his prisoner go, though
he jokingly warned him in future Il
be less open in his appointments.
At 12 o'clock Anton rushed into hii
house wondering whether he woulC
find yittoria or his wife dead IL
found them both lamenhng over tn,
body of his favorite hound The mo
/ nent ha saw that Vffforia was safe hi