Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-09-01
Continued.

II was the last almost unconscious
tribute he still paid to the faith which
his mother had held, bat in which he
himself had ceased to believe. My
father. willing to please her on her
death-bed, promised that they should
make priest of me, and he did his
best; but what would you have? 1t
is not possible to turn wolf into a
sheep-dog. or an eagle into a canary.
l bore it till was seventeen, then,
one night"-he rubbed his hands with
glee at the mere reoolIection-"one
delightful, moonless night, the hap
piest in all my life, broke loose from
the fold, got Disguise was within
an ace of being caught, and at last got
home 10 Corsica, half starved, but
free, and happy as a king"
"The1 Corsica is your homer
insomnia! ! have run on, forget
ting that possibly you will be free
again tomorrow, and may betray US
H. looked aunoyed. and half in
cHned to be angry.
DO not be uneasy" said Carlo.
"This is my last day in the world, and
even did l wish to do so I could not
possibly betray your haunts.'
"You seem to look death in the
face calmly enough; but it is far more
likely that you win be set free"
Carlo shook his head.
IF | were set free it would mean
that my whole life had failed. Some
thing tells me that is not so. There
fore. you see, must face the thought
of death. And, while we are speak
ing of 1t, just tell me how 1t will be.
Am | to be shot?"
Lionbrunos great black eyes were
full Of wonder; they were very much
like the eyes of some animal. He was
completely puzzled by his companion,
and somehow awed by him.
NO he said; that could not he.
here"
Lionbruno shook his head.
Poisoned, or perhaps hung?"
Again the young brigand made a
gesture Of dissent; then, with unmis-
taxable meaning, he drew out his
knife. and passed 1t lightly across his
own throat, glancing significantly at
the prisoner.
Carlo had too vivid an imagination
not To shrink little from the picture
which presented itself to his mind
he grew suddenly cold, and felt a
strange stirring in his heart, and
Tightening about the muscles of his
throat. But he quickly recovered him
self. and. with no pereeptible effort,
returned to the interrupted story.
And so you escaped from your
school-life, and from all espionage.
AT first it must have been delightful
'Dio! | should think it was" ex-
claimed the boy. ITO be out in the
woods night and day, to have done
with the hateful old routine, and for
work to have nothing but adventure
and excitement--why. 1t was para
dise!"
81 .ancied all the bandittl had been
captured at the time of the great ex-
termination" said Carlo.
Lonhruno's face grew dark
THAT time gave us a blow from
which we shall never recover" he
said. But my father somehow baf-
fed all detection. and he will always
baflle it, for he is more than a match
for the italian police in a body. Moth
ing but treachery could possibly beat
him, and among the whole band there
is not one man who would betray
him, though they offered him his
weight in diamonds
Il can imagine that he would al
ways meet with obedience and 10y
atty" said Carlo, recalling the power
full face OF the chief.
anywhere he would be .,ing of
men. said Ljonbruno, proudly. And
since the world gave him the cold
shoulder, he must be king of banditti.
Did you bear but month or two bach,
of the highway robberies in Corsica
They We're planned and carried out
BY Brancaleone Do you remember
how Count Feroni was carried off in
Sicily, and kept up In the mountains
till the ransom was paid? That again
was due to Brancaleone. And the
great jewel robbery in Naples. that
too. was the work Of our bead. We
are like the lightning, here there, and
everywhere; our work 10 done in q
flash. and then-presto, all is dark
ness once more, and no one can lay
hold of us"
Il remember now hearing Of the
disappearance Of Count Feroni,' SAID
Carlo, though the details were never
published. perhaps for the sake of oui
eountry's honor. Do you know what
that work of yours did? II killed the
counts mother; she died of the SHOCK
before his return"
"Ebbene. we must all die sooner OF
later" said Lionbruno, coOlly
There was an indignant light il
Carlos eyes which made the young
Corsican shift his position uneasily,
And this work of yours yesterday.
continued Carlo. 1T will not only enl
in murder, II will break hearts anC
blight lives. WIN you be proud o
doing such DEVILS work as that?"
"A man must live" said Llonbruno
gloomily 81 only do what wa!
brought up to do. As to cruelty
Brancaleone would not have the hol,
which he has on the hearts of the pee