El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-08
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story

drank, paid and always behaved We'll
Wanting 10 avoid q catastrophe at any
price he tried every way OF taking 70
Gasparo about il and or warning MN
most respectfully to be careful
At last he thought he had an excel
lent opportunity for a sermon one
night, when he was alone with Gas
paro Marco being away at SuDlaco.
''Gasparo" he said, be careful or
you may meet it the third time.
Yes" said Gasparo, absentmindedly'
without understanding.
4 mean death" said Stefano Turlo.
The wind was roaring furiously ana
the darkness was so heavy that no
body who was not thoroughly 1aInlIlar
with the road would dare traveI across
the mountains
afraid. but was walking rapidly ahead,
thinking Of StefanO's words. He was
at the mercy of dangers that might pc
lying in ambush at every corner anu
he was prepared to meet them IN any
shane from any direction except the
one from which danger was actualIy
threatening him.
Marco Pittaro was not at Subiaco.
Having crossed the mountains just an
hour ahead of Gasparo, he was crouch
ing near his house, with his gun IN MS
It was impossible to see anything
from where he was hiding under a
tree. but he counted on the light com
ing from the house. Marietoinette
must come down to open the door 70
her lover, and then he would fire.
GasparO walked along merrily- The
Thought of death did not haunt him.
His thoughts were with Marletolnette'
who would come down, open the doorl
give him a sign. put her finger on her
Inns take his hand and lead him TO
her room. Then she would lock the
door. smile at him, showing her beau
tiful teeth and let him kiss her warm
Marco Pittaro was nervously count
ing the minutes. How long he had al
ready been standing under this tree!
The long waiting had caused won
derful change in his mind. little
while ago he had been ferOciOus and
would have killed Gasparo. Marietoi-
nette and the two servants on the
spot and would have begun reasoning
afterWard. But now he had started
thinking. Was there no other way OF
revenge2 Had he not better talk to
Marietoinette and tell her how wrongly
she was acting toward him, The poor
little thing was so young yet, almost
a child. Ought he not forgive and for
get2
But the thought of his father, a most
determined and implacable man. made
Marco give up every idea OF this. He
hesitate ted no longer He must kill.
GasparO NigO was walking on, smil-
ing at the thought Of Marietoinette.
Marco PittarO no longer doubted
himself, but began to doubt his gun.
He had not fired a shot for many years
but the cap was good the powder dry
and stlu the gun might fail him and
make him the laughing-stock of the
whole village. To make his misery
perfect he began TO think OF Gas
paro's ghost stories and felt faint, ev-
erything whfrled around in front of
his eyes and he began trembling with
fury and fear. The man he intended
to Kill was only a few meters away
in
bound, knocked him down and thrown
him down the mountain side.
'Marietoinon." whispered a voice
near the door.
Marco, standing with his back
against the tree, trembled like an
aspen leaf. Every thought of action
had left him. The knowledge that his
wife betrayed him with GasDaro as
tonished him and surprised him as If
he had heard Of it only this moment
The door was opened. MarietOnette
stood in the opening with a candle in
her hand, more beautiful, he thought,
than ever. She gave GasparO n sign
and placed her finger upon her lips
GasparO took her into his arms and
carried her into the house. Marco saw
the door close behind them and the
house grow dark. He ran into the
woods like wounded deer.
There was a great crowd at Stephano
Turlo's inn that night, playing cards.
laughing and singing Gasparo was
playing scope with three others He
was winning one game after the other
Suddenly raising his head, he was
surprised to see Marco Pittaro enter
ing the inn alone. So he was not al
SubiacO. Where could he have spent
the night, since he had not been at
home? Instinctively he lowered his
head and acted as if he had not seen
Marco. saying to his partner:
TT is my turn to shuttle the cards"
Marco. on the other side. did not ap-
pear to have seen Gasparo. He stopped
to talk to one man after the other.
but at last he went up and, slapping
Gasparo's shoulder, he said:
"Gaspa, you are a beast"
A deep silence fell upon the room
and the playing stopped at all the
tables.
Gasparo pocketed the insult and
smiled, making believe he thought it a
joke
"Gaspa, You are a beast" repeated