New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-05-23
The White Haired
Stranger
By ALAN HINSDALE

teacher Of fencing.
Luigi loved and was beloved by Bi-
anca Cellini, q younger daughter Of
nobleman. The Cellinis were Of better
blood than The Carranos, but there
were a number of girls in the family
to be married off, and on that account
Luigi was accepted as a sutton for
Bianca's hand Her father was dead,
and her brother, Ricardo, was the ac-
knowledged head Of the family.
Not long after the betrothal between
Luigi and Blanca Jose Herrera came
to Rome from Madrid. On account, of
his wealth he created quite sensatio
in society at the capital. When he saw
Blanca he straightway fell in love
with her and made application for her
TO her brother. He was informed
2hat the girl was engaged, but he de-
termined to have her in any event.
Ricardo was always in want of money
and found a ready lender in Herrera.
In this way the latter placed the for
mer so heavily in debt to him that he
found little difficulty in forcing him to
enter into plot with himself to get
rid OF Luigi. Between them they work
ed up case against Luigi Of compiled
Ny in a conspiracy that was unearthed
about that time to dethrone the king
of italy and declare a republic. Their,
written evidence was forged, and their
principal witness was paid a large
sum for his testimony But Luigi was
not able to prove this. He was de-
graded from his rank in the army and
imprisoned in a fortress for term of:
years. Since Blanca could not marry
the man she. loved. she was finally
persuaded to wed the Spaniard. who
carried her away to Madrid.
a dozen years passed. One day a
man With a white beard and hair,
whose other features indicated that he
was prematurely Old, appeared in
Rome. 4 man named Rodrigo Sanci,
a man Of good family, but whose pow
eTty had prevented his taking his
place i'll society, was sitting at a res
tauTant table on the sidewalk in the
Piazza, Colonna, when the white haired
stranger passed him and stared at him.
Sanci naturally returned the stare.
The stranger asked why he was thus
stared at. Sanci replied by asking
like question. The stranger, taking
up Wineglass from the table before
Sanc1, threw the contents in the lat
tiers face.
The next morning two parties came
together in a, ,desolate place on the
Campagna. Sanci and the stranger
fought with swords used by officers
of the army, and Sanci was killed.
The skill displayed by the stranger was
considered remarkable. '..'..E
Within a few days after this affair
Ricardo Cellini was sitting with some
friends in the Pincian gardens when
a man with white hair and beard ap-
preached him and said: 81.
Good afternoon, Signor Cellini.''
"'Yon have the advantage of me,
signor," replied Ricardo, regarding the
other curiously.
''But know you, and know you to
be a liar and coward"
Cellini flushed and half started up,
SIS if to attack his accuser. ..~
"Do not exert yourself here among
your friends. If you have any mes
sage for me it will reach me at No.
= Via Nationale."
with that the stranger withdrew.
It was impossible for Cellini to re-
tain his social position in face of such
an insult without resenting it, and he
sent g friend to negotiate with the
white haired stranger The latter re-
fused to give his name, and had it not
been for the gravity of the charge on
this account Cellini would not have
pressed the matter. There being no
choice for him. he agreed to meeting
at point on the Janiculum hill above
st. Peters. He fell before the steel
point of his adversary
The stranger was now recognized as
the man who had killed Rodrigo Sanci,
and. people began to wonder who
would be the next victim Of this re-
markable fencer But after the last
duel Me disappeared and never was
seen again in Rome
Jose Herrera at this time was
" AU"cl. w utClCI HIS VILE uiu lcdll1-
ed of the way by which he obtained
possession, of her or on account Of his
cruelty to her, she died within a few
years after their marriage. One day
Herrera was walking on one of the
streets of Madrid when man with
white hair and beard INSTRUCTED his
path. Herrera shifted aside; the white
haired man did the same.
"Get out of my way!' said Herrera
10 him. E-.s
Il was once in your way, and you
forced me out of. it. and that, too, by
dishonorable means. This time you
can force me to let you pass in one
way only"
"What is that?" ~
promise to meet me tomorrow
morning at sunrise at the spot usually
selected for the settlement of Difficult
ties between gentlemen and you can
pass .