The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-02-26
a NIGHT OF
STRANGE ADVENTURE
Translated froEs the Italian Of Anton
Giaiio itzrrili By j. y. Comba.



costume. returned what he was, an at
tractive young fellow. II ! may cali o
young fellow one who has for several
years passed his fatal thirticth. Sig
nora Laura looked at him and her
eyes manifested a gentle surprise.
And indeed il could not be otherwise,
because the lawyer Fenoglio, besides
having a graceful presence, was very
much In love. and love, AS everybody
knows, (and II anyone does not know
il, ! am telling him sol, beauties
people, whether Il lend greater bright
meas 10 the eye or greater paleness TO
the check, depending upon the sue
cess or failure of him in whose heart
il dwolls.
That Of Roberto Fenoglio was as
yet neither one thing nor the other;
il was only an hour old, but was born
as vigorous as Hercules, who the fable
says, while still in the cradle, was
strangling serpents with his powerful
little hands, The desire to please this
beautiful woman, the respect he felt
for her, although he had made her
acquaintance in such a very unusual
fashion, the very strangeness Of
chance which was adding, had almost
said. bit Of zest to this affair. al
ready sufficiently spicy--all this was
transfguring Roberto Fenoglio. Did
I not fear to be called hereto, |
would say that this was his Tabor,
and that there was halo about his
head.
So that, madam, he said bowling
very low, since ii is your good pleas
are, let US go; am at your service.
You are a very courteous cavalier!
answered Signora Laura. Let us go
then; il seems an age since | left
home.
This might be your home, II you
would, madam -.
Foolish mani she interrupted, tenn
pering the phrase with her divine
smile. Let US leave that to the future,
Saying this she followed Roberto
Fenoglio into the antechamber as far
as the door.
And now, wonderful. strange, ex-
trzoriinary, unheard Of and unforeseen
thing happened; something ] might
give you 10 guess among hundred,
nay thousand, ten thousand, but you
would never come anywhere near the
truth; something that will seem un-
likely, and which indeed is unlikely,
as truth so often is.
Did you never happen, my readers,
20 see a sunset, TO notice its wonder
full tints, its strange effects Of light
and color and say TO yourself that If
a painter copied il faithfully he
would be said TO cxaggerate? Have
you never heard Of fact, can you not
recall in your own life an incident so
fantastic as to make you say, when
you think Of il, that If a novelist
were recounting it, no one would be-
iieve it to be true?
Now, just such a thing happened to
my two personages; one of those sun
sets happened TO my narrative which
alas is not a SUM-
Roberto had placed his hand upon
the key. and was turning the lock to
open it. Just at that moment, at that
very instant, loud ring was heard.
Although this unexpected sound was
a severe blow to his nerves, it was
too late for him TO stop. The door
was opening under his hand, and
man filed the doorway. This man en-
tered quickly. and the first person he
saw, for as he opened the door Rob-
crto stood aside TO let her pass, was
the very beautiful Laura Mongolia.
Who vas he? Why did he jump
back when be saw this woman, staring
as though he had seen a ghost7
/, was Felicino Magnasoo who gazed
upon his cruel cousin.
Here was a ;abloau that shall not
attempt 70 describe. and indeed could
not II would. The fact, the instan-
taneous spectacle cannot be reproduc-
cd: the writer cannot become a pho
Folicino Magnasco entered with the
most embarrassed manner you can inn
agine and there was abundant reason
Tor il Roberto Fonogio was no less
embarrassed than he.
Ohi good morning Felicinol he ex-
claimed. without anosing what he was .
saying. What good wind blows yoE
this way How q your health2
Good. thanks: and yourse
Optirne. Fe,ieino, optime; and q
what am indebted for your unusu-
ally early oan7
An. yes o.. answered the other
Il Is an unearthly hour ! arrive