Nogales international., 1929-03-26

| it to me.
"Margharita, there is no poison in
the world like that which I send you
in this letter. The merest grain oi
it is sufficient, in wine or water, or
food of any sort. There is no art of
medicine which could detect it-no
means by which the death, which will
surely follow, can be averted; so you
run no risk, my child Bide your
time, and then-then!
"Margharita, / am coming to you
Nay, do not be alarmed, run no risk.
| shall come disguised, and no one will
know me, but / must see something of
the end with my own eyes, or half its
sweetness would be untasted. / would
see her face and die! / would trace,
day by day, the workings of the
poison: and in the last moments G.
her agony I would reveal myself, and
would point to my withered frame
and the, hand of death upon my FORE
head, and cry out to her that the
Order of the White Hyacinth had
kept its vow. / would have her eyes
meet mine as the mists of death
closed in upon her. l would have her
know that the oath of Marioni, in
Friendship or in hate, in protection or
in vengeance, is one with his honor.
This may not be, Margharita l cam
not see all thisl l cannot even stand
by her bedside for moment and show
her my face, that she might know
whose hand it is which has stricken
her down. Yet, / must be near Fear
not but that l shall manage it safely |!
would not bring danger or the
shadow of danger upon you, my be-
loved.
Il leave Rome tonight, and l leave
it with joy. You cannot imagine how
inexpressibly sad it has been for me
to find myself in the place where the
greater part of my youth-my too
ambitious youth was spent. All is
changed and strange to me. There
are new streets and many innovations
which puzzle me; and although my
friends are kind, twenty-five years
have crushed our Sympathies. To
them am like a sad figure from
bygone world, a Banquo at the feast,
something to pity little-no more.
am nothing to anybody beyond that.
am a wearisome old man, whose
mind is blank, and who only cumbers
the way. All, we'll, it is not for long.
The day of my desire is at hand, and
God has given me you, Margharita, to
accomplish it, and to close my eyes in
peace. Bless you, my DEAR, dear child
| Nn1t h0Vyo cxnyookoSAnA <1o aso1 IS
marred and wretched life Yours has
been an angels task, and you will
have an angels reward.
I'VE shall meet before long, but of
the manner of our meeting I cannot
tell you yet. Till then adieu Yours
in hope,
LEONARD DI MARIoNI.".
p. ST. forgot to say that tho
whole of the poison, or even half
teaspoonful, would produce sudden and
abrupt death. just a pinch, adminis-
tered twice, perhaps, in order to ba
quite secure, would be sufficient"
my BELOVED MARGHARIrA,-Many
a time have l reproached myself for
my imprudence last night, and tho
effects which fear it had upon you.
It was thoughtless and rash of me to
come near the house at all but, in
deed, | meant only to watch from a
safe distance; only, as l crouched be-
hind shrub upon the lawn, l saw her
face, and the sight drew me nearer,
against my better judgment. l met
your eyes, and l knew that you were
overcome with fright but feared to
linger lest they might ask what it was
that alarmed you, and seek for me.
And although I fancy that am
altered past recognition, yet I would
run no risks.