Year: 1862

HA> L lCur SclcFoGS. ana ui>lS 1ectlu9 tAc


younger, crafty. treacherous and cruel. They


both sought the maiden - the elder in all


sincerity and truth openly wooed her for his


bride the younger, covertly, by q display Of


those qualities most likely to gain her admira


ton. One day, the elder sought his brother


to inform him Of his approaching happiness.


Giovannina had consented TO be his, and theiF
union was 10 be celebrated a month from that


time. The treacherous brother listened with
congratulatory smiles ard hollow expressions


of sympathy, but 4 deadly hate towards bis


brother sprang up in his soul, and on the III
stant he conceived Il diabolical plan by which
his brother would be removed and Giovannina
set free. Proceeding TO the execution of his
plan. he begged his brother TO accompany him


for short time on a visit to their native val
leys. He consented, though with reluctance,
and the traitor, as il by accident, informed
several of the Inhabitants of their intention


The day arrived-Pierre took tender leave of
his betrothed and the brothers set out. The
road lay across this very mountain the fssure


was bridged by narrow path formed of ice :;


Pierre was in advance, aud when near the


middle of the perious bridge, he swayed slight
" and called to his brother for assistance the


latter extended his pole, but not to assist


Apparently as if by accident, he allowed the
pole to come in forcble contact with the per-
son of Pierre, who instantly slipped from the


bridge into the chasm beneath. The murderer
then pursued another way which led to a vii
lage not far distant, and remaining there for a
few days, returned to Aosta with pretended
grief, to inform Giovannina of her lover inf
deity. His well contrived tale imposed upon
the maiden, who banished the image of Pierre
from her heart, and in TWO years she had so far
forgotten him that she consented to become
the bride of his brother. and went with her
husband to settle in his native village.


For short space she was happy, but
gradually the veil became lifted from the char
acter of her husband, who having gained his
object, was less circumzpect than formerly, and
her pure and simple nature revo,ted at the
many exhibitions of his evil disposition which
she witnessed Harrassed by her constant
anxiety, her health gave way and she died,
another victim to the wretch who had by
treachery and crime won her hand. And now
he is before you, the Murderer of his brother
md ba thnr Of
He who lies stark and grim below the noun
tain is infinitely happier. He lost her. yet was
unconscious of his loss; l lost her, yet lived,
remorsefu and despairing, to lament my own
evil passions which hurried her to the grave
He died guiltless of crime, loyal and true
die a murderer, faithless, perjured wretch.
See his eyes are opened he waved his hand
Away y


And in paroxyism of wild fury the man
seized my wrist, and hurried me with fearful
force through the dark recesses of tie cavern.
l could not help myself; his strength was gi-
gantic, and could only submit passiyely, re-
serving my strength as mnch as possible for
the struggle which | saw was inevitable, and
which | wished to delay, thinking some chance
Of escape might present itself. At last | saw
a faint glmmering of light-it grew more and
more distinct, till saw the daylight shining
on the snow. Towards the aperture which
revealed it, the madmau hurried me, and on
reaching it, beheld with horror that what
imagined to be snow was but the foaming wa
tiers of the cascade, now more boisterous than
ever, in consequence of the storm.


He dragged me to the very brink of the
torrent and now, collecting all my strength.
l made an effort for life | Wrestled with tie
mailman, endeavoring to release my wrist
but with an insane fury in his eyes, he threw
himself upon me and hurled ME violently to the
earth, ard knelt upon my chest But madmen,
with all their cunning, are sometimes guilty of
oversights, and an oversight Oh tie part of
my antagonist now proved my salvation
Though my left hand was pinioned, my right
hand remained free, and l cautiously slid it
round to my belt, where | was accustomed to
carry hunting knife, and suddenly drawing
it, l slashed the arm which held me. 1t fell
powerless, and was enabled to free myself
and rise to my feet The maniac, rushing upon
me, endeavored to force ne into the torrent
but weakened by the loss of blood. which flow
ed from his wound he stumbled on the slippery
brink, and with a wild shrek he was swept
away by the waters. Faint with my exertions,
| remained for 4 moment to collect my thoughts
and then returned into the cavern to seek for
some means of egress. Vainly 1 wandered
about 10 darkness /; from the speed with which
l had been dragged along had no recollection
Of the way we had come, and at last exhausted,
fell fainting upon the ground. How long
unconscious l never knew, but, when
| recovered, l found myself in the midst of a
group of guides, who were carrying me on a


litter down the side of the mountain. 1t ap-
peared that We had been absent two days and