Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1911 — THE SACRED LIFE. [ARTICLE]

THE SACRED LIFE.

By Harold Carter.

In courage Alfiero was perhaps-A little more timid taaa a hare, a big, hulking chap, who could have given a dock laborer points in the matter of muscle, he would run from a harsh word. His comrades regarded him 'with amused contempt, which, as I then thought, accounted lor Us mol* That Nina, ths belle of the Italian colony on my estate, should have fallen la love with him, excited wonder—not the loss so when Tony, her most Importunate suitor, threatened Alfiero with a knife, and the big follow sought police protection. And Nina married him. She had done all the wooing and metamorphically dragged him tp the attar. It was the saddest and moot reluctant bridegroom that I had ever seen. Both had saved money and they sot up a little store on the main street and prospered. Perhaps It was that I had hidden my contempt tor the man, perhaps it was his loneliness ♦bat- md bin, to take into hls'confldence.

“Ah, Signor, you think I am a coward," ho said one evening, when he realized that I had actually pulled Nina out from the Valley of the Shadow, and I had refused to accept my medical fee. Then he told me this story: Alfiero was from Sicily, the land of the vendetta. The elder of two brothers, he had worked happily upon his father’s farm until almost a man. Then one day ho had gone home to find his brother slain and the homestead in ruins. It was the revenge of the bandit Lucca, because a relative had denounced him to the authorities. juucca escaped to America, but from that day the solemn duty lay upon Ab flero of wiping out the murder in Mood. For this he lived, his life sacred, according to the Sicilian custom, to this purpose. For this he hoarded his tiny savings to obtain passage money to New York. For this he went softly. He must beware of Quarrels, take insults meekly, nursing his life as the most precious thing in the world—until he had wiped out the murder in blood. -

He had sought for Lucca high and low, but to no purpose. Somewhere near New York, he learned, the man pursued his criminal operation under an alias. And Nina knew, and had married him, awaiting her sad widowhood. For if he met Lucca and was not killed, Alfiero must kill him and go to the electric chair. , \ They prospered; it became rumored that Alfiero had money in the bank. A child had been born; but for this shadow hanging over him Alfiero’s happiness would have been complete. But, though in all other respects a model, he clung tenaciously to his Sicilian blood debt Quietly he pursued his search. I said his happiness would have been complete. Not quite. That curse of the Italian colony, the Black Hand, found him out and coveted his wealth. He received threatening letters, demending his wealth. Twice he paid and a third time. Each time the demands of the bloodsuckers became more inssttoWto One Saturday evening I encountered Alfiero journeying along a deserted road and stopping him, asked where ho was going: For answer he pulled a revolver from his hip pocket. -My friend.** he said, "for Nina's sake I have to act like a man. Twice I have placed money under the stone. This time I hide and shoot the Black Hand messenger.” I strove to dissuade him, but I was hurrying to a typhoid case and could not delay. Afterward I was minded to communicate with the police. I was still debating it when my door burst open and Alfiero stoodT before me. But bow transformed. The man was wreathed in smiles. I had never seen him so overjoyed. “You have heard I killed him?" ho cried breathlessly. "The Black Hand? Yes, it is true, and the police they will not even arrest me, for he shot to kill Ecco." He pulled off his hat There was a bullet hole through the crown. •Ho tor to hiding—he Shot,” Alfiero explained. “And then I killed him—yes, right through his cowardly heart And I ran up to see his face— Mother of God—lt was Lucca.”

▲ teacher In one of the publie schools of Vienna, in order to teat the ability of her junior dase—girls eight to nine yean old—w composition writing, gave each little miss a subject to bo discussed -at once, without consultation and without help of any kind.* Th* articles were found to bo ad iwt<wwtiny and amusing that they have boon collected for publication. On* article on “My three happiest 1 day** la notable la the unique collection. in well-chosen word* and clearly rounded sentenced th* little girl says that, being foot In the woods, having to run away from a fire which brake out in their bonne and watching a little boat as th* wind tossed it on Cha wave*, and finally smashed it, wore the meet “happy events* that She could think ot The people of Bavaria appear to bo •MR drinking quite a Mt of beer. Last year OIBUW gallons were brewed there,Mid only TSMOMd galton*w*re Ml quart* to every man. woman aad «r th* klngd >m.