Possessed By the Devil.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 October 1911, Page 4

Possessed By the Devil.

YOUNG WOMAN'S EXTRAORDINARY CREDULITY.

Giuseppina Biselhv, aged 23, an omplopee in an indiarubber theel factory at Milan, is a remarkably credulous young person if one may judge 'by the story which she has just told at the Central Police Office whither she repaired to complain that she had been defrauded of her savings amounting to 450 lire, or about £18. Somewhat of a pessimistic, turn of •mind, she was always complaining of her bad luck. One day, while walking along the street with the •utmost gloom depicted on her countenance, she was approached by a woman about 40 years of age, dressed in black, who, fixing her piercing eyes upon the despondent Giuseppina, enquired what was the matter with her. Kiuseppina poured out a whole-boa rtload of woe. The black-robed dame was full of sympathy. "I know precisely what the trouble is," she replied "Ihavo seen many oases of the kind. Yon have got the devil in your blood. Shall 1 get rid of 'him for you?" Poor Giuseppina was too terrified to question the accuracy of the assertion. It must be true. Could such a sympathetic creature as the

woman in .black deceive .her; So, without a iroment's hesitation, sbe said sbe would bo eternally grateful if she could be free from <her unwelcome guest. The wise woman thereupon told 'her how the thing must be done. Sire must collect all her sayings, pub 'them in a'box which her friend wculd givo ber. and carry them as a present to tire Madonna. The present jvould only require to be left in the church for a few minutes while certain special prayers were being said. Accordingly the box was got ready,, bound with string, the knots of which were sealed, and the two women repaired with it to the Church of San Carlo. The box was placed at the foot of the altar, a taper was lighted in honour of the Virgin; and Giuseppina repeated tlijo special prayers at v/he dictation of her kind instructress. Finally, the latter held up the box in front of the statue for a. few- moments, and returned it to her ingenuous dupe. "The box is now blessed r " she said ; "carry it home, but do not open it *o.r a week. You are relieved from your infernal enomy. I will see you tomorrow."

To-morrow oame; but it did! not bring tiro unknown benefactress. Giuseppina began to grow suspicious but she was afraid to open the box until the prescribed week bad expired. Then, with trembling fingers, sire broke the seals, and undid the string with which the box was tied. It contained nothin qftut a bundle of papers. The 4o() lire had disappeared. An inspection revealed the fact that the box was provided with a false"bottom, which permitted the removal of its contents without

breaking the seals or untying the knots. Metro disconsolate than over, Ginseppfna Biselli carried her story to the police., who are ntov searching foi a sympathetic woman clotbed in black, and with l dark, piercing eyes.. Will tliey find her? That remains to be seen.