Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-02
THE LITTLE FLOWER.
ICONTINURD 7

Il
berries and digging Up cool fresh roots from the
earth. Michael did not like the looks of these
al nrst' but she bit pieces of them, and said
Laughing, in allusion to the cup of black coz
ice, wniIn sends so many great men out of the
world :" will be your taster'' -
thus the day wore on-and when night cama
the tugiuves continued their journey. taking n
northerly direction. Michael had formed n Man
for his future life. p'"N
on the morning of the fourth day. thew
ieaened mountainous country, and soon an
tered deep and gloomy glen with which Mi
enaei seemed acquainted. Advancing a little
In front OF FlOriOrs, he came to a cave. where
standing on one side, with the girl pressed close
to him, he cried "Lenk, Lenk Come ont
and surrender"
outlet whlstled past; and a roar as if n
cannon had been fired within, rolled forth.
hs Lenk, again cried Michael. looking
,an,'IH IL this had been the patrol, what
eyes were open ?'' '~i
nave three more charges ready repIied
slun voice from the interior; and though Won
nave caught me mapping, it would be a hard
matter to take me. But think know that
'ooe II Is Miehaei playing his foolish jokes ?''
stand out in the light and let me SEQ Won >,
snail make good mark" said Michael
auVahcihg tearleSsly from his cover whilst Flo.
1iora' trembling with terror, endeavored to re-
Presently tho voice from within expressed
man was ~ wv W.
My wife, said Michael boldly; and Flo
nora, though trembling with surprise md Meas.
ure, remained silent f'0''
PRESENTLY they entered the cavern. and the
heTiy-9euothed maiden saw indeed. that the
ROPER Lenk boast that he could not be easily
taken, was well founded. When thew had al
Vanced few PAGES, and her ewes had become
accustomed to the half light She saw a dark
cnasm about three PAGES wide stretching across
the entrance, and heard a murmur of wstsr far
DSiow Never was there better moat TO a castle
Inc slue OF the chasm was several feet above
WherC the newcomers stood and thew discsrned
form engaged in thrusting down Kind of
toridge, made OF a couple of beams lashed to-
gether- over this they passed turning round
huge mass Of rock, they found themselves in
cave OF considerable size, fitted with a table
PED, rude cupboards and other comforts. and
lighted by an oil lamp, swinging from the roof
In every respect, this dwelling place was sune.
rior TO the hut to which Floriora had been ac.
custOmed. i ~
IL |: almost as fine as my lord Bibiano S
palace, said She
Lenk, whose life Michael had saved some
years past, was jOyial host enough. He TOO
had been driven to that wild mode of Iifs ~ H.
an act OF tyranny; and, though, he did subsi:t
Dy levylng tribute on the surrounding country
was In every respect a good sort of character
Inc peasantry, whom he always spared-part!y.
perhaps, because they had nothing worth
taSing, partly, no doubt, from prudential mo.
tiYeS-had never a bad word to say against
Him; and instead Of assisting the police. algavs
gave him warning of any movement against his
hoerty- This IS the reason of the lnno imn4,
nliy which the brigands of Wallachia enioy. II
Is not uncommon TO see them live to n green old
age, and when they do close their career youno
4 IN LII nH,k
taken and tried '
Lenk soon made his guests quite at home
ana showed them, as especial mark of his
conndenee, crevice in the rock which had
iormerIy been open, but had gradually been
niied with earth, and through which he was
making oacK entrance to his retreat. II
know where 1! comes out, said he SIT is
right on the top of the rock, at place mae
eessible except 10 birds. Then | will place a
rope ladder, by which can swing down when
please to the glen on the other side, which |
could not reach except by an hours walk any
other. SO If L am ever hard pressed, fit;
and twill be hard matter TO catch me- The
earth all goes down the hole you have crossed;
and there IS no trace of il -
Mlchaei: on the hrst opportunity, emplOyed
Lenk to go and bring a priest from a village
down the plain, and his marriage with FlorioIa
was duly celebrated al the entrance of the glen
He now began to join Lenk in the excursions
may: IL would be a mistake to suppose that
floriora pined IN this state of existence She
Thought her husbands calling iustifable. and
Indeed noble; and proudly compared her own
independent condition with that to which she
was TO have been condemned When Michael
remained many days absent she felt keen mis-
cry, and regretted that a more quiet lot had
not been VOuchSafed TO her. But when she
saw him, from the entrance Of the cave. corning
back with lamb On his shoulder, and Lenk
Ioiio"lnS crNlny n bullock laden with spoil
her eyes glIstened, and she leaped with as mut
JOY and eIultatiOn ~ the neck of her lord as if
he had been chieftain Of many men return
Ing covered with laurels from the wars
In due time son was born to her, and her
cup OF happiness was full. 1t had been decreed
that bitter should be again mixed with it. One
morning, Lenk was about to 90 forth when he
deserted bright objects flashing far down the
glen, and hIs Keen eye discovered that they
were the weapons Of soldiers. He at once sus-
peeted that his retreat had been discovered,
and Withdrawing the bridge announced the
TACT 10 Michael, who was standing in smiling
happiness waiting until his little wife should
succeed in untas;ening the grasp by which his
boy had got hold Of hls black beard The two
bandItl made ready their arms and waited for
the near approach Of the soldiery There were
about dozen, but they hailed at a respectful
distance. and a man moved towards the en-
trance VI the cave and exiiOrted the inmates to
.
but the defenders vi the cave did not fire on
the herald because they that he was a pea
san'- Soon after, the soldiers began 10 pour
VO!ley after yolley into the cave, tEey were an
sweTed with effect. There was very little dan
ger for Lenk and Michael, but some of the
balls rebounded into the chamber where Fior-
ora sat. She was therefore obliged to take
refuge in the crevice and which had by this
time becp completely opened
"nen the combat had continued some hours
the bssiegers, who knew that the firing had
Produced no effect, as the guns still answered
rom within, drew of, and seemed to consult
ne No" PLAZA they hit upon has often been
Adoptei In That kind of warfare Some of
Them climbed the fLce of the hill. armed with
shar axes, ana began cutting away the brush
Wool anu throwing down the vast mass of dry
~ood "hieh mad been accumuIatng there for
years They Lad resolved to smoke ont ibeir
enemies. WV 'A''i
Leak ROW appIauds1 himself on the idea of
back entrance; and when the bonfire w,s