The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-01

But at Helen's elbow came of another scene
still more startling. The Italian with the pal,
face and lyric eye-Number Two, in fact-hae
raised that first wild cry of "Italy," and nov
he rose, and waved his flowers three, preparatory
to fling them upon the stage. But Helen heard
a hoarse growl, "Hundi" white form ben
over her, towards the Italian, and instantly the
Austrian colonel grasped and was crushing the
waved hand in his own sword hardened fist
Only for moment, and then he drew back
having achieved the tri-color posey. A sickly
CHASTITY pallor came over the insulted man. face
he stood STILL unresisting, only swaying slightly
to and fro, like stem of maize in the Septem
Der wind-yet did not resist At Helen's side
Merivaie sprang up, fierce fire in his eyes, a
red blaze in his cheeks, AID he would have
stricken the Austrian, when a strong hand
pressed him back into his seat, and a voice
which Helen felt to be that of the Hyena, said
i'll his ear:
"Fool think of the dungeons of Mantua
Be quiet--if only for the sake of her by your
side!"f
Helen heard these words, as if in maze, for
ersascinated eyes were still drawn towards the
| Two. There the colonel stood, his thick lips
parted, his grizzly moustache lifted in smile
OF scorn, slowly tearing to pieces the tri-colored
bouquet. There he stood, like a boisterous self.
4.
And there swayed the Italian, his color ever
growing ghastier, his eye ever growing fercer,
till in his aspect and his motion he reminded
her of wounded viper-there he stood, sway
ing little to and fro, until she saw a light of
fate grow into his eve, until she saw his stealthy
hand creep stealthiy towards his bosom, his
shoulders lower, his frame seem to clench itself,
so that he no longer reminded her of the viper,
but of the leopard, softly waving its sleek sides,
softly enclosing its taons, unloosing its jaws, and
knitting its muscles for the spring.
But again, ere the catastrophe, the master
spirit interposed. Like an arrow from the bew,
the Hyena took his place beside the leopard,
put arm about his breast and pressed him
down into his seat.
care you mad, Luigi? remember - it is
death for death-and | have heard you say
your life outvalued his.T
tween his teeth:
"Touch me not, SpacciaI" and, like one
demented, fed hatless from the house
Overcome by excitement, and with these
shadows of Milan lying heavy at their hearts,
our friends soon followed, taking leave of La
Scala. Yet, before they were quite gone, Helen
had seen the effect of that scornful word, Spidc-
cia, upon the Englishman, and after that, she
fancied he was rather tiger than Hyena.
When, next morning, our two young travel
lers had taken regretful leave of Mr.. Merivale-
who had concluded, he said, to go to Florence
Uia Verona, Mantua, and Modena-they went
on their way to the cars, past tall house, in
front of which white-coated soldiers were put
ting down straw, as if some one within it were
i'll.
"There," said the lively vetturino, there is
where lives the COlOneHo tedeschO, who was
orc nod n fba hroo Iou No h.
fess, make his peace with God, and del"
The carriage turned into another street, and
Helen saw, walking before them, and flourish
ing cane, the Hyena of last evening. As he
walked briskly on, looking neither to right nor
nor to left, Helen saw him give his light cane
an unusual flourish, so that it struck against
the door of a small house, which abutted on
the street. He walked on the carriage pass
ed him slowly; he turned and saw her. Then
Helen fancied he grew pale as death, his knees
shook, he pressed his hat down over his eyes,
hH sian0 a easR na eddSsdEAsasS nd aa
dow of the carriage, and saw three stealthy
men in black come on. They paused, they
touched a door, and burst in with noiseless yet
eager haste. A moment more, and wild
scream made her grow pale, and the vetturino
stopped his horses to look back. Then Helen
saw the three men in black come out of the
house, dragging another man, hatless, pale,
and struggling, while girl with dishevelled
hair chung frantically to them, piercing the air
with her wild shrieks. A close coach drove
rapidly up, the struggling man was thrust in,
his captors followed, the coach door was slam,
med tight, and they drove off, leaving the girl
a white senseless heap in the street-a white
heap, crowned with her long black hair.
"Dio IL misericordioso ne 10 faccia " groan
ed the Uetturino whipping up his horses, 1T is
that poor Luigi Conti-he who, they say, stab
bed il Colonelol"
But he did not shudder as much as Helen did,
and had cause to do; for the Colonel was Num-
Der One the Luigi, just made prisoner, was
Number Two; and Number Three, the fell
Hyena, who had just paled and fled from her
presence, had touched only one house with his
cane, and that was the house where Luigi was
sheltered
Brother, brotherl" cried she, tell him to
drive fasterl Let US escape from this place.
1t stiles mel"
Thus they took leave Of Milan.