Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-01
Life i'm Italy.

Life in Italy.
4 recent traveller in South Italy relates
the following incidents as characteristic OF
the manners and temperament OF the
Sicilians, and of the passions called forth by
the political contests which have been rag
ing there. The scene is laid in a steamer
going from Marseiles along the italian
coast -
amongst the motley crew on deck the
first day, a group of three persons had par
ticularly attracted my attention; an elderly
lady, a girl Of twenty. and youth year
or two older. | can assign no sufficient
reason why | noticed them especially, since
firtations between young people on a steam
er, with an ancient duenna playing the re-
spectacle to hush society's i'll naured infer
ences, are no uncommon things. Perhaps
it was curiosity to guess their mutual rela-
tionship, or perhaps the natural sympathy
all feel for evident love affairs but, what
ever it might have been, | could not help
stealing glance very often at the corner
where they sat. Chance, that is to say the
steward, accidentally placed my chair at
dinner next that of the younger lady, and
the few small services | rendered her an
swered for sufficient introduction to com
mence some conversation. If | WAS sur
prised at her face being SO much more beau
tful when seen closely than it had seemed
to me through her veil on deck, was in
of idea in all she said. He sentences were
uttered in Il kind Of flowing cadence, half
prose, half poetry, without the slightest eff
fort and she displayed such a masculine
understanding on every subject, speaking
withai in way so feminine as never TO
1 lead ones fancy for moment to regard her
as a man, that rose from the table dying
with curiosity to know her history. In the
course Of the voyage | heard it,--for it was
well known among the Italian passengers,
/ who paid her the Difference due queen in
consequence, and my astonishment may per-
haps be equalled by that of the reader
when lie learns the brief particulars as
received them.
/ Towards the latter end of 1859, Signor
4 L., formerly a government employe,
lived at Palermo with his wife, only son,
and daughter. One morning, just before
daylight, body Of the royal gendarmelie
entered the house, and, after searching il
and finding nothing, carried Signor L.
off to prison. on the charge Of belonging to
a secret society conspirins against the state.
For time the victim was unheard Of; al
last, shortly before his trial was to come on
it was given out that he had died in Jail
the Gazette said OF fever, the people said
from the pure effects of torture, applied to
plot not proved by title of evidence ever
to have existed. Then the son swore, at
the shrine Of Sta Rosalia. patroness of Pal
ermo, TO avense his fathers innocent blood
and, arming himself, awaited a favorable
opportunity 10 execute his design. But the
police, acting on intelligence received FROM
an informer, or from intuitive suspicion oi
his plans, shortly after arrested him, and
finding arms npon his person, in open de-
fianee of The law, had him shot on the pa
ratle ground of the Castcl a. Mare the same
day. Before being led to execution, how
ever. he was allowed TO take leave of his
friends, and then he bequeathed as his dy-
ing legacy TO Benedetto, betroihed of his
sister, the vengeance he had himself been
unable to snatch; and Sta Rosala again
heard the fearful oath repeated at her shrine.
A frs,a of the saint eIe many days arrived,
and in ihe evening, with the usual Sicilian
.tilletto under his cloak, Benedeito stationed
himself, at dusk, behind builress Of the
cathedral 10 wait I'LL the two spies, whom
he knew to lie the instigators Of his friends
death, should pass in returning from The
church to their homes. He bad not been
long there when his enemies approached. d.
lie Instantly rushed upon them with uplified
weapon; but his arm was par:,lysed in the
act of descending, by seeing another dag
ger. s,ill swifler than his own, plunged by
wenan into thr very breas, be aimed a' !