Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-03-24
THE AMBITIOUS BRIGAND.
A STORY OF NAPLES.

One day what matter aho It the year y
n panly dressed man, apparently for
uigner, entered tho city Of Naples on loot.
He proceeded to the poor quarter Of the
town, where he hired an old untenamtcd
house, that all the people round believed
to be haunted. He paid halfyear's rent
in advance, took possession, bought few
necessary articles of furniture, laid in
heavy stock of provisions, and shut linn
self up in complete seclusion. All the
gossips, of course, wondered who he was,
where he came from, what he intended TO
do, and SO on but as they did not like to
venture an inquiry TO the only person who
could give them the desired information,
they had nothing left for it but random
guesses aud mysterious speculations.
Days aud weeks passed, and nothing
was seen Of the strange tenant, neither
coming out nor going in, nor yet at amy
of the windows, all of which remained
closed, save an upper one, that, from its
situation, nobody could see into. Then
some of the noighbors said the man was
no man, but mere apparition others,
that he had gone in " flesh and blood,
but had since been spirited away by the
demons of the place.
At last, the police went to investigate
the mystery. Their demand for admit
TANGO was answered by the man himself
q tall, dark parsonage, with deep blue
eyes and penetrating look-who, in the
most polite manner, invited them in, show
ed them all over his poorly furnished house,
and treated them to the best he had. He
, told them he was a Spaniard by birth, n
IL alV,an fp.tN RNrTl.f
and n soothsayer by nature. They babe
him predict his own fate, and then arrest
ed and took him before magistrate. AS
the latter could find nothing against him.;
he let him off with fine and u few days
imprisonment As he was being taken
away, be cried out, in tho hearing Of
many:
"1et him who has condemned without
cause, beware of the judgement that will
soon be passed upon him in another
world"
Ten days after the fortune tellor's re-
lease, the magistrate died, and no one
could tell the reason why. There were
those who remembered the prediction OF
the former, and noised the fact about, and
then certain persons who believed in such
things came to sec him.
One night lady came to sec him, dis
guised in male attire.
> al want to speak with Senior Valencia"
she said.
81 am he," replied the fortune.teller.
He knew her as the Countess Cavanii
for he was not what he seemed, and had
met her under very different circumstan-
ces-but he kept this to himself and treat
ed her as If she were gentlewoman.-
When alone with him in his poorly fur
nished study, the lady said:
"Senor Valencia, you are reported to
know the future-to know about things
and events before they happen lean you
tell me why | am here :"
"lt is of course impossible for me to tell
all thing" he replied, ".only what is given
me to know for purpose. Twill venture
TO say, however, in yonr case, that you
seek to be informed low long the CouSt
Cayalh will live" .
The lady started and her cheeks grew
pale.
3" Are all our secret thoughts, then
knownW she exclaimed.
." Yes" returned Valencia. solemnly,
"all are known /; but all are not known to.
mortals, else would some wicked hands be
stayed, some murderous deeds remain un-
DONE" sarr ..u-.,
"Who are you29 demanded the other,
turning full upon him, though the dim
hight OF the apartment did not permit her
q very distinct view of his features. Me-
thinks, abe said, coming up close and al
met before"