Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-07
The Ambitious Brigand.
A STORY OF NAPLES.

Piles on foot. He proceeded to the
poor quarter of the town, where he
hired an old, untenanted house that all
the people round believed to be haunt
ed. He paid half years rent in ad
vance, took possession, bought few
necessary articles of furniture, laid in
heavy stock of provision, and shut
himselfup 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
Ofthe only person who could give them
the desired information, they had moth.
ing left for it but random guesses and
mysterious speculations.
Days and weeks passed, and nothing
was seen Of the strange tenant-neith-
er coming out nor going in, nor yet
at any of the windows, all of which
remained closed, save an upper one
that, from its situation, no one could
see into. Then some of the neighbors
said the man was no man, but mere
apparition; others, that he had gone
in as flesh and blood, but had since
been spirited away by the demons OF
the place.
At last the police went to investi-
gate the mystery. Their demand for
admission was answered by the man
himself-a tall, dark parsonage, with
deep blue eyes, and penetrating look
who, in the most polite manner, in
vited them in, showed them all over
his poorly furnished house, and treat
ed them to the best he had. He told
them he was a Spaniard by birth, a
student from choice, a recluse from
whim, and sooth-sayer by nature
They bade him predict his own fate
and then arrested and took him before
magistrate. AS the latter could find
nothing against him, he let him of
with a fine and a few days imprison.
ment. AS he was being taken away
he cried out in the hearing of many:
Let him that has condemned me
without cause, beware Of the judgment
that will soon be passed upon him III
another world p
Ten days after the fortune teller's
release, the magistrate died, and nc
one could tell the reason why. There
were those who remembered the pre-
diction of the former, and noised the
fact about; and then certain persons
who believed in such things, came tC
see him.
One night lady came to him dis
tSuiocd IN h1ole attire.
a want to speak with Senior yalen
ciow she said.
II am he !'' replied the fortune tel
Ter.
He knew her as the Countess Ci
vanti-for he was not what he seem
ed, and had met her under ditferen
circumstances-but he kept this t.
himself, and treated her-as if she wer
a gentleman. When alone with hin
in his poorly furnished study, the lad,
said:
"Senor Valencia, you are reporte'
to know the future-to know of thing
and events before they happen-ca
you tell me why | am here?'
at is, Of course impossible, for m
to tell all things" he replied; "onl
| what is given me to know for a pul
lpose. will venture to say, however
| in your case, that you seek to be il
formed now long the Count Civan
| will liver
The lady started and her cheek
grew pale.
i "Are all our secret thoughts, thel
known ?" she exclaimed.
"Yes,' returned Valencia, solemnl
"all are known-but ALTAR not know
to mortals, else would some murde
GUS deeds remain undone."
"Who are you p demanded the otl
er, turning full upon him, though tt
dim light of the apartment did not pc
NIT her a distinct view of his feature
@Methinks,' she said, coming up clos
and almost thrusting her face into hi
ave have met before"
"W here?" demanded Valenci
sternly.
II do not know where"
"Ha, that voice! | know that tor
of command You are, then, nor
other than Rondinelli, chief of bl
Igands, whom | first met among Il
wild hills overshadowing Lake Gel
mo-"
"Well, is the remembrance pleasa
!, to your ladyship ?" inquired the b
1 gand, cody.
> "My ladyship?"
n "Bah! Who seem to be astonis
s. ed? Do you suppose I know less
the Countess Civanti than she Of Ro
y dinelli ?"
t $50, then," rejoined the Counties
p biting her lips, Eit seems that DO
|have secrets here"
:. "And should both work for ca
of others interest" said the chief of b
gands. "What can l do to serve t
fair Countess Civanti p
of A1 suppose we can trust each o.
er? ?"
II suppose we shall, if we separa
u alive" replied the bandit.
"Do you guess at what | want
asked the Countess. aa
= "I think / do-the death of yo
husband, for one thing ?"
r. "And what else 2"
to "The death of the Duchess |
ID carrar.'
A "You do, indeed, know more of
II. n than / thought said the Counte
2. n, gazing upon him with an expressi
d, of wonder. "For what purpose {
r.. you here?"
by aYour pardon, fair Countess;