The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-31

l0SSIy THaPpgp odlo 7ASASad.w an rhaO
grief, and hopelessness, aud mad des-
pair mustvhave surged poor Da
Francia's bosom as they rehearsed the
happy idyl of their unmarried days,
and this woman played her part again
with skill that made him half be-
lieve her to be in earnest. And yet,
while her false protestations of love
were yet murmuring in his ears, her
lovers portrait and his letter were
lying securely in Da Franeia's breast
pocket.
The next day Da Frascia proposed
to show the captain the wonders of
the lake. He privately charged Te-
resa not to mention the deadly pecu-
liarity that had given the lake the
weird reputation as the mouth of hell.
We will surprise him, and make
him acknowledge that France has no
thing so wonderful as our lake" he
said, and his wife unsuspiciously fell
in with his plan.
When they reached the valley, the
wind was blowing lightly from the
north, and the three, leaving the
c0achman at a distance. approached
the lake on the safe side. Scarcely
had they reached the margin of the
lake when Da Francia discov
cred that he had dropped his
cane, and Cassinot retraced his
steps to search for it. What
passed between the husband and wife
while they we're alone can only be
conjectured, but when the French
man returned, the woman was pale
and trembling, and Da Francia was
rallying her upon the fright which,
as he said, she had received from the
sightFofE allEiper. Teresa. assured her
lover that she had been frightened,
but was now perfectly herself. Then
she paused for a moment, while Da
Francia looked steadily at her with
stern, darkening gaze.
A shudder passed over the woman.
and then she laughed nervously.
wish" she said presently, that | had
that beautiful flower just across the
lake"
1T is yours" gayly replied CASH
not, and springlng down the bank,
walked rapidly to the lower end of
the lake, and began to cross the mar,
shouted Da Francia; the peasants
call this place the mouth of hell"
He nodded gaily, and crossing the
brook. skirted the opposite shore of
the lake.
The husband and his lost wife
watched him silently. Presently they
saw him stop and put his hands wild
" to his head. " Bon voyage, my
captain, cried Da Francia, holding
up the fatal miniature; L told you
this was the mouth of hellr' Did
the Frenchman hear the cry of his
murderer, and did he recognize the
vain present that had cost him his
life? Who can tell? He was young
and strong, and fought bravely for his
life-trying to escape from the pre-
sence of the sitting gas; but in an
other moment he was lying dead upon
the ground, while Teresa's last de-
spairing shrek pierced the heavy
air.
And the woman: what became of
her?" | asked, as the guide finished
his story.
"She entered convent at Salerno, ;"
he replied, d" and [ do not know if she
is living or dead. As for Da Francia,
he left the kingdom, and only return
ed to Naples with Garibaldi."
A week afterward [ stood In the
crowded Via Toledo and watched the
passage of Medici's renowned troops.
Among them were men OF every ma
ton, and from every province III Italy.
Presently company of Lombard vet
Grams marched by, led bya tall, gray
| haired officer, at whose appearance
| the air was rent with applause. That
is Captain Da Fr4ncIa, : said by
stander; he is 6 townsman of ours,
and was one of che thousand OF Mar
Later in me day, [ met the same
officer in Ghe Europa, and was intro
duced 70 him by common friend.
He vas calm and impassive, yet cour-
teoas in his manner 1t was fine
day he thought, but what could you
expect here in NapleS2 Everything
here is perfect now" He joined me
In brief chat about the probable
conduct of the Piedmontese Govern
ment toward the Neapolitan- prov
inces, and then rose up and went
away, saying, as he did so, with a
smile, that he had been so long alb
sent fromsNaples that he was as Curl
Gus to see the city as if he were
Fnenchman, visiting it for the first
time.
1t was singular remark, thought,
as | recalled the lonely cross and the
heapoofIstonesI at Lake Amsanctus)I
Had twenty years dulled the shaE-
ness of3his grief, ior had he lett dis
old self behind him when he fed rom
Naples? HRnoW notg but Ldo. zno"
that no Drawer man landed at Marsa
Ia, or fought at Galatafmi aDAMe1laS-
| 10 than Statnnn Ia Eranca.