The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-11-18
CHAPTER III.

daylight is dying along the stern
heights of the AruzZi. Surrounded by
impending crags, and clustering in dis
array, a bandit group are carousing
-roisily together, and toasting the de-
parting god of day in overfiOwing cups
of fiery wine. A portion of the wild
company sit in the dark shadow of the
rocks, while others bask in the last rosy
hues of sunset. Among the latter is
one distinguished by his lofty air and
stature from the rest, and wearing a
somewhat richer garb than his COM
panions. His comical hat is decked
with gay ribands, his green velvet
jacket is studded with gold buttons,
and his lower garments are scanned
with the richest lace. An ornamental
carbine was slung by band of snowy
leather at his back, and pair of richly
mounted pistols glittered in his girdle.
Neither was he without the Italians
bosom friend, broad stilettO, which
reposed in silver sheath, with its
ivory handle protruding from the rob
ber's sash. But all this richness of at
tire contrasted strangely with The worn,
haggard, stern and vicious expression
of the bandit. 1t was Gasparoni-now
twenty years Of age.
"To the health of our captain :" said
one of the robbers, raising cup to his
lips. "Ah :" added he, after swallow
ing its contents, "your wine of Sicily
tastes none the worse for mantling in
q sacramentaI chalice. Commend me
to our captain, for teaching us the true
use of the church. Until he came
among us we were a poor set of super
stitious devils, who couldn't cut u
throat without making a vow to the
Nirgin-but he has changed all that"
Gasparoni smiled bitterly.
And now, n oble captain " said the
spokesman of the gang, L humbly
your scheming brain. | know by the
knitting of your eyebrows that you are
revolving some mighty project"
fright, AnselmO," said the bandit
leader, rising. But hist! what noise
is that?"
"The vesper bell,n answered Ansel-
mo. "Your predecessor, now, would
have had us down upon our knees in
trice."
"Ay, the vesper bell," repeated Gas
paroni, in a melancholy tone. "Me-
thinks it steals very softly on the ear,
calling the erring to penitence and
prayer. 1t is very music to a weary
sou,.u
"Our captains turning preacher"
said a robber.
"Hear the end of my sermOn," re-
piled Gasparoni, with one of his am
biguous smiles. at were good deed,
methinks, to free yon pining beauties
from their thraldon,. Report says that
the nuns are lively, ripe, and tempt
ing; and some of them belong to noble
families. The lady abbess was coun-
tess when she was of the world; she
shall wear her ccronet and title again:
ter in a convent. What say you COM
rades, shall We liberate the nuns?"
A defening roar of applause replied
in the affirmative. By midnight the
band Were OH their march, andere long
halted before the asylum doomed SO
soon to be reused by rude alarm. I'M
posing silence by gesture, Gasparoni
approached the gate of the convent
and raped upon the wicket with the
hilt ofhis stiletto. After waiting for
brief space, the feeble light of taper
glimmered through the bars of graf
ed aperture, and trembling voice ask
ed what was wanted.
I've are certain reverend friArs.
sweeting," answered Gasparoni, in y
caEting tone, "come at the order Of
his holiness to examine into the condi-
tour # his well-heleyed..'
"Axay, rude manw cried the nun.
NAV you will force me to be rude
unless y6u give me admittance," said
the eIfSand, in his natural tone. "Here
are thirty stodt fellows to whom sacril-
eye is pasti,ne, and who know how to
reiiere the unfortunate of VOWS II is
!, oublesome to keep. 1 have obeyed
the scriptural injunction, do We verify
The wdds-'knock and it shall be open>
ed.' You see l am not altogether so
gracelas as you believe me-"
But te latter part of his address was