The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-11-24

that he would take her to Sicily
How could Lionel be alive? Ronald
Levett had seen him die. Were hel
spiritual warnings only delusiVe
dreams?
Even as she tortured herself with
this question, and unaccountable in
clination to sleep seemed to come
over her. She sank away into a
dreamy, almost unconscious state, and
in moment the now familiar group
was before her again. But this time
Lionel seemed to be earnestly argu-
ing with his captors; and she thought
she heard his voice, faint, distant, but
distinct. What words did she seem
to hear in her dreaming ears?
tsI tell you it is true" Cthe words
were in Indian); "he s0iU return
Something has interposed to keep him
back; but he will come with the ran
som. He is my dearest friend. Dc
you think he would desert me? Kill
me, if you will, 1 cannot help myself,
and am not afraid to die. But you
will only lose the ransom. For Ron
aid Levett will come back for me, un-
less he, too, is dead; and unless he
died before he reach Palermo, some
one sent by him will come for me."'
She started up; and lo.l there still
was the scene ~before her., and the
words distinctly sounded once more
in her ears. And. she gave a wild,
agonized scream, which rang through
the house, and before many seconds
had passed her alarmed parents were
beside her. But she did not tell them
what new conviction had filed her
soul. That she kept to herself, with
an infexible purpose which she was
soon to fulfill. S-s-.5t
Next morning came Ronald, and she
saw him alone. He began by gentle,
tender remonstrance against the use
less enterprise of the journey to Sici-
ly. She listened to him calmly, and
said: ...-..... .at5..,- -.r.
Ronald Levett, do you know why
l am resolved to go to Sicily?"
"No, dearest; l cannot understand
it. OF course sympathize with your
feelings" f''i1'i
"Hushl Not word more of thai
from your lipsl lam going to Sici-
ly to seek for the friend whom you de
liberately abandoned to the brigands
falsely declaring that you saw him
die-you, who had only been set al
liberty in order that you might re-
turn with the ransom for both p, w.,
sHe has come back!" exclaimed
Leyett, wildly, and he sprang to his
feet, CHASTITY pallor on his face. " He
is alive, and has come back, after. all
and told you this ?"
Then the wretched man fell on his
knees before the girl, and made full
confession. He and Lionel had been
captured by the brigands, they had
used their revolvers he had been
wounded, and he alone !; the brigands
had released him, that he might raise
the ransom for which they stipulated
and had selected him as the envoy
because of his wound, which would
have made him at once the more trou-
blesome and less valuable hostage
When he found himself free, the fear.
full temptation came on him-the
temptation to rid himself forever of q
rival by leaving Lionel in the hands
of men who would surely kill him the
moment they found that the ransom
was hopeless. He yielded to the
temptation; and since that hour he
declared that life had been to him 8
perpetual agony, constant present
hell. Groveling in the abasement ol
utter remorse, he begged to be allowed
to devote himself, his fortune, his life
to the rescue of Lionel, should Lionel
be still alive-provided only that Ju.
liza would consent not to expose his
guilt, and would entreat of Lionel to
forgive him.
His assurance was accepted SO fal
that Julia received from him, and
carefully noted down, every partieu-
lar which could be of service in seek
ing Lionel. It was, for instance, ol
the uttermost Importance to know
what were the channels of under
ground communication by means OF
which negotiations were 10 be opened
with the brigands, and the ransom
conveyed. Every one knows that, in
all the large towns of Sicily and Ma.
pies there are such channels of com.
munication with brigandage. The
whole business is very systematic in
its arrangements, and its secrets arc
kept with a marvellous fidelity.
Strange as it may seem, Lionel
Black was still alive, after whole
year of wandering and captivity will
his brigand jailors, More than once
they had nearly lost patience, and
many of the band were for killing
him; but, of course, while there wa'
the faintest chance of their obtaining
the ransom, his life was worth pre-
serving; and his manly, fearless
truthful nature had won much of theil
confidence. So they kept him alive
for whole year, and at last they go
their ransom; and there entered Pal
ermo one day, ragged, thin, bearded
sun-browned man, who was soor
known to be the American artist 81
long believed to be dead. And i
may be doubted whether the whole
long history of love contains the sto
ry of a meeting more wild, more rap
turous, than that between Julia Chal
loner and the lover who seemed t.
| boua oopna haoE- IN. hap from tho daod n