The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-15
And the woman drew miniature

And the woman drew miniature
from beneath her bodice.
The bandit trembled, and raised his.
hand to a chain which was about his
neck 1t had been severed in his sleep,
and jealous hand had taken the picture
long worn next his heart. 80
"Decide!" she said, and her snpcrb
form was drawn to its fullest hight
s'Decide, or another shall fill the
place!p cried another, and another yet,
of the band a;
His face flushed, while he met the i'm.
passioned look of the queenly woman
before him.
81 will do it. In six hours I return,
and the test will have been met!"
He said no more, but rushed wildly
down the mountains steep and rofsd
declivity. /;
1t was the time Of vine gathering
The days lsbors we're over, the vesper-
hymn had been sung, and village yoIths
and maidens danced and sung in the
balmy air and tender light Of the new
moon, now closing its first quarter. 2
Among all those maidens there was
not one SO beautiful as Guiletts di Marti,
yet her face was very, very, sad-for
one. lover. had murdered another and
she now shuddered when a man even
approached, and had vowed TO listen no
more to, words of love-. She would not
even dance with the rest! !sS ,5 e4T q
Bat sue watched while they danced,
and smiled sweetly, sadly, when old ana
young brought her flowers and sought
to cheer up her dropping spirits.
A child-a little girl not, over six or
seven years-came to her and laid in
her lap silver cross tied with piece Of
faded ribbon
ssSanta Madonna! where did you get
this ?" she asked the child and her face
was white and she shook from head to
foot when she asked the question. ca
"A handsome cavalier, who gave me
apiece Of gold. and bade me say, in q
whisper, these words: sOne who would
die for Gulietta, asks but ten words
with her, alone-no one else nesr--at
the fountain beyond the village wall -
He will wait until he counts one thous-
and-if she comes later she will finc his
body, but his soul will have fed"
81 will go!" she whispered-1 will
go!2 Stay you here, and speak not of
this to any one!'', .,.,.- t ba
Jt.& ,...-.,-, -. .ssds2e'f se
Crouching close by the wall, where
the pure water rippled and sung song
Of praise to Heaven, the bandit watch
ed for her coming-for the coming of
one whom he had once loved 80 wildly
and so well-watched with hot tigerish
eyes! i5 sd - 3ssz 5e. uia. !.a
From amid leafy vines and branching
trees the moons rays fell on the path
by which she must come.
Soon. sh too soon, the futter of her
white dress--soon, ah StUo suuu, her
peerless form, light as that of fairy,
met his gaze. a.
Another minute and she was there.
"Oh, ,Andreas-the danger p she muir
INJURED. as her arms extended, to clasp
his form, ..
"Guiletta! 1t is not l who am in
peril!''
08"Holy Virginr' she gasped. "That
look-your dagger drawn?"
"Both are for you-for words / have
no time," he muttered, hoarsely.
She did not shriek-she did not speak
she was literally frozen svtth hor
ror! s.,..1.
And while thus, like one petriied, she
stood, his keen blade descended, and
only murmuring his name, she sunk al
his feet. t'e
Five hours were gone. The bandits
were scattered around, some feasting
others at cards, still others wrapped il
slumber. ''e
The chief had been buried, and hi.
widow sat and watched the pathway
down the mountain % a
Suddenly she rose and blew whistl,
drawn from her belt. 1t was Que tina
had been worn by her husband, and a
its sound the band ever gathered around
him who blew it. .sFo5 eesl.9tr
She had seen form bounding up th,
steep, q form which, even so-far away
ther guilty eyes, recognized. Gsaa.go 80
BY the time the band were up 3ant
ahout hpr hescame - -5.4 f,rss ...t, :
His face was ghastly in its pallor.-
His mantle was wrapped about him, ant
he shook from head to foot, as if al
unspoken terror filled his soul.
"The test was too much,' said tn
bandit queen, sneeringly. w
"Too much! Ha! ha! Too machs'
And opening his mantle he raised til
head of the loyeliest girl he or one o
THAT band had ever seen-raised it clos
Ito her face.
| Heartless as she was, she screamed il
terror and sunk fainting to the earth.
| While she lay there Andreas di Cas-
|toni was proclaimed the Chief of tn
Robbers of the Ahruzzi,
When she rose, he claimed her as hi
bride. :, Shuddering she bowed her head
| but she was, never known to smile agaii
The guilt of that murder sunk deep i
her own soul, and one year from tha
day she died by her own hand.
The rising generation sage" rapid