The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-17
THE HA United MAN.

Messina, seaport of Sicily, and while there
/ was invited to visit the extensive vintage
of D|l S Mo-. Their location was
in pleasant valley some three miles back
from the city, and beneath a portion of
their grounds was extended a large wine
vault, embracing an area OF two acres.
After accompanying Mo, the Junior
partner, through the long vine arbors and
orange groves, we descended to the vault,
and after passing nearly half the length of
one of the pipe tiers we came to a desk
where a man was writing.
''There is one of your countrymen, " said
NO, ''and he will accompany you
through the vaults"
NV conductor called to the man, who
quickly dropping his pen, stepped down
from the stool and came forward He was
employed as clerk i'll the exporting depart
ment, for the purpose of filling up bills,
invoices etc, for tho American and Eng
liSh merchants.
"You will find him strange sort of a
man." whispered NO, but he is, not
withsanding, good fellow"
Ii, for SO my companion had called
him, was tall, well-made man, apparent
" on the better side of forty, and had 4
pleasing, intelligent look. His hair, which
was quite luxurious, was almost white, and
about his countenaIce there were evident
marks of suffering. His eyes, when he
first gazed on me-which was with Il fur
tive, trembling glance-had an expression
ible look OF wildncss i'll them, and a cold,
fearful shudder seemed to run through his
frame. Gradually he grew more composed,
and as lie showed me around among the
pipe-flanked avenues, casting his huge Ian
tern here and there to show me the many
and various wines, he began to talk with
, considerable freedom, though he yet be-
trayed Strangeness of manner, sort of
a hat Il
fail of exciting my curiosity. A casual OBJ
server, who might have Judged only from
his appearance, would have thought him
slightly insane; and even | felt Il convic-
ton that his mind was not exactly cORame
IL fdut, or at any rate, not oDlne Je fuS.
''Do you reside i'll New York;" he
asked, as we stopped for moment at the
extremity of the vault.
told him that did not belong there,
though had spent part of the winter and
the spring OF 1S41 and '42 in that city.
81 have wife in that State somewhere,
and perhaps child, but have not heard
from them for long time"
noticed that he wiped his eyes with the
sleeve of his linen Jacket as he spoke, and
he turned away, as though to hide an emo
ton that might be thought unmanly.
"Does she not write to you?" l asked.
'.She knows not where l am"
''Do you not write ?'
''Ne p he uttered with sudden start,
cold tremor shaking his frame the while.
.'Ah, sir, l dare not trust my superscrip-
ton, nor my autograph i'll
He hesitated-looked at me wildly for
an instant and then starting on he began
to enlarge on the different ages, qualities
and yintages of the wine. Twice tried to
bring him back to the subject he had SO
abruptly left, but it was of no avail. At
length we came around to the steps that
led ND to the surface of terra tirma. The
sun had already set, and the stars were be-
ginning to sparkle in the blue arch above
us H remarked that he had no idea
it was so late, and added with the happiest
smile that | had seen him yet express, that
he had supposed it was because he had
had such pleasant company, at the same
time assuring me that | was the only
American with whom he had held a social
converse for over year. AS he waSabout
to close the vault for the night, | proposed
he should accompany me to my cafe, take
supper with me, and then walk with me
about the city. 1t was some time before
lie would consent to this arrangement, and
while he was considering upon it | could
I see that there was an internal struggle OF
no small moment. He appeared to me not
unlike a man who is debating whether he
shall attack den of rattlesnakes. After a
while, however, he consentedt to go, though
there was marked reluctance in his man
ner He extinGuished the light i'll his Ian
i tern, gazed up AND down the long avenues
to see that no spark of fire had accidentally
been dropped, and then he followed ME to
the stone steps, and having secured the
doors, he signified that he was at my SER
vice The direct way to my cafe, which
was on the broad quay, lay through the
heart of the city but my companion in
sisted upon taking a more circuitous route,
and as he led the way he took me through
the narrowest and darkest streets and pas
sages he could find.
Mr.. c. said he, as we were emerg-
ino from one of these dark passages, 'thcre
was AN American merchantmen arrived
Yesterday from New York, and know not
who may have come i'll her 1t is for this
reason that l avoid the public places.
In AN instant the idea flashed upon me
that nv mpanion was convict, OF at