, 1874-08-16

| 4Ct oA AA AU< AAOH hAtA JoA aA0 %Aa4AE.
for q wife" j. :
:'Kneol down with me here, scarpetta, and
put your hand in m'ne.=- Say, Silvio, am an
honest woman.' You dare not, if it were un-
! true"
.'Silvio, I nm an honest woman."
! They remained, kneeLng hand-in-hand, Ike
two children. praying i'll the loneliness and dark
ness Of the church. q. The -one dim red light
burned, the thunder ceased, the dcath-lke hour
| Of the niShs'went past. dawn peered through
! the rlde-panted windows, and an old, Uhito-
haired priest, 1a1f-yested for mass. opened tha
eacrlsty-toor and looked into the church.
This old priest stepped muttcring his prayers
| when lie saw the two pale-faccd young peopia
MARRY Us, holy fatAer!" eaid silvio- "Ts
are going long journey, and must get away be-
| times.
''Ihis is tho girl who is flying from JUSTICE
.:1u1l help her TO ly," eaid silvio, "for an
satisfied that Sue is good"
You are youth; of good birth. and will rise
in tie world, said the padre. ':l'emembes, I
| pent Of having married q seryaut-nail:"
| II eauliot give ler up 10 her enemies" mein-
| tanned silvio.
NO" sail La scarpetta
The old mans cheek flushed, and mis- eyes
briehtened.
"De grateful to HIM, my daushter,'' he said,
"1know your secret. and will give you to him.
May God make you both happy for evermore -
| <1AA app4CLk1Eo Afi1 lle llktlH Iuulu-HETFau
| went out iuto the morning sunlight nun and
| wife,. a.:
S1lvio wns quite surprised to SEQ how, as they
went along the streets, his bride seemed to for
| get ler terror, and smiled back at the peopl<
who stared at her,; She oven fingered, here and
there, to gaze up at the paintings on the houses,
saying she Lad never seen them look 80 hand-
| eome before.
"But you are still in Drescia, my dearest. and
youE euemy is close by. Let us hasten aud get
| out Of dunSer." : S. .'''.
~ am saying farewell to B1cscia, 6ilvio. Il
| has been good To me, since an 1ea1ins it with
YOU Al for my enemy, no longer fear him."
! The young people took the road to Verona, and
late ono evening they arrived. there. going to
seek for La nusuaa i'll her little mill ont in the
| Adige- They stood on the bridge which carried
tho town across tie river, and SAT- the dark
water rushing and tho twinkling lights Gliding
along through tho air, isc falling stars as people
passed to or fro Oh the swinging planks that led
out to the little water-boupd dwolling.. They
| discovered the mill they were in search Of, aud,
lantern in Aaud went riding across tile night, al
it seemed. on tho rickety plank that led to La
Mnguaia's door.
The mi1leress gave them hearty welcome, but
looked extremely grave when she heard the
Whole OF their story.
.'That is all very pretty she said, squarins
her arms aud fixing her wary brown Dyes on the
little wife, trust and generosity are good in the
right place, but you ought to hare told what this
cloud il that hangs over you And you, SiIvio.
uAfd Ai4OHil tOu u41uJ JEHIs 4Uu ATS IHS}ECt-
able young man, aud ought not to have married
girl who has done anything improper"
''She shall speak when she likca," said Sileio.
+" Lot her speak nov" said La MuSnaia. IF
she has done wrong, aud H. sorry, we will try
and n11eld her bnt let tlcre bo no secrets be-
tween man and his wife"
La Scarpetta stood twisting the corner of her
cash, and glancine sl1yly from one to another Of
OF tue faces, on which tho lamplight shouc ut
each side OF her !; and sle sud 10 tho miller
Woman:
II will tell my story here, and you shall 10
my judge II what I have done Las wrouged
him, he shall put me away Quo thing must
set right for you; I have not stolen anything
from the horseman who is searching for me, not
even the shoes in tho window. which were my
very own till Gavo them to Ubaldo-"
- knew that" said Silr,o
It The Siguor is my uncle, and the guardian OF
''Ah--yo have here noble lady!" said La
MuGnala, aghast.
'Siyio may perhaps make me- one, but he
found me aid-scryant, suspected Of crime
As it is. am almost totally nneducated and
ignorant Of the world, ran away from my homa
because found it place Of horror. Tho A1pino
precpces had no te7rors for me- though I Travelled
by thc1n alone. was escaping from living
death, and MT Freedom was delicious to me- You
must bo filled with curiosity, and do not mako
my story plain. Ny castle Is on one Of those
mighty rocks that oyerhan3 the upper Rhine.
Heaven help the poor creature there walled up,
who pines to escape! Yet escaped Twas
prisoner there, indeed; for by my fathers will
brother until my marriage; and my uncle waa
resolved that should mover deprive him OF
what he chose to call his own. / did not wish
to marry. ] feared all men, having known none
but the harshest Of their kind; but
loathed to be within sight and sound OF
the wicked and riotous living Of my uncle and
his chosen companlons 1onged to be FREQ,
like tho peasants who walk on tho hills and By
t.~,1- ~f Fo;+ +Ixf @f11st
dressed myEelf like apeasan:, and crossed thu
Alps alone. In Iutting on strange costume
forgot to change my Shoes"
Sllyio and tho woman of the mill stood gazing
at the girl in utter a:nazenent-
''And knowing that you were noble woman,
you choso to marry cobb!cr :" said Ii Mug
uaia.
"IIeavon never made him to DO cobbler,'
said La Scarpctta.
"That Is true" said La Mugnaia '4Be you
what you Ina., he is good enough for you. Ex-
cusc me, lady, but / cannot forget that gave
you 1essons in baking bread and sweeping
1loors."
.sAh, scarpetta!" said siiyio "uhat wrore
you have done yoursr1f-you who ought to have
married a notlenes."
''And 30 I Laye, Silyio. else I can
tell you l should not laro married at
all. Frisco could never have saved me az
as another. I tl,ank Heaven that BY your net Of
you Lave unconscious1Y enriched
Whilst they were yet talking tho daylight
brake, and looking ont Of the window La Nugnnia
tay whole company Of strangers on the river
side. They wero the four remaining cobb!crs,
with tho naughty Aorscmau and bis seryants
''These friends have Travelled go fur to see my
DOWNFALL" said Scarpetta, mourufuly. '.Ab,
Silyio. your sok arc unkind."
Nay, some Of them may hope to holp you,"
said Sllyio- "I1l wager my life that the old man,
Ubaldo. does. Ny good Orsola, thcAo visitors
will sink youE little mill With their weight"
Let them como over, said La ilu:uaia, elee-
fully. "The mill mist take its chance. Il will
10 raro sport to sec them all walking back, ono
by one, across our plank, hanging their headz
with vexation."
''Enter, gentlemen" said Orsola, opening her
Ioor.
"Causht now, think, )" cried the tlrece-1ook-
nS SiSpuF, graspiug La scarpctta rrldely By tho
laud 'Af, nv runaway maiden, shall
roube you to follow me to your l,o1ne.''
No, my lord, said Siivio, " fur tho law al
owa a vito 10 follow her husband
Fool! !" cried tho enemy, turning pale;
THIS girl is wife,"
At this moment the old priest was seen hurry
ny acEo:a te river, cluchiuy the rope in both