The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-02
CHICAGO DETROIT AND CINCINNATI SATURDAY, MAY 1874

| trable veil Of his fellow passenger. Un-
thinkingly he answered in Engiish, divin-
ing her question, though spoken in Italian.
mo that il, very little.
"Ah then you understand English. /
am woman in distress, and have reason
to believe that horsemen are following this
carriage, with the intention of carrying me
back to q servitude worse than death. You
are man, . true and just man, feel.
Will you assist me TO escape the power Of
pursuers will explain all to you a. soon
as an opportunity presents"
"Rcfuse to serve . country woman r
said Mr. Markham, ''at least, one who
speaks my mother tongue. You can conn
mand me, madam, tell me what shall do,
and will attempt Whatever may benefit
you in your distress"
The woman, by the imperfect light In
the stage, looked at the sleeping figure Of
the priest Then lifting the tasselated
ends Of the seat, which hid q cavity in the
diligence for the slowing of small parcels
and the like, she crowded herself in the
small space.
'sDo not fear, am safe here" she said,
az Mr.. Markham drew down the cover
ing asain. ''If the priest awakes, or the
driver speaks of my being in the carriage,
throw them off the track, she added has
tily.
Halt - rang out in clear distinct enun-
ciation upon the air.
Mr.. Markham, as the vehicle stopped,
and the driver turned on the seat to view
the newcomers, looked out the window.
khs oh
q body Of ten or twelve. soldiers, bearing
upon their uniforms the insignia of the
papal guard, and carrying upon their
shoulders heavy carbines.
Search the diligence !" shouted the
leader Of the band, and then, to Mr.. Mark
hams astonished look, he said, politely, in
French, "We are in search Of q lady, par
italy demented, who has left the convent
near Rome"
The search WIS made by two of the sol
diers.
She is not there, was the report to the
leader
She entered the diligence at the last vii
lage, said the driver, ''at least q woman
did closely veiled and dressed in black gar
ments.
''The same" said the leader, briefly,
closely scrutinizing the priest, who had
| lust awakened from his slumber. "She
has had no chance to leave the vehicle,
Mario" to soldier who stood by him,
''resume the search"
Mr.. Markham watched them now open
the door of the conveyance with self-as-
sured success. The very first move
made was to remove the seat-covers, the
~ 20 hn ~ ha
fugitive nun.
leader, polite a. at first, and not q whit
disturbed or surprised at her discovery,
motioned her to . seat.
"Drive on" he said to the driver, "we
will alight at Lorio," and he closed the
doors of the diligence, drew Ipthe window,
and, so, dispensing his force of men as to
entirely surround the carriage and leave
no possible mode of escape, left the trio
alone in the carriage, the woman to moan
softly, the priest to resume his slumbers,
and Mr.. Markham to feel an interest and
pity in the woman before HIM, whose grace
even beneath her dark disguise was appar-
emily that Of lady Of refinement and cul-
ture.
ban l do anything for you r. he finally
asked, drawing nearer to her. "Have these
men legal right to deprive you of your
liberty2"
The woman drew up her veil, and turned
her face in the direction Of his voice. 1t
was 30 dark, however, that she could not
discern feature Of his face.
"Yes, she said quietly. "If you thoug
that BY singis set Of yours, you could
c0BtE9l nay whole future happinaas, strsng
" a. am % yog-;; that you could save me-
from perpetual solitude and imprisonment,
that you could bring 30 me Eis and hbsrzF
in the place Of living death, would you
do itP
Something in the woman's voice touched
him.
''They said you were insane" he said,
referring to the leader Of the soldiers.
''They !" she repeated bitterly. do
you not know hat here in Italy is band
of organized pspists who govern the State,
the public, and every personal liberty.
Even now, they are attempting to force
me, who have lived with them only for
quiet and peace, to renounce . life of clois-
tered seclusion. Will you help me to es-
cape this doom T.
81 will do all that lies within my pow
or, r6pn00 Mr. MArknam.
"And are you bound by any marriage
ties r.
The suddenness Of the question startled
him.
Answer" she implured, ''every mo-
ment il precious to me.
"None," he answered.
''Then listen to me. Nun, in name, if
not spiritually a. have been, l have tax
en- no vows which bind me to the church
have been married--my husband is dead
| cannot explain now, but pledge you my
sacred word that my character and life
have been spOtless, and what no man can
revile. If these men take me back to the
convent, which only sought a. q refuge,
no legal authority can ever draw me hence
have . child l have not seen for
years, far away from here. She knows not
where am, and must see her before l
die Oh if you are q man, pity me, have
mercy on my defenceless condition r
"And what can l do I" asked Colonel
Markham, in surprise.
''True, 1 was 20 excited 1 have not told
you. Do you not know that had hus-
band living, were but . wife in name,
that the claims of the church are nullifed :
Listen to me. On the opposite seat sits .
priest. Catholic marriages only are valid
in the eyes of the law in Italy. Marry me,
and save me from my doom. Do this, and
l swear before my Maker, that will never,
out OF this country present my claim to
you. You may then divorce me, totally
rspudiate me. In doing it you are saving
my life, and surely you will not refuse =
The true chivalrous soul of the Colonel
showed itself in his answer.
"No man acts less on impulse than /,
no man has DO much to dread in the mari
tai relations ~ !, and yet will do all you
wish"
The woman sobbed with joy.
'God bless you :" she murmured.
Mr.. Markham awoke the priest with q
1 al =