Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-16

DOrr6 anu NINA Wtlt III pcDdSbldn
house getting ready to start away,
when all at once there came shrill
whistle from among the rocks. In
a moment more it was answered by
another at a greater distance.
Sancta Maria! how l trembled
when | heard it; all the rest did
also.
"We spoke not a word for sew
eral minutes, and then Andrea
Bronti, stout fellow, who was
reckoned very brave, suddenly |
cried, The brigands.' The women
screamed, and the men seemed ir-
resolute, but what could we do
against band of armed robbers,
who were not very particular about
what they said or did. Just by the
great stone cross, league further
on, they once cut a priests throat
for trying to betray them. Well, as
| said, a great fear seized us, and
we all started down the mountain
road toward the church, when the
} villains appeared eand surrounded
Sebastian's house. Then we ran all
the faster, the women crying and
clinging to their husbands and
brothers in great terror. The
priest met us, and when he learned
= what had occurred, he put us all
in the church and then entered
himself and locked the door. This
= may seem cowardly to you, but re-
fleet; what were we capable of
doing? We hadn't so much as
: rusty pistol, and these fellows were
armed to the teeth.
"Cenzo, a noted villain, com.
e manded the band. They immedi-
e ately entered Sebastian's house,
e seized Rina, and carried her away.
e They had known of Narborre's in
tended marriage fora long time and
d had been waiting for the occasion.
r Cenzo called to the unhappy BRIDE
S groom and said: 'Signor, by this
o time tomorrow / shall expect you
e to send me 700 piastres for the ran
d som of your bride. If you think
a the sum too high, why there is
9 Folchetto who will take her off your
4 hands. Remember, tomorrow at
e this hour. See you come alone,
Twill be useless to bring the Car
,r bonari, for we shall change our
= rendezvous tonight, and whittier
we 90 the soldiers cannot come
ut "Narborre pleaded and promised
Id on his honor to have the sum j
they would only release his wife,
ID but Cenzo only laughed at his re,
j. quest, and bid him not forget the
IN money on the morrow. Rina haC
fe swooned when they carried hel
away, and when she returned tt
ID consciousness she was lying under
er a tree with couple Of brigandi
If watching over her. MARJORIE spec
ed away to raise the money for hi
at wife's ransom, and as soon as W,
ny thought we could safely reappea
he at our homes we came out of tn
sse church.
"What a set of towards yol
he are, cried Sebastian as he espied US
nj "What could we do ? aSke,
eet Andrea; we had no weapons, an,
ur the brigands were many. DO yor
ere imagine we could take them by tn
collar as one would a drunke
he man?
all "Still you should not have ru
RI away said Sebastian,
ne. "'It was prudent replied Al
nd drea. 'Fll fight any man on equa
at terms; but should not be so silly
est do so when the odds are ten to on
against me-
tly "This sort Of reasoning SCENE
all to quiet Sebastian, and he grun
o." bled no longer. The followin
he morning Narborre returned to We
m letri with the money. l never sa
the u more miserable man. He didn
say much, however, but sat on IL
It." staircase with his eyes fixed on til
er, ground, waiting for the time whe
led he was to deliver the ransom an
ma. receive his wife. Sebastian did a
on the talking; he was in high glee
ar the prospect Of getting his daug
be- ter out of the robbers hands. B,
lty. and-by MARJORIE looked at b
ght watch, and then walked toward IL
his rendezvous, carrying the money
not a bag.
the In about half an hour later Ri
,me was seen staggering toward Il
iful house under a great excitement.
Vel They having released her, imm
mas diately seized her husband, and d
of manded the sum of a thousal
de- piastres for his ransom. Conste
the nation took possession of the who
in town. Some wished the CarbOni
t it called, others counseled a comp
for. ance with the request of the po
ibid young wife, who knew not how
lrti- act. But little reflection taug
has her that it was best to hasten
e in Rome and explain the nature
eak- things to her husbands banke
attn This she did, but it was not un
J on four weeks had elapsed that N,