, 1877-12-30

turned away, Nattia made 4 last effort: he re-
gained his feet while he tossed me ove7 his knee,
and was barely able to spring up in time when
he dashed at NE afresh, with the drawn stlletto
in his fist.
"Willy Mountjov forced upon the back win
dow,-it was at the rear Of the far chamber, and
the noise could not be heard in front,-but in
doing SO she had to release Gabriclla.
F" retrcated to the panclcd wall, pursued BY
Mattia, whose eyes actually blazed with rage
at Inc with us stiletto; fol ultimately missed my
throat, at which, more lfatiuup, it was aimed.
but drove it clean through the palm of this
hand, whiel, It pinsoncd firmly to the old mass
i've wainscot.
40 heavens.' cried Gabrielle, running to-
wards me from the doorway; he has stumbled
him!1
Drag her away, drag her away, Willic!'
cried, It's graspcd Malta with my lett hand
and swung him around under ME. Drag her
away: as fast us you can! Never rniud mel
can follow
No, no! For the saluts' sake, no!'
+" Her turthcr cries were ctfcctuallv stopped
by Willy lguntiuy, who snatchcd her up in has
H1tcl, Is weasel is pinned TO abarn-door-ieit
alone to hold in cheek. as hest might, des-
paratc villain i'll POSSESSION of 1ull use Of all OF
his limbs,
~ had hurled him under my right arm with
my left on his coatcolar, as have said, and
mis- skull crashed against the woodwork; and
then was still too, the better to listen for my
Gabriella and Willy AIountloy.
"All was silcnt-they had cs-
capped; and, from the cessation Of
the knocking at the door, it seemed plain that
the three guards had come to the conclusion
that Tito and Mattia did not wish their aid III
whatever work was going on. For had these
worthless followed Gabrielle they mus. have cap
tured her and her protector at onrc, aud hare
been back ut the front door with their prisoners
by this time.
IL need not spin out my yarn. Suffice it to
say that in about half an hours time, during
which l endured fearful tortures, fruitlessly
irving to wrench my hand free from tue stiletto,
Il dared not Loose my lctt-hand grip on my foe
again conscious, and renewed the strug-
gle with what appeared TO me to be
even greater strength than before, while
was weakened by tho blood streaming from
the hole made by his cursed stiletto.
tAnd had but one land to fight him!
ale had mastered me-a1most mastered me.
I was maj i'll my impotcnt rage and despair; .
wild cry from Gabriella-was it an angel sayiug,
or demon mockrng ne!-of . heaven, ne has
Stabbed h.m!' seemed to pierce through my
very brain; I matle last, fearful effort.
Gathering NIL my strength, dashed the rut]ian
to the floor, and like lightning drew OUT the
stilctto. Then, with tic flesh quiycriug aud
raining with blood, added the might Of the
right hand to that OF 1ny left, and with both L
hammered his head against the stone pavement
till thought him killed.
..Thcn, when had bound up my hand IS
tight Us possible, must have swoonel dead
away, for knew no more until sprang to MY
feet with shots ringing in my tar, aud found tho
gray dawn OF Christmas peepinT through the
window Of the blood-stalned hail. Tie accomp-
lice Tito g1ared at me from where he had lain
all night SO safely bound AMI gagged, Us much
US to say, *Ah, now it's ali up with you'll and
was very much OF that opinion myself.
II was mistaken; the shots were fired BY the
Picdmontese mounted-pollce, who had been
met, when patrol1Lg during the night along the
Volturno, by Willy aud Gabriella, and dis
patched to my relief, while the fugitive couple
went on to Capua, which had fallen some time
before, to take the first train to Naples.
1.-The guards outside were easily orcrmus-
tercd-tie three hatl sent to Capua got drunk,
rs l meant thcy should, and never returned
the police broke into my rescue, and then it Was
found that 1ny foe Militia had sustained severe
conclusion Of the brain, from which he was
likely to die
s.'And she married at once, and all was hap
pys said
s''She married-Ycs-' was the Majors
somewhat dry reply.
"sOf course But tell us aaen you-'9
ss'- The other feliow!'
Mattia!'
"sNo; she married Willy Mountjoy before
she had been three hours in Naplesn"