Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-20
fContirned from frst page.l

bullet at your heart just now. and have
another ready to punish the impertnenoe
of YOUR tongue as well as the intrusion OF
of your step. Can you pay me ransom,
| sayP"
The devil a carbine. | am friend
less painter, not in love with the world.
not favored by fortune. If You Kill me it
would be a waste of powder. and if you
keep me prisoner waste OF bread. In
either case you will do an injury to fine
arts, among which your profession ranks
high" -,
IL believe you are lying, friend" said
another. There is something in your
words and manner which speak you bet
ter than your calling
Indeed, sir, you fatter''
"And such fattery you love not. dare
say. What will you give to save your
neck ?"
II have nothing but thanks, which you
shall have to any amount, and YOU may
moreover be sure that the payment will
be prompt and the coin will not be coun-
terfeit."
"What has led your steps to the soli-
tudes of the Abruzz p said Leonardo,
who from some latent association or the
inherent ferocity of a gloomy nature APP
against the unfortunate man and to be ia
tally bent upon his destruction.
"a truant disposition like your own"
replied the other.
Say rather the disposition of a spy"
cried Leonardo. approaching him and
clinching his brawny fist in his face. while
his white teeth shown through his black
beard
IL tell you what, comrades" continued
the ruffian, "you may like the amusement
of wandering varlets' society and believe
the tale of every designing traitor but on
my faith would keep no terms with these
wretches. Let this prating ca,if die for
his pains"
.'Leonardoi !" cried Antonio. IL have
called You fool indeed you are a william
as well. protest against your barbarty.
Our captain, Leopoldo, you know, holds
different opinions; il he does not return
from CatiliDa soon enough to punish it,
"Preach to women, weak boy, and
talk of punishment when you have the
means. Comrades, this man is not
painter believe me; he is some spy, who
Tor reward has Ientured to seek out our
abodes in this lowly character. and who
woald doubtless laugh to see all our heads
adjoining the front OF the Palazzo Real at
Naples. Remember the fate of Campo
nelli' Betrayed by such disguised traitor
to torture and death. give my voice for
his death What do you say2 Shall he
live or die ?"
LET him die - cried another wretch :;
''tie him to a tree, and let us plant brace
OF bullets in his heart. Bind him hand
and foot, and hurl him from yOnder elf !;
leap OF three thousand feet will give
him an appetite for his supper u"
As these fearful alternatives flew from
lip TO lip. the stranger. whose dashng
boldness, although founded on "a naturally
fearless heat. had been hall put on TO meet
the occasion and secure good treatment
by striking in with the rough bravado OF
the robbers character, turned pale. His
broad hat was knocked fiercely from his
forehead and lay upon the turf, and two
strong men seized him bv the throat and
dragged him towards the dreadful crag
which the wretch had pointed out as the
fitting scene for him to finish forever h 8
mortal career. The artist looked around
for the only one among the brigands who
had shown any spark OF feeling. He had
disappeared.
'The blessed virgin protect me-" he
cried in n low tone Of inexpressible an
guish. The blessed virgin prot ,ct me.
tor am lost man."
She sat in the entrance of the cave upon
broken rock-a magnificent woman, of
"A lovely yet audacous appearance her
person commanding and dignitied, yet
graceful her lace melancholy, Yet beaut-
Iul and majestic. Her black HAIR was par
ted with the utmost simplicity over fore
head and Il pair of eyes that should have
adorned the halls of an emperor. You
saw in an instant the SPLENDID character
which the ways OF tumutuous fortune had
cast in robbers cave and upon rob-
ber's bosom. In Egypt she would have
been Cleopatra; almond the gypsies Meg
Merrilies in England IA Mrs Siddons in
the unfortunate land OF the Neapolitan,
condemned by the lion hand OF fate to be
what the other only acted-a wild, high,
brilliant reading amid spols
and blood in the lonelyforest and upon the
midnight cliff-a brigand's wife, but still
woman without the pale of society; yet
with the gentlest OF human hearts beating
tn her bosom. She put on fierceness as a
language in which rione her wishes could
be understood and her humanity seconded.
Antonio rushed in. breathless.
what now. Antonio ?-your master
speak quicklyw
She rose like tigress, sprang forward
and pierced with her great awakened eyes
into the soul OF the robber.
mo. nothing OF him, except that--his
laws are broken-Leonardo"
The messenger again painted for breath.
Leonardo! that villains heart read
with ease he is a rebel, and would bring
revolution and civil war even here among
our peaceful band. He aims at sole en-
pire. What OF him? now that you have
breathed again"
"He has shared a single traveller, and by
this time, fear, has hurled him headlong
from Monte Gargano."
''His wanton cruelty will rouse the
whole county" cried the angry woman,
striding rapuly towards the cliff, as il to
prevent, ii possible, the consummation
of the deed. yet he is powerful among
the men-who arm in the absence oil
Leopold aud follow him as chiefly
the Holy Virgin look! They are grouped
up youder against the sky, on the very
edge of the beetling precipice. They
have not yet sealed the poor wretch
fate; see, the victim is bound, and the
circle onpns. Leonardo and pisaui b.y.