Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-07-24
The Young Artist.

The morning was breaking with
that wild splcndor nowhere behelc
as in the heights of the Abruzzi
and the wild tangled vines thai
overhung the path were ]ust
glowing in the beams of the rising
sun as a traveller paused as he
entered one Of the most romantic
passes, and seemed lost in admira-
ton.
He was young man, and the
fire of genius lighted up his eyes,
naturally brilliant. His slight,
graceful figure was clad in a dress
of black velvet. The small medal
that graced hie cap showed that the
wearer aspired to the rank of gen
tletnen.
"By St. Julian, a lovely morn
ing" he said, and never a lovelier
scene charmed the eye Of poet or
painter. On my word, | am fortu-
nate thus to stumble on path so
exquisite"
High up among the beetling
SUBMITS of the mountains, their
dark scowling countenances half
hidden by the slouching hats and
feathers that shadowed them, sat
two men.
ga pretty time we're having,
Ludovico," said the oldest bandit,
for such they were. "The Queens
troops are still securing the lower
passes and no booty tor this month
past save some heggarly peasant
with a marivedl's worth of wood"
"Hist!" said the companion.
"Yonder is game wingins to cover,
or | mistake met At the same
Instant bringing the short carbiLe
to bear, whose sharp click rang on
the morning air. "Sone peasant
KERN" he continued. "I'il take
the care of his goats forever off his
mind %
''Hold, comrade ~ said the first
speaker. "Yonder is no kern, but
a traveller probably St.Christopher
has sent up gold at last. Let us
go down and cut off his retreat"
So saying, both rutfians descend
ed the pass, and approached the
stranger.
'Hold, brother in your tribute
to nature, and pay tribute to us ~
said the first bandit. owe allow
no intrusion OH our walks here"
"And / meant none. A poor
artist-ny death or captivity would
avail you little. | pray you good
let me pass"
can artist, tush !" said the out
law. "Some rascally government
spy, rather. And thou diest unless
thou presently tell DOWN on the
greensward a hundred golden
marks"
81 have not as many SOUS"
s'Tell thy beads, then, stranger,
for thy minutes are numbered"
said the outlaw, roughly, glancing
at the savage looks of a number
who had assembled on the spot.
The youth cast a despairing gaze
at the hardened, reckless faces
around him, and then down the
sheer precipice, which descended
two hundred feet.
Rough hands had already seized
hlm, and had lifted him over the
edge, while, with a grin of malice,
the leader had hissed out, GA
pleasant journey to thee, sir paint
er! when a low mnrmur rang
through the throng.
"Holdl ! our queen"
"What serds her here 7" mutter.
ed the leader, releasing, however,
his hold of the prisoner.
"How now, Ludoyico z" she
said; ''nethinks you are pressed
for deeds of daring when thou
makest war on boy, and that boy
beggar !''
The clear, sweet tones echoed
strangely among the rocks, while
the speaker, her dark hair loosened
with the rapidity of her approach,
and her beautiful face suffnsed with
intense pity, bent her eyes upon
the stranger.
"You mistake lady" said the
outlaw. ''This is no mean kern,
as his garb bespeaks, but a base
Government spy"
ssIs it so 2'' said Maodalen. 0It