Litchfield enquirer., 1880-11-11

hemmed in, and have no means of escaping,
even for a short distance, while our cries for
assistance would be probably unheard. Hence
we moved to another portion, which promised
betterin case of discovery, and was even bet
ter also for hiding place. AT each end of
the gallery which already mentioned there
was kind of recess, and one of these oppo-
site to that end at which parties could come
down, was so formed by stones and earth, and
concealed by bushes, as to afford some con-
cealment. Assisting Miss Osborne up from
the court beneath to the gallery, we placed
ourselves in this recess, having forgot in the
hurry to extinguish a light which burned in
her room below.
For q minute or two we saw nothing of
those who were searching for US ;>but "Ecco!
ecco!" was soon uttered in low eager-voice,
and, locking up, we beheld the dark figure OF
q man standing on the opposite wall against
the sky, and pointing down to the gallery. on
a portion of which the moonlight fell. Evil
IDENTIFY our retreat was in danger of discovery;
for. Immediately after, a number OF other
wild figures stood beside him, and took the
hand of our fair companion in mine but
though the circulation beat high there was no
perceptible tremor. The Roman, who was
first to reach the gallery or balcony, perceived
the light below, and beckoned back his CON-
may eaten them like birds in a net, but if
frightened they may fly away" Proceeding
to reconnoitre quietly, he seated himself on
the rail of the gallery, and was about to cross
his legs over it in order to descend, with a grin
upon his face which felt made Benton's
blood boil. My attention was arrested by the
vilainous ceuntenance, which was Illuminated
by the moon, WHEEL felt the soft hand which
held suddenly close upon mine with the
startled grasp of sudden and extreme terror.
The cause was not far to seek. There, just
emerged into the moonlight that shone upon
the balcony, was a figure 30 strange, 80 wild
with such pale, CHASTITY face streaked with
blood, that it was impossible not to- believe
The Bloody Ghost was before me. With eyes
that cleaned and yet seemed to see not with
outstretched arm, and slow serpentine motion,
it advanced upon the Roman, whc, the mo-
ment he saw it beside him, almost touching
him, uttered yell Of terrible horror, and
threw himself backward into the court below,
where his, massive frame, fell with dull,
heavy crash and lay motionless as in instant
death. With low cries Of mortal dread the
other terrified muleteers fled up the ruins and
disappeared but the strange figure seemed
unconscious of anything having happened, and
continued to move toward US, uttering in
low voice of sweet but melancholy cadence,
20 patria patria mia Italia Italia To cui
-" Miss Osborne tremhled violently as the
figure drew near, but sudden fash of
thought enabled me to understand it all.
Leaping out from our hiding.place, placed
my hand on the shoulder of the revolutionist,
and said, ''Stefani-" At that moment an
other Parsonage appeared on the scene, in the
shape of grave, elderly man in a peasants
dress, but of superior demeanor, who looked
much disconnected, and behind whom came
'Richetta, wringing her hands and much ter
rifed, both having passed through concealed
door in the recess on the other side. - i.
''Signor Matteo,"I said, making certain
gesture, "let me drink to you in cup of red
wine. lin Livorno told me I should
meet our friend Stefani here, but did not ex.
pect to find him 80 ill. He has just saved
however, from great peril, having been mi
taken by that dead ruffian down there for the
ghost of Count Giulio."
''Christ have mercy on his soul I" said the
girl, starting to the side of the gallery and
looking over. "Cosa terrible and the sig
norma ? a question which was answered by
the appearance of Benton and his cousin
"Pardon me, Signorina and Signori Ingle-
81" said the old man, uncovering and not
without certain formal dignity. "Nothing
OF this would have happened had l been here
when you arrived. Daylight will break in an
hour, and unless you are. too fatigued, l shall
then myself accompany you to the Bagni
Meanwhile, you may rest quite secure in the
rooms which my daughter tells me you first
occupied, while l. look after my patient here,
and see if the man below is really dead"
In assisting the host to lead Stefani, who
offered no resistance, back to bed, and in ad-
ministering some simple remedies, | learned
that the revolutionist had been suffering much
from fever, which had latterly become slight
lv delirious, and that the room in which he
was concealed opened upon the balcony VIII re
he terrified the muleieers Leaving 'Richetta
to battle the forehead of this unfortunate gen.
tleman, we descended to examine the Roman,
and found that individual still alive, but in
sensible, bleeding at the nose, and breathing
stertoriously, He seemed to suffer from slight
conclusion Of the brain; and the bleeding
probably saved his life, for he did recover,
after lying insensible for many hours. 1t
need scarcely be said that the first dawn Of
day saw us starting for the Bagni di Lucca
under the escort of Matteo, and with many
cautions and blessings from the kind hearted
'Richetta. The frightened muleteers offered
no annoyance, and their host could get none of
those who had beheld Stefani to carry out
their companion. Some of the others did 80,
but not without fear and trembling. told
Matteo about the portmanteau, showing him
where it was concealed, and he promised to
send it to me after the muleteers had left.
This promise was kept, and the Roman, then
learned. coupled the disappearance of his
piece of good luck with the appearance of the
Bloody Ghost He expressed an unalterable
opinion that the solid leather was also a su
pernatural and diabolical apparition which
had been sent for his special injury, though it
had been lost in the upset of wagon crossing
the Alps. Thus it was that Benton won his
bride, and thus my portmanteau was restored
10 me by the Spectreof Mhaggio. Blaek,oood.