New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-09

was almost beautiful. and tall, with rosy EnglSh
complexion and full of high spirits. found them
admlrng the facade of the exquisite Lombardo-
Gothic cathedral, and was struck by the contrast
between his dark reserved, firm, somewhat GLOOMY
face, and the UDCn, glowing cOuntenance OF the
young girl, whose elastic form and attitude be-
trayed consciousness of yOuthful buOyant life and
whose hazel eyes showed every now ana then
little impatience not unmiXed with scOrn.
1t was after we had established ourselves at the
Bagni di Lucca. and when riding among the cheSt,
nut-cOveTed hills, that Miss Osborne's beauty ana
high spirits were most striking How fascinating
she appeared after smart ride with the rosy west
lighting up her glowing face, the freshness and
bloom of youth on every lincament with dancing
spirits and happy heart in every movement OF her
agile ligurcl No wonder that Benton, VINO cyl
nature of her feelings for him, would sometimes, on
these occasions, clCnch his hands cOnyuSlycIy,
while gloomy shadow rose in his eyes, as he lett u.s.
on SOME prceXt or another for mad solitary galiOp
This usually brought slight touch OF petulance
into Miss OshOrnts manner, and gave greater point
Few sensible visitors to the Bagni di Lucca who
can endure the rough ride of several hours fal TO
visit the PratO FiOrtO a round grassy mountain
summit covered with flowers at certain seasons OF
the pear, and commanding MAGNIFICENT views Oh inc
wild surrounding Apprentices of Modena ana Lucca
brilliant morning tU e 9i boreS of the
country, and attended by guide, ascending IRON
the acacias land Efrnt-trees round the Bagnl Calm
into the vast chcstnut-fUrests which cover the
higher hills A delicate fragrance rose from the
pinks and heaths as they We're kissed by the morn,
ING sun but their cOlOIs were not more beautiful
than tbe c1uatiOn of Florence OSbornc's check. At
first the forest was ntcrspcrsed with vineyards and
small white villages. the houSes of which had
verandas made of trelIiscd vlnes but often steep,
narrow, and rugged paths tOOk.uS up into higher
region, where our way led along mountaln-slde
through forest of magnificent old trees. InnumGr-
able lizards were running along the branches OF Inc
trees and SwaTms of flies gathered upon our SecdS
throwing them INTO very restless state. Our talr
compartments horse was espGca3 rT rancb nTI
stantly over its head and it finally Doted SO as TO
throw us into great dread Tor her safety. Miss U.s.
borne was an admirable rider, and remained per-
fectly collected; but huge old branches hung In
some places so low over the path that sne ran the
greatest risk of being dashed by her horse against
them.
Some way on the old white branch of large tree
crossed the PATH and low, for the most part that
it was certain to str re off any rider who might try
going the blow void probably shave caused death:
She saw the danger, but instead OF throwing herself
off. which also would have been perilous from the
precipitOus fall of the bank on the right not TO
speak of 1.-THE usual danger of doing So she strained
to the utmost ION the left rein, without, however,
making any impression on the excited and unTuly
beast which stll held on, with its head lowered,
if wanting only TO keep that safe, anG lndllerent
to the fate of its rider. Bentons fcf;control and
collected spirit suited him better for such an emc-
gency than for graceful tTilling. Luckily the path
was soft and covered with grass, and his steed was
the best of the three so he was enabled to reach his
Cousins side without exciting .the animal she rode
to strain itself any more than ut was dong at any
rate. Pressing his horse close to hers ana Wlndlng
his arm round her waist, he drew her from her
saddle while she aided the movement by quick
snrnS' and pulling madIy to the left, they passed
the tree in safety With shudder he told me That
so low was the branch at the ace where her horse
dashed underneath, the ipolAmel OF the saddle was
bruised. .,.,,
lust descended, with color heightened by the eX-
crcise and perhaps also by the novelty OF the lStua-
ton. Benton himself looked very pale; and when
lis cousin had recovered a little she said to INN,
with light in her eyes which cOntradicted the
iocular tone, Where did you learn such skill on
horseback. Hughl SO Tg0od rider ought 10 sit a
little more gracefully, Besides you look as II you
had never seen bolt in your life before. We'll,
must confess | getting rather confused, ana
did not know what TO do. l am afraid, my dear
cousin, you have almost saved my life what
dreadful thing it would have been to have dashed
against that branch! And am sure it would have
happened but for your presence OF mlnd, because
not likely l could have done so. Indeed my wrist
feels quite strained. Thank you again most CRATE
fully but how am to get Oh to the Prato tlonto'
"You have only TO return to the custom Of Our
Observation-Disclosures" / said joking, to prevent awl-
waraness for we all more affected by the incl
dent than we cared to acknowledge, or could cX-
press at the moment. Gone of mine, l know,
rode Oh pilliOn behind her husband on her we'd
ding-day and can bring many sound authorities
dignity of a young lady in riding NiS-a-vls even
with stranger when nothing better can be done.
Not to 90 back so far as"
g AlleZ doncw broke in my fair acquaintance,
smiling. If one of Won knights would gallop after
my vanished stced, perhaps 1t might he conJured
Having accomplished this task, removed Miss
OsborneS saddle TO my own horse, placing her on
the 0uietcr one which had hitherto ridden; and
we proceeded without further accident on our way
to the summit of the range OF mountains Whlch
gave picturesque views or rlGl y-WoouGu VHllGGS3
sunk prccipitOusly TO a great depth, ana threaded
with mountain streams, at that ulnc very SlchuST'
Then a long, bleak, barren stony track, broken by
streams or rather pools and little patches OF corn
brought us to a rocky ledge, on which we moved,
without speaking above deep pTecIpce plocccd-
ing from thence along rude mnlc-tracK 10 INC
foot of the smooth grassy PratO FlOrltO, Whcre VIC
tethered our heated horses.
sudden exclamation from our guide caused us
to look in the direction OF M0dena where singular
phenomenon presented itself. At first IT. appeared
as if long ridge of the mountains was SLOWLY us
ing up into the sky and then as il huge wall OF
black rock was rising behind the mountains ana
about 10 oycrwhclm the whole country i'll some ter
rbe commissioned nature. This was the commence
lncnt Of the rains Of Autumn coming suddenly after
the long drought; and crying, "Acqua, acquaF
our guide hurried us down from the summit Of the
mountain. That descent would have peen rather
puZzling had we set about IT. Ill lclSuTey mahleT
but as it was, we managed to tumble ana shde
down without any hesitation, and were soon on our
horses again. 1t was far peaSanter riding up these
mountain paths than trottng down them, DHI our
animals showed amazing dcXtcrity in preserving
their footing, and whenever III was necessary went
down at once upon their launches NotWlthstand-
ing our efforts the storm broke soon upon ms; the
echoes of the valleys; the forlied lightning played
round us; and the white electro ram desceliocu III
sheets Before being much wet, however, we came
TO n shed that we had noticed on our upward pro
ess used for the protection Of goathcrds and Their
Hooks and found under it shelter both Tor our
horses and ourselves Then, ofcoursc came forth the
cold fowls and the amber-ccolored MontepulcIano;
the heavy but sweet and palatabc bread made Of
the luscious ripe fig, and the small
mrplc grape. The novelty of the situation. the
GOODNESS Of the mountain air, the freshness brought
Ly the rain and storm all gave Zcst to our rcp4St
Int when file wit had exhausted itself and the last
dask we could venture to touch was thrown aside,
il was with uncertain and somewhat puzzled looks
that we began to examine the state OF the weather.
There seemed no prospect of any improvement for
The better. We began to, SILVER ,uncomiortably III
our damp clothes, and the rain began to penetrate
INTO onr She'd To add to our comfort, at this mo-
,ncnt two very grim goathcr,lsmadc their appear
ance with their hardy iocks, and sat down beside
us dissatisfied and growing at finding So much no OF
Osborne as one of them passed close as to wet her