The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-16

| Ineln, LOT aWilic at least.
'It might be-" Millicent thought, as she
remembered her darling babes with tears
in her eycs-''might be forever, if the sea
were cruel"
But the sea was kind. No storms arose.
They crossed the Atlantic in safety, and
traycrsed Europe with none but plcas,l.
rable events until at last they found them.
selves in Naples. and ready, one bright
morning, to do, what all visitors to Naples
Tmust desire TO do namely, ascend Mount
| Vcsuvius.
They mounted their horses, and led by a
guide, assembled the mountain to a certain
resting place, where il is customary to dis
mo'lnt, and, leaving their stccds behind,
trust to ones feet and the guide for further
advancement.
us heaven lovelier than this2" asked
Nlilliccnt, clinging to her husband, and
bursting, she hardly knew why, ,inlo food
Of tears.
Bnt the guide did not leave them to their
feast of beauty undisturbcd He made
them DO V'snvius properly; peep into the
crater possess themselves of piece of
lava, witness the process of cooking an egg
IN the hot sand, and 60 through with the
rest of the formula.
Then 1t seemed time TO return;aud John,
glancing at his watch, counted the time
that lay between them and their inn at
Naples, and they began their descent.
Suddenly, at Il spot where some large
trees enlivcncd the desolation of the rough
road the guide paused and uttered u cry.
Before them, risen as 1t seemed from the
very ground, stood a group of mcn-rough
savagc-looking fellows, armed with guns,
and wearing broad hats-who, without
further parlcy, surrounded them and seiz-
ing the brides Of their horses and tying the
hands of the trembling guide behind them,
led them away over the rough roads in
silence.
John Blair was no coward; but 10 on
deayor to resist such force would have
been sheer folly in a single man. Booty,
as he reflected, was probaly their object,
and his wife's safety was his first thought.
Holding her hand III his, he comfortcd her
as well as possible;and finally, with sink
ing heart, obcyed the orders of one who
seemed to be captain, and dlsmounted at
the entrance Of sn old ruin. into which
they were forced, but not over roughly, to
enter.
1t was an ancient and dilapldated hail.
with fire burning at one end; and here
their conductors left them for a while
alone, fastening the door behind them.
Then, and then only, the poor guide fell
to wringing his hands and weeping, and
lmploring the lady and gentleman to pay
whatever ransom was required.
Meanwhile, Mlllicent, overcome with ter
ror, wept'upon her husbands breast, and
he found it impossible to comfort her. In
deed, the savage aspect of the men, and
the accounts that he had heard of banditti
outrages left him but little hope.
Then it was that they heard the sound
of returning feet without, and presently
WV uhihoICultiEo VI u tlOOI.
A figure entered, and going to the fire.
which had nearly smoultIcrcd out, flung on
it some dry wood, which instantly klndlcd
INTO blaze, and by its flame lit two torches
which were thrust into sconces pendant
from tue wall.
By this welcome light they saw that 1t
was that of a woman, who seemed to have
brought some food for them upon sort Of
wooden tray.
She was old, and gaunt, and bent; but
her features had strange beauty about
them, nevertheless, and awakened in Mill.
ceLts mind memory too vague and indie
finite for words. She had seen tho face
before; it might be in some of those old
pictures at Romc-that brown skin, those
classical out lines, that gaunt mcagrencss
that seemed to blight what once Ind been
beautiful. Yes, somewhere she rcmCm.
bcred it. In another moment the truth
flashed upon her., ,as the woman knclt down
TO deposit the tray upon the floor. She
uttered little cry; a shrller one respond
cd to 1t, and the gaunt creature lay pros
trate before her, kissing her garments
SIT IS the Signorina !" she cried.
And Millcent knew the Italian woman
of the steerage, whom she had succorcd SO
many years before.
"Thcn 1t is thus that Giacomo returns a
benefit" cried the woman. "bly malcdlc.
tions upon him But he did not know
you--he did not remember as do. Wait.
Have no fear You arc safe |"
Then another memory dqwned upon
Milliccnt; and, in the captain of those
bandits, she knew the boy whose eyes had
been fixed upon her face when his mother
bade hlm pray for her ctcrnally.
In another moment he was there, and
Milliccnt knew that they were safe Bad
rs he must have been, bandit and an out.
law, this Italian had retained his graft
tudc.
The kindness of the young hclrcss to the
wretchcd cmigrants had rot been forgotten.