The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-02
THEAvALANCME.

"Awayl away! Fly for your lives.
The gems d'armcs are already after
you'll"
So the fugitives mounted their
horses hurriedly, and fled like the
wind. A few friends stood looking
after them from the pizza of a coun-
try villa. About mile away lay
Milan, the rising sun just coloring
the spires of its churches and the in.
Vulnerable curved pinnacles of its
Duomo. All around-far away on
every side-extended the wide plains
of Lombardy. To the north they
were bounded by lofty, inaccessible,
frozen heights-the snow-crowned,
the everlasting Alpsl The road went
north, and toward those lofty noun.
tains the fugitives fled. There were
three. There was an aged man, in
whose veins the blood had not yet
been chilled by the hand of time; his
form was erect and his face noble;
there was young man of strong
frame and fine, resolute countenance,
and between the two rode fair young
girl Of extreme beauty.
II is not necessary to tell the story
of the old Count Alonzo di. velletri
and his daughter Laura. Sufficient
III is to say, that they belonged to the
ill-fated Carbonari, whose plot had
just been.discovered. The old man
and his daughter were denounced,
together with many others, among
whom was young Henri, Countdi
Santana. But Milan was not far
from the mountains, tho road was
open-Switzerland was the land of
the free
Behind them no pursuers were Wis.
ible to them, but they well knew
they were followed. Two hours after
they had left the villa company of
gens-d'armes sped from Milan in pur-
suit of them. The villagers stared
at the gentlemen and the fair young
girl who rode so furiously; but there
were none who interferred.
"They ride for sick friend" said
some.
"They fly from DEATH" said others.
The gens.d'armes followed closely
behind, and at every village asked
after the fugitives. AteveTy station
they changed their horses for fresh
ones, who kept up an undiminished
speed. True, their horses were but
of the common breed, and the steeds
of the countwe noble Arabians, but
the constant freshness of the pur-
suers would prove more than match
for the over-ridden horses of the
count, even though they were Of the
purest blood.
They had ridden for hours in 81
lence and without rest. The last
look which they took behind them
showed at glance many miles of the
road, but no pursuers.
Laura" said the young Count di
Santana, "are you not almost wearied
to death~
ooh, no. I can ride for many hours
more" said the young girl, courage
ously.
81 wish we could turn into these
fields on either side" said the old
Count, "for Laura's sake. She must
be very weary"
"But we cannot" said Santana.
"We cannot. These wide, level
plains would discover us at once to
our pursuers. There is no chance
for US but straight forward"
"Yes, yes. The Alps" said San
tana.
eyes, the Alps" said all.
On and on fled the noble steeds,
still bearing bravely up, although
destitute of rest for many hours.
"Our horses are not tired yet" said
the old Count. "They are good for
many a mile"
But still he looked anxiously be-
hind him.
"Alasl" said Laura, "our pursuers,
who cannot be far away, will have
fresh horses constantly, Ours must
fail at last"
"But il we only can be carried to
the Alps, all will be we'll"
"God grant We may get there!" ex-
claimed the girl.
"Yes, dear Laure," said her father,
"once among the mountains and we
are safe; for we can turn aside in a
thousand ways, and elude discovery
as well as pursuit"
"Ah!" cried Santana, at the lapse
of another hour, "see-far ahead
see something sparkles and glittersp'
"Lago Maggiorel" cried the old
Count, in delight