Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23


the married lovers took their places IN a
great ocean palace, aud left land behind
them, for awhile at least.
''It might be-" Millicent thought, as she
remembered her darling babes with tears
in her eyes-''might be forever, if the sea
were cruel"
But the sea was kind. No storms arose.
| They crossed the Atlantic in safety, and
traversed Europe with none but pleasu-
rable events until at last they found them
selves in Naples and ready, one bright
morning, to do, what all visitors to Naples
must desire to do namely, ascend Mount
Nesuvius.
They mounted their horses, and led by a
guide, assembled the mountain to a certain
resting place, where ii is customary to dis
mount and, leaving their steeds behind,
trust to ones feet and the guide for further
advancement.
'ls heaven lovelier than thls4" asked
Millicent, clinglng to her husband, ahd
bursting, she hardly knew why, ,inIo flood
of tears.
Bnt the guide did not leave them TO their
feast Of beauty undisturbed. He made
them do V, suvius properly; peep into the
crater, possess themselves of piece OF
lava, witness the process of cooking an egg
in the hot sand, and go 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 spot where some large
trees enlivened the desolation of the rough
road, the guide paused and uttered cry.
Before them, risen as it seemed from the
very ground, stood group of men-rough,
savage looking fellows, armed with guns,
and wearing broad hats-who, without
further parley, 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 ell
deavor to resist such force would have
been sheer folly in single man. Booty,
as he reflected, was probaly their object,
and his wife's safety was his first thought.
Holding her hand In his, he comforted her
as well as possible; and finally, with a sink
ing heart, obeyed the orders of one who
seemed TO be captain, and dlsmounted al
the entrance of an old ruin, into which
they were forced, but not over roughly, TO
enter.
1t was an ancient and dilspldated hall,
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
the unfastening of door.
A figure entered, and going to the fire,
which had nearly smouldered out, flung on
it some dry wood, which instantly klndled
into blaze, and by its flame lit two torches,
which were thrust into sconces pendant
from the wall.
BY this welcome light they saw that 1t
was that of woman, who seemed to have
brought some food for them upon a sort Of
wooden tray.
She was old, and gaunt, and bent; but
her features had a strange beauty about
them, neverthele s, and awakened in Mill
ceLt's mind a memory too vague and indie
finite for words. She had seen the face
before; it might be in some OF those old
pictures at Rome-that brown skin, those
classical out lines, that gaunt meagreness
that seemed to blight what once had been
beautiful. Yes, somewhere she remcm-
bered it. In another moment the truth
flashed upon her, as the woman knelt down
to deposit the tray upon the floor. She
uttered little cry; shriller one respond
ed to it, and the gaunt creature lay pros.
trate before her, kissing her garments.
at is the Signorina |" she cried.
And Milllcent knew the italian woman
of the steerage, whom she had succored Sc
many years before.
''Then 1t Is thus that Giacomo returns {
benefit" cried the woman. ''My maledlc
tions upon him But he did not know
you-he did not remember as do. Wait
Have no fear You are safe ~
Then another memory dqwned upol
Milliccnt; and, in the captain of thos
bandits, she knew the boy whose eyes hat
been fixed upon her face when his mothe
babe hlm pray for her eternally.
In another moment he was there, anC
Millicent knew that they were safe. BaC
as he must have been, bandit and an out
law, this Italian had retained his graft
tude.
The kindness of the young helress to tn
| ol, ,fo hoA ION