Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-27

| and secured her in ono Of his hidden re-
treats where she would be held for ran
som.-unless the lady CHANGED TO be
beautiful, when the Lion would
probably keep her for his mistress.
All that night and the next day, the
search went on, but without success.
On the evening of the second day NY
friend and myself were comforting with
the head Of the police to devise now
work for tho mofrow's search. when we
were approached by o slender youth.
There was wild expression in the
boys eyes that startled me at first and
called my attention more closely to the
regular and almost beautiful features
before ME. AS be paused the young
man made sign to Charles, and the
letter reluctantly followed him. Di-
rectly he returned and motioned for us
to come. An eagerness altogether for
eign TO his nature seemed to have taken
possession of the man, ~ he, followed
by the boy, hurried III to his own apart
ment, and, after we had entered, care
fully locked the door. The boys (wo-
mans, for it was % female in disguise),
story was 4oon told. She was the wife
of the brigand leader who had brought
tho American lady to the rendezvous to
make her his mistress. So far no vi0-
lence had been offered Helen, but the
woman knew not how long such would
be the case. Tho brigand's wife had
ondeavored TO persuade her husband to
let the captive'S friends ransom her, he
had refused, aud she had sworn revenge.
| Che would conduct force to the brig
ands retreat, and effect their capture.
"But" she added, "many men mnst be
brought, for tho successor of Leone the
Lion, has seventy men who will fight
| w bbG uGtbu' q
Instantly all was hurry and excite
ment. The head Of the police confer
red with the commandment of the for
tress, and M entire brigade Of Italian
troops we're placed at his disposal. BY
eight O'Clock the troops were ready TO
start. Charles and myself. with two or
three gentlemen from the hotel accom-
panied them. Nearly all night We march
ed, following the wake of the slender
figure of the brigand's wife, who led rs
Dn--for what Revenge
In the still, gray dawn Of early
morning, our force had surrounded u
secluded mountain glsn, where the ban
ditti lay encamped, The sentries had
been captured without an alarm being
gwen, and every arrangement made for
n completes surprise.
In the evening Helen had stroled
down to the beach, and sat down upon
one of the low benches in the cool shad-
owe Of the overhanging branches Of the
trees, that lined the waters edge. For
a time she held undisturbed possession
of the place, then party ef noisy
pleasure seekers came down, and thor
merry laughter rang out among the
still waters Of the bay. Helen wished
to be alone. Their presence irrtated
her. At first she thought TO return to
her room, but changed her purpose and
walked slowly down the beach. In the
distance she saw the deep shadows of
| the high bluff that looks out toward
Ncsuvius. Slowly she walked on, and
gradually the voice Of the revelera died
away, and she stood alone among the
the shadows. The sun had long since
sunk below the distant waters and the
long twilight had gradually faded and
deep shadows hung over the ravines,
and encircled the basis of the hills. 4
low murmur crept up from the bay, u
sort Of low soothing monotone, that
entranccd the senses of the fair girl ~
she sat upon q huge boulder just out of
reach Of the waters. Then form crcpt
up beside, u hand was placed over her
lips. and she was borne TO a boat near
by in which number of men were
waiting, The boat was pushed off and
rowcd rapidly across the waters and
again brought to the land in a little
inlet that ran in from the bay. Helen
was placed in d litter and borne rapidly
across the country till rude encamp-
ment was reached. She knew that she
was in the hands Of the Italian banditti.
The men bore her to their chief, and she
stood face to face wlth--Count Lanciot-
to. The ontlaw, disguised as noble
man, had endeavored to win the love of
the fair American. Failing in this, he
had resorted TO force, In three DAYS
she must either be his wife or his mis-
tress.
The third morning had arrived, and