The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-10-15
STnE BGNDIT OmfEP.

daughter Blanca. Blanca was Z
baqdsoms, higb,spiriled girl, Oh.
fayoriteof all the village. Espec
iaIly was she beloved by Antonio
Bindisi and stephapo Foscaria,
Che two handsomest youths in all
The town. Az The time my story
opens Blanca had declared her
preference for Antonio, and they
were publicly betrothed. steph-
anolwas Of a fierce, jealous disposi.
ton, and, threatening vengeance,
I'D suddenly LEFT the village. All
endsayors to discover his where.
abonts proved Of no avail. but that
he had not gone far waseyident
from bis occasionally appearing at
his'home, where his mother dwell
alone, with many comforts for her,
for With all his faults be had been
a du.iful son. Blanca troubled
herself very little about his place
Of retirement, and did not allow
his threats to alarm hor.
Ono day, some time after the
disappearance Of stephano, as Bi.
anca was walking 10 the garden,
she was startled by a rus!ling
among the vines, and upon turn.
ing to tho spot she saw stcphano
standing before her. She saluted
lin very coldly and haugh!iIy
and turned to enter the cottage,
when stepbano spmng before her
and prevented her from moving.
Blanca, l have come to make
you ono more appeal--to give you
one more chance to avert the mis-.
fortunes which shall surely over.
whelm you, if you continue to re.
sist all my entrealies.'
Go, you are tirosome, calmly
and coldly spoke Blanca.
Blanca, hear mol 1 love you
far better than the coward to-
You only are the coward, trying
to win a wife with threats angri.
ly retorted Blanca.
"Bewarol tell you l love you,
and you only spurn me. l have
pleaded enough. Know, then,
proud girl, that l have joined the
bandits, and your fathers property
shall be destroyed, himself taken
captive and only your consent to
become my wife shall free hinfrom
alingering, painful death. What
do you say now, Biauea,' he asked,
mockingly,
"Nothing; 1 will never marry
you | will die sooner" and, main.
tanning the same calm, cold exteri.
or, though her heart thmbbed wild.
ly, Blanca brushed hastily past her
tormen!or and entered the cottage
and, upon reaching her chamber,
che threw herself upon her knees
before her crcifx, praying with
white and trembling lips the yir.
gin Mary to save her family from
the impending trouble. Rising,
she, BY "a violent effort, controlled
her feelings and returned to the
sitting room whore her muther sat
spinning.
AL the rest Of the day q shadow
hung over Blanca; every noise
made her start painfully, and when
the hour for her fathers return
home came and passed aud still he
fingered, che snatchcd up her hat
and set out to meet him across the
fields. She had not gone far when
she met a body Of peasants bearing
a litter. Antonio Brindisi was in
front, and Immediately upon see.
ing her hand endOavored tedorly
tolead her back; but Blanca resist.
cd steadily, aud suddenly, by a lit
tie impetuOus motion, drew her
hand from Antonio, and stepping
" the side Of the litter she raised
the cloth which covered the body,
aud saw the features Of her father.
one DREADFUL shrek, and she sank,
senseless in her lovers arms.
Slowly she recovered, aud tho peas.
ants bore their sad load into the
little cottage. BianCa's father had
fallen from high rock, struck up.
on his head, and died instantly,
without groan, so said the kind
peasants; but upon going TO her
room Blanca saw a folded paper
upon the widow.sill which she
opened and read us follows
"a push for Blanca, l said, and
the old man fell headlOng over the
rocks. Do you falter now?n
A week later and Blanca again
felt the vengeance of her tOrmen.
tor, for Antonio Brindisi, her be
trothcd, was missing, and no clow