The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-15

swarm or human hIe that reeled, anu danced, and shouted, and sang amid the squares, and streets, and prisons, and palaces ot the City of Flowers.
 CHAPTER V.
 The people seemed to have all gone mad.
 Maskers whiIled to and fro-the squeaks and pranks of Pulcinello drew crowds of laughing followers. The bal comics were draped in gay colors, the windows filled with eager faues, the drsky street medley of glowing hues, a tumult of voices. Uader a deep porch they halted Bruno, and Tista, and the dog and looked at it all.
 There came Hull presently and Bruno struck some chords on his uasado!;Se: A few people, unoccupied and willing to be amused, turned in the direction of the music, and caught sight of the picturesque little figure with ;,s scarlet sash, and face framed in loose curls, and they drew near and listened, as Tista threw back his head and sang one of the songs of Tuscany.
 The notes were less powerful, but not less sweet than of yore. The noise around grew hushed, in little while circle had formed, and as the song ceased they called for others, and yet others, and tossed their coins into BIuno's hat, and some remembering. cried out, It is the little song-bird of last summer" and laughed and applauded with eager delight, as Tista gave them the song they had first heard from him-the solemn, beautiful air he had been used to sing at the festivals of his own chapel among the tar-off hills of Rome.
 But he was still weak, and the exertion of singing and the deafening tumult of the crowds made him faint. Timidiy he spoke to Bruno. hitting little white face and trembling lips to his taskmaster. "lf l might have little food and rest" he said, !" could sing be ter then, :" l Bruno grumoled and swore, but he saw the boy needed what he asked for, and took him into a little wlneshop, and asked for flask of Chianti and some bread.
 "Taat was good haul" he said pres sently, counting over the coins in his pockets. The people are foolish just now. A little thing sways them. They like your songs; you must sing again"
 "Oh, yes," said rlsta readily, as he broke of some bread for Coco. "I will always sing when l can."
 He was pleased to see Bruno in good humor It was not usual. As he raised his head from stopping over the dog he 1 glanced up at h,s taskmaster's face. To 1 his amazement it had turned livid, and a great terror seemed to leap into his eyes. They were fixed upon the face of a man just entering the doorway-a stAlwart man in the dress of a peasant. Bruno c.aiched the little lads hand.
 Come away" he whispered hoarsely, and drew his ha. over his brows, and tried to slink out unobserved. But in a seconds space a great cry rent the air, and strong form hurled It. self upon him.
 An, robber-thief ef-brute screamed the peasant. "So l have found you at last Where is my child? Give me b ok my child that you stole that sum mer time. Give her back-do you hear or by all the saints your blood shall pay for herb
 His hands were on Bruno's throat with vice-like grip. Hts face was savage and purple, and his eyes seemed starting from their sockets.
 Tista crept into a corner in terror A crowd gathered round the two men, star ing at them, but not interfering.
 He stole my child. It is two sum mers back" cried the man. |" He took her away from me-my little Marietta i; she was but four years old. What has he done with her! Let him tell me, or l will have his blood. We men of Las,r4 know how. to take our vengeance, and I have sworn to the Madonna that 1 will have mine
 !" 1 know nothing of your child" nut | tered Bruno chokingly, as he suove to wrest himself from that fierce clutch :; nothing. have never been to Lastra in my life"
 Lar v thundered the accuser, dash ing Bruno's head furiously aeainst the brick wall of the inn. Have 1 not seen you with these eyes a dozen times? Did not catch you speaking 10 the child tha day of the Corpus Christif And the neighbors know that you gave her toys and sweetmeats and fair words. know you we'll enough. Te l me where she IS z
 You wlll kill him." murmured a by- stander, but TIsta, trembling and looking on from his dark corner, saw that Brunos hand had found its way to his belt, and in another second there was d gleam of something bright, fash. a cry and the peasant staggered back with the blood gushing hot and swift from hls side
 Bruno did not waste second As the grip al his throat relaxed he sprang for ward to the doorway. He h ad forgotten all about rista, but even as DC reacned II his progress was arrested. The noise had penetrated to the streets.
 There came cry of "the grar the guard :. and Bruno reeied back into the shop, dark and sullen his teeth set like a mastiff s at bay, the dripping knf. stili clasped in his strong right hand, and all his heice, w1id soul aroused, and n re. volt even against the arm of justice.