Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-17
THE CRIME OF POVERTY.
romantic Adventure and Trial ia an
Italian Garrison Town.

ROME, June PA curious and romau-
Tic story Of love under difficulties reached
Its denouementa few days ago in presence
Oh court-martial iii the city of Turin.
A sub-Lieutenant, named Carlo Poma.
an illustrious name in the history of the
Italian Resorglmento, while in garrison
at Brescia, in 1850, met beautiful young
working girl, with whom be fell in love at
hrst sight Having learned that the girl
was OF irreproachable character and be-
longed TO an honorable, though poor,
family, Carlo Poma resolved to make her
his wife. But it was necessary,
In accordance with Italian milf
tary law, that ne should have fixed in
come before beng allowed TO marry. AS
usual IN such cases the parents sternly
refused, and even cut of the allowance
he already received. They did not wish
| him TO marry beneath his rank.
The regiment left Brescia for Urea. in
Piedmont. Carlo POma was in despair,
| but he promised his betrothed that he
would return at the first opportunity.
shortly after he obtained a two months
| furlough. He FASTENED to BrescIa and
| the lovers were married the same even
! ing In the parish church OF that town.
! The civil marriage service could not be
| performed az the Lieutenant was unable
! to comply with the military requirements.
| The young officer returned to lvrea
with his wife. But military discipline
| is inexorable, and the Lieutenant was
| rather harshly reminded that he was
known to promenade in public and keep
company ''with a mistress" The young
officer understood the difficulty of his pO-
| sltOn and offered his resignation. His
! supporters were moved by has manly con
! duct, all interested themselves in the
! nephew Of POma, the martyr OF Beltiore,
and the Colonel, hoping that affairs would
| be arranged amicably with the young
| mans parents in "A short time, refused to
| accept the resignation.
! One evening after mess the officers Or
ganized card party at cate-a thing
| strictly fOrbidden-and the Colonel drop
| ping in unawares. his first glance fell on
| POma. The latter was condemned to 10
days confinement in barracks. After
serving 10 days, he stole out from the bar
racks one night to see his wife. He was
missed, and the little escapade cost him
months Imprisonment in the Fortress
/ Of Exilles.
/ And here the real romance begins. The
/ fortress OF EXIlles, perched on one Of the
| last SUBMITS of the Alps, remains buried
under its robe of snow tor eiZht months in
! the year, cut off from Communication with
! the world, and only occupied by a feeble
! garrison under the command of a major de
/ place. 1t was at EXllles, then in the pos
session of France, that the Man
with the Iron Mask was confined for
/ some months before being transferred
to PignerOl. The young wife, grown des-
/ perate by this unexpected separation. re-
I solved to Join her husband at all hazards
She travelled to Chiomonte, the nearest
village to EXilles, and entering the only
Inn in the place made the minutest in
/ quiries regarding the communications ex-
/ listing between the garrison and the village.
She learned that whenever a dispatch
came for Exilles the station-master
charged young shepherd with carrying
it over six miles Of snow that led to the
fort above.
The young woman then procured a tele-
/ gram blank, wrote on IL a dispatch to
Carlo Poma, and, disguised as a shep-
herd, was soon On her road to Exilles.
The costume lent itself admirably to the
I needed transfOrmRtion-the jacket, tue
large cincture, the short knee-breeches,
the big soft, dingy hat, the brown wooden
cloak. made the pretty girl Of few mo-
ments before wholly unacceptable. In
her excess OF prudence she even envel-
( oped her face with a handkerchief as If
she was suffering from tOOthache.
The sentinel glanced at the telegram
and let the bearer pass in. The messen-
! ger was conducted TO the prisoners cham
l Der. As soon as they were alone the
/ loving pair fell into one another's arms
! and wept for JOY. But grave reflections
soon succeeded these transports Of tender
ness. The young woman did not wish to
/ leave her husband, but q shepherd had
Z entered the foot and it was necessary that
a shepherd should leave it. Otherwise
! the cOmmandant would notice the viola
/ tiOn Of the order in looking over the re-
gster In the evening. Poma had no
difficulty In persuading one Of the prison.
ers to don the shepherd costume. and the
delighted soldier passed the sentinel, who
did not perceive that the messenger had
I grown several inches since entering the
| fort.
Thus the sombre prison Of Exilles was
changed into lovers paradise. But the
lovers prudence was not equal to their
devotion. Amusement and distraction
are something rare at Exilles, and, as was
natural, the officers Of the garrison had
received POma, a comrade Just arrived
from the outer world. with the heartlest
pleasure. Besides, in view Of the ex-
tenuating nature Of his ofeuse, be was a
deteHft rather than prisoner at Exilles.
He was accustomed 70 pass his hours Of
recreation among them. and he proved
delightful companion. Suddenly his
habits changed. BE became invisible, and
bis afternoons and evenings were spent
in private.
The commandant noticed it. One morn
+ ing under the preteXt Of having the walls
+ white washed, he entered the prisoners
chamber, accompanied by a workman.
The young woman had barely time TO hide
under the bed. The cOmmandant. without
the least a1ectatiOn. turned into all the
corners and examined the walls, giving
bis instructions 70 the workman, despite
the nr0testatiOns Of the Lieutenant, who
pretended that the Whteness Of the walls
would be Injurious % his sight. The com
mand ant, who was an old fox. detected the
dior az feuiiHQ; and, as soon as the work
man had left. be turned % POma and
5rusQuely said: "Lieutenant, there is a
woman hidden here. Give me your word
Of honor that l am mistaken and ] will
believe YOU"
"You are not mistaken, but the woman
Is my wife"
At these words the heroine coming out
from her hiding place, Tell sobbing at the
feet NJ the commandant. The command
ant helped her 70 her feet and added, with
exquisite courtesy:
do not De disturbed Madame. I shall
do you no harm; but regret 10 say I can
not permit you 70 remain here. BY duty
peis me 70 command Lieut.. POma 10
accompany you % Urea, where his supe-
rlor officers will decide on the matter"
The couple arrived st ivTta. where
Lieut. POina presented himself before the