The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-07-22

ance. How to analyxe the cause more
calmly than did the leeches OF the Middle
Ages, when the plague slew 20, 900 in a day
in these streets. The contagion had leaped
from the black alleys OF the Mercato to thu
PendinO, Vicaria and San Carlo, as q vast
confagration spreads famed by the wind
The artist looked about him in~creduously
Night was filled with rumors, fitful dreams
! stitied cries and the rumbling OF heavy
carts. Day found the town haggard. Thu
King was coming. but before him was thu
archbishop. Saints, professions. miracles
might save from doctors and witches. A
Madonna had bowed to q worshiper in hel
church. Roger Hale had decided to return
to Rome by the next train. He went out
into the streets. Aprocession hemmed him
against a wall; girls, old men, children
swept past with a startled rush OF feet and
rags. A boy fell forward on his knees. the
old water vendor threw up her arms as Il
stricken by an invisible missile. Beyond a
crowd of gamblers fell into an ecastacy be
cause the lucky numbers had turned up fol
begged aims of the artist who waved them
off and returned to his hotel. How wretched
and sombre al the scene. Rain fell heav'
lily, and the wind, cold as November, agi-
tated the sea, hurting back noxious vapors
| at the town. Neapolitan malice circum-
vented Roger Hale. The boys prepared the
crowd for him.
"See! The foreigner comes this way.
He is the wizard. the poisoner, who brought
the pest to Naples. He scatters a powder
from his pocket on the air, in the salt. on
our food. He helps the accursed doctors
with his spells"
The idle listened, the turbulent paused
and scowled. As the artist passed the altar
imprOyised before a long concealed shrine
Of San Gennaro, and the door of the adj
'jacent pork-butcher, the latter sprang out
and seized him by the collar.
81 will teach you, wretch. to tamPer with
my wares so that nobody will buy them"
shouted the butcher. The artist believed
his hour had come, and the infuriated
man was about to kill him for some imagi-
nary wrong, To expostulate would be to
add fuel to the flames. More than once a
complete limpness of demeanor had saved
him from serious disaster. Suddenly the
butcher snatched up the sausage cake on
the bench. brushed by the strangers sleeve,
thrust the delicacy into his hand and
hissed: Eat it, or I will strange you!'
"Willingly," said Roger Hale. "Your
sausage is excellent" The butcher glow
cred; the crowd watched to see the foreigner
drop dead; a girl laughed; an old M
croaked. "He can eat it but another
would die"
The mirth changed to groans and cries.
A chorus of feminine voices expressed Il
desire to have the skin of Roger Hale. Two
guards attempted to force their way to his
rescue. The artist flung the sausage into
the butchers face, and with an agile
bound cleared the space behind the altar,
ing carriage. He was saved. The occu-
pant of the vehicle made way for him, too
much astonished for words.
"Lord! That butcher nearly did for
"You speak English?" demanded the new-
"Have you met Roger Hale at
Naples?"
Rapid explanations ensued. John Leg |
had just arrived. The artist learned of
his brothers death with contrition. He
confessed that he did not always read his
letters quite through and seldom
responded. The two men actually forgot
their surroundings for the moment
The King, accompanied by his brother, |
was approaching the royal palace, his car
riage breasting a human ave of clamor-
Gus subjects far as the eye could reach.
Years before the soldier, Victor Emanuel,
his shooting-coat, from San Rossore,
had undertaken the same heroic pilgrim
age.
Roger Hale doffed his hat.
'"That's the real article, you know"
luoth the artist; "Idon'tcare much about
kings. but when I meet a man drawer than
am l take off my hat to him."
In the railway carriage Roger Hale said.
nusingly:
1.-The picture must be Parthenope DESC
ate. a Niobe weeping for her slain children,
, Sibyl OUTLYING the griefs of a stricken
Ill t. H. lo.lr~,.,~I loor1 l n |
to ruin in the shadow Of Epomeo,
while at Parthenope's feet lies a dead
;hild, crowned with flowers, the summer Of
1884"
In the month of October Katy White
up through her falling tears to be-
1old John Leggat standingin the doorway.
He had his arm linked through that Of a
short man, as if fearing to lose him.
"My darling Katy" exclaimed John, tri-
''let me introduce you to Mr..
Roger Hale"