Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-17
Glow did she get of " asked Marsden.

. That is what they don't know. From
= eight to nine at the convent is the study hour
= Signorina Mario was not a pupil in fact
she was kept there ia confinement. IL ia
I busy hour with the nuns At nine o'clocl
! she was missed She often stole off TO the
garden at that time. 1t was searched, but nc
trace OF her can be found. The sisters are
nearly frsntic"
! mo doubt she is concealed somewhere
away.
1T is impossible There is knocking at
the door. Go you with me-"
Marsden went down with the count. As
they unbarred the great outer door of the
villa, which Marsden had just noiselessly bar
red up, they saw the pale and anxious faces
OF two sisters. Que was the good-uatured
stout one that Marsden had often seen before I:
the other burst into tears.
An, count, she wept Lucia is gone this
time she is lost, 1 fear. What shall / say
10 her father But may we not search your
garden2 You know she il little devil. and
might only be in hiding 10 alarm u.s."
Count Estrella at once agreed. And here
10 my friend Signor Marsden, an American.
What do you advise us to do, senor ?"
search the village thoroughly >" said Mars
den, promptly. II suppose she did not have
any money!"
Not penny replied the sister.
ed Marsden.
Nor had she any accomplice" eagerly nut
In the stout sister II can warrant that"
Then it is easy, " said Marsden, decisively,
she is in or about the village"
AS they picked their way into the garden,
searching with lanterns, and calling Lucia
Lucia J! Marsden asked Count Estrells the
cause OF Lucia's being virtually imprisoned
in the convent.
/ iiDO VIM not Lno.r - g.
behavior Z" answered he, in emRzsment II
thought you had heard Well, first, because
her iatneF Is afraid to live in the house with
her. When she was fifteen years old she
| pulled his beard out, and beat him With cud-
gel until he was almost dead" Msrsden
could scarcely believe his ears. He did not
In the least believe Count Estrells His low
atty was proof against hearsay testimony.
ana when her father got the padre of the
parish to speak to her, she boxed his ears and
tore bis cassook off his back. 1t was new
csssock" Marsden longed to choke Estrells.
But that was not the worst, he continued
as ne walked by Marsdens side, pokine the
lantern into the masses of shrubbery. II
went with them, at VIncentio's request, when
ne took her before the archbishop, because
Do wanted to try all moral means before re-
sorting TO the police. She kicked the arch
olshop In the stomach so hard that he ruptur
ed blood-vessel and has kept his bed ever
since. de will never be we'll again." This
was what Count Estrella had seen, not heard
MarSden felt as If he had received a blow.
The strong man reeled like druukard. But
Estrella went on without noticing it. "IshsU
never forget when we went before the Pre-
tect OF Police. She swore 30 fercely that she
would throw Vitriol on him il he dared to i'm.
PIlson ner that he was terribly frightened,
and refused to do anything with her Then
her father brought her to the convent"
How has she behaved at the convent ?"
Marsden managed to gasp forth
Inc sisters had by that time Joined them.
EHcellently-excelently, cried the weeping
one although Padre Anselmo who has
known her from child, told US good beha-
Vlor BODIED no good with Lucia Mario. She |
only beat the Mother Superior once and
threw few dishes about at first. but latterlv |
she has been as gentle as a lamb, and only |
cared for the garden"
Marsden's infatustion cent out a beam of
nope. Perhaps her love for him had tanned
her.
Suddenly there was an addition to the
group. benevolent looking priest had Join.
ed them. 1t was Father Anseimo.
II was sent for in haste to the convent and
found them 80 excited and hysterical that I
came here to see if l could not CLEAN soma
trella. ~ 10
Estrella presented him to Marsden.
An, this Is sad business he said shaking
his head. Our poor friend vincentio p
linen the sisters poured forth volubly the
tale OF LUCAS flight
Tor one would not like to be the one to
mud her, whispered Estrella TO Marsden.
she would as soon throttle me as not"
Msrsden in his anguish was struck bv the
dignity an amiable countenance OF the priest
so Keen was the blow he had received that he
iet strange longing for sympathy. Almost
involuntsrily he felt impelled to con6de in
him. ''>'o ~
Let us 60" said Marsden, land look
around the village. She is certainly not
here" NV
The priest seemed to understand that Mara.
den had something to say to him. They walk.
ed oack into the villa, and into the court
yard. Marsden held the padre, and said to
him, hoarsely, Tell me about this girl"
Father Anselmo did not look surprised. He
knew too much of human nature to be amaz.
ed at any Of its manifestations.
IAN that | can say" he said, Struggling his
shoulders, ls that think it useless to search
for her. advised her father some time Aoo
to let her marry a young man In Florence
remote cousin of hers, whom she has taken a
fancy to marry. But nothing will ever tame
her"
Marsden groaned aloud.
My friend" said the priest, "you know
about Lucia"
Nj Tsd could not have spoken to have
'Aved his life, The padre gave him a quick {
ana penetrating glance. He saw Marsden was
IF you have any share in the flight of that
unhappy girl, be frank with me. have I
known her from baby hood. She il a little
lend. Her first husband shot himself; her
second ran away" I
She is but seventeen" almost shrieked |
''She is certainly not older, answered Faith.
sr Anselmo, "but she has been twice married ,
he second time four weeks after the death Of !
ler first husband. The cousin whom am
convinced she has now run away to marry {
vas once much in love with her, but he be- =
,ame little timid. II, however, Lucia once a
puts her eyes on him, he dare not refuse"
But, said poor Marsden, ''she was 30 t
gentle, so doye-like." 4
The padre had hard work to keep smile !
rom coming on his face. you ought to 4
lave seen her kick the archbishop" he said. I
lie took off his beretta and showed Marsden a
! long red scar on his forehead Just below the +
lair. ''She gave me that one day when she 1
anne TO me to confession" 4
Marsden felt hope departing from him. ST a
rust you as q man of honor" said he and e
10 made clean breast of it to Father Ansel- q
no.
"Give yourself no further anxiety" said n
be padre, when he had concluded. al am Il
convinced she has gone to her cousin Antonio, h
saw him hanging about here some weeks /
go, and wrote her father. Lucia professed a
o have ceased to care for him. That was a r
ign she had not" a
Just then g flock of black. robsd sisters q
poured into the courtyard in search of Father @
Anselmo They had found q note from Luz ii
ia. Father Anselmo put on his spectacles,
lOunt Estrella, who had appeared on the
Gene, held the lantern, and the sisters wept A
nd exclaimed in chorus. The note ran: /,
DEAR FATHER ANsELMo-To-night pro- a
lose to take the train for Florence to Join my n
lear Antonio. have behaved so well lately a
hat have scarcely been watched at all. / h
limbed up the ilex-tree and broke OF a a
ranch or two 30 l could make the acquain- n
Anoe of the American who lodges at Villa "
lstrella. He is good fellow, and, did not il
nean to marry Antonio from spite, would o
axe my American. When this reaches you @
hail be on my way to Florence. II the sis n
ers dare TO have me stopped, will return to O
he convent and put out the eyes of some of
hem. LUCIA MARIO.
Il told you 80, said the padre, folding up II
he letter carefully. n