Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-17

uoor' VI course he would communion
with Lucia, although II would be full of dai
ger to her. Perhaps she would be disei
chauted to learn that be was an America,
Well, for her dear sake, he would be conteI
to lead in Italy that life OF sweet do notbip
which bad been his for the last two month";
bnt one thing he knew-that be loved bel
ana was willing to take all the chances Of he
love, by which 1t will be seen that he was
brave man and gentleman as we'll
VI course he was glued to the loRRia afte
that. lie wrote letter, telling Lucia 1
PLAIN manly language that he loved her, an
watched his opportunity to throw IL to her
1t came in day or two. Sue orept out a
mid day, and walked ostentatiously to th
opposite side OF the garden, from where sh
could SEQ Marsden. He waited until sh
turned stealthy glance in bis direction, an,
then he threw his letter, with the pebbles in
side, after the usual style of romanticists
boldly down into the garden. In an instan
sue new to pick it up she dare not let AM
such compromising document stay on thI
ground for one moment. As she slippt d /
In her bodice, the stout sister again ran out
What are you doing out here, siRnorina p
she called out, shrilly.
Nothing" responded Lucia, with perfec
GOODNESS.
Then come in at once You know viii
not report you to the Mother, and 10 you i'm
pose upon my good. nature"
Lucia stood up, tall, beautiful, and self
POSSESSED II love TO walk in the garden. u
she said, in clear bell like tones. Of which
Marsden heard every word. 1.-THE only han.
py moments | have are here. l would like
never to leave it, and intend TO steal out
here whenever can"
Marsden's heart beat furiously. The sister
attempted to hurry Lucia down the path.
Go you first" said the girl. II will fol.
low And from behind the sisters broad
back she waited Marsden kiss on the rosy
palm of her hand.
Marsden felt his honor az much engaged TO
this girl az II be had given hundred pledges.
But M he had her welfare dearly to heart, he
meant to proceed with the greatest caution.
Evidently she did not expect to be soon re-
moved from the convent. For the next few
days he employed himself thinking out an
elaborate plan of escape for her. First. to
get her out OF the convent. Nothing better
mad ever been invented than the traditional
rope-ladder to get outside Of walls. The diff
nculty had been to proceed afterwArd, But
then came In the resources OF civilization.
Love, supplemented with money, can work
miracles. He strolled down to the little rail
way station, learned by heart the hours of
the trains, and made friends with the anna
Ole and obliging person who kept the book
ing once. lie found that for surprisingly
little money he could get anybody he chose
the Mother Superior herself-awav from
the little station, without the station master
taking any particular notice. He had some
American friends in Florence with whom be
communicated, and whom be prepared At
any time to receive a beautiful young crea
ture escaped from convent. II, found out
that King Victor Emanuel had made tbipos
much easter for clipping couples than had
once been also that the consent of the
church was not impossible to gain, after the
civil marriage had once taken place. or
course sometimes be stopped and asked him
self II be were not in a dream. Often he
regarded himself with amazement. but hia
strange intatuation triumphed over all the
assaults OF reason. He had written one day
In his choicest Italian a letter to Lucia. offer
ing her his plan, and going into the minutis,
OF now be was to secure the consent of
Mother Church to their marriage in Florence.
lie waited until evening when, as the night
was hne, be doubted OF Lucia would appear
IN the garden. He stationed himself on the
balcony, letter in hand to wait for her "a
soon as twilight set in. He saw the moon
rise slowly over the hills Lucia loved moon
hight. II she came at all, she would come
before nine O'Clock, when all the lights were
out and her absence would be at once de-
tected. Time passed. 1t was ten minutes
OF nine as M4rsden struck his repeater. He
felt consumed with dismay at the prospect of
twenty Hour hours more of anxiety before he
saw bis letter safe in Lucia's hands. SIND
denly be heard whispered "SiRnore."
Crouching behind his chair was Lucia
Marsden felt something like an electric shock
Is he came face to face with this girl. She
was even more beautiful than he supposed
and she was the picture OF modesty and bash.
Iulness. In his heart he excused her. before
she opened her lovely mouth to plead for his
pardon as Juliet did for Romeo's.
II could not help it." she murmured. 81
was afraid they meant to take the away. l
heard them talking about it. Then should
never have seen you"
Marsden clasped her hands You must
aave come to me some time. You only came
little sooner than had dared to hope"
Lucia began to cry. You are the only
person in the world who loves me, Nv
ather shut me up in the convent to make me
nun. l could not-would not"
Marsden started up. There was no time |
or dallying. In fifteen minutes the whole |
convent would be aroused. Already he heard |
he banging of doors and the turning of |
ocks as the sisters began to make fast for the |
light.
Lucia" he said. hurriedly, 'you will |
rave to trust me. Had We time, We might |
~ together to Florence, but as it is, nv un.
expected departure would at once point to |
ne a. concerned in your fight Will YOU 90
sHhout me to the house of an American fam.
" In Florence? The night train passes
trough here 10 few minutes. can put
'ou ON it, telegraph to my friends there TO
meet you one station outside of the CITY.
Iou might be tracked to the station here.
nd as l will buy your ticket to Florence,
hey might telegraph to have you Intercepted
here. DO you understand ?"
Yes, said Lucia, with bright, intelligent
yes. And, sgnore, do trust you. have
cousin in Florence, she added.
M4rsden was hastily taking some money
ut OF his desk as she spoke, and sezinR her
y the hand, he led her down the stairs, out
nto the narrow village street, and sped to-
'ard the little railway station. He chose his
ray through the lonely streets. Lucia had
n her head mantle, with which she con.
called her features. She was feet of foot.
nd Kept up easily with Marsden's powerful
trlde. As they entered the dimly lighted
latlon they heard the train laundering in.
larsden rushed to the booking station,
ought whole compartment, got q time. ta-
le, which he put with some money in LuciAs
and, and barely had time to put her in the
arriage He kissed her hand reverentIy.
nd promising to join her within forty.eiRht
ours, saw the train move out, and the first
lep In the plan of escape apparently sue
esstul. de sent long telegram to his
merican friend in Florence, couched in Ian
uage which the telegraph operator could not
nderstand. Then he went up to the ticket
gent and showed him bank note,
keep this quiet for twenty -four hours"
e said
The man grinned. "When they ask me. I
Ill say 1t was short, dark man who was
18th the lady, he said
Marsden sped back to the Villa Estrella. It
ad all happened so quickly he scarcely knew
hat he was about. As he passed the CON
emit he saw lights glimmering, and the whole
lace In an uproar. He slipped noiselessIy
the staircase, although by that time the
lila Estrells was beginning to stir, and in
oment was in his accustomed seat on the
aleony, smoking furiously.
Naturally he began to fear the wisdom of
Is hasty plan of escape; but the more he
lnsldered It, the more his alarm Quieted.
llthln day or two he knew she would be
aced to Florence, but he would yet have "a
ours to act. No suspicion would attach TO
M de had mentioned puTposely to Count
1trella that be was going away on an excur-
on for few days, and his departure next
" would occasion no surprise. Once In
lorenzo, he could get the assistance of the
merlean consul, who would be unworthy OF
10 Stars and Stripes II be could not battle the
lorentine police, the --latest in the world. In |
use any accident happened to his telegram,