The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-10-26
CHAPTER ii.
THE TEMPEST.

The Duke of ARGOS had governed the peo-
| Pile of Naples for the last three years, and
this was not the first time that Isabella had
| heard their words of complaint and cries of
distress. Either from want of energy or ex-
| cess of love, the viceroy allowed his daughter
| to do pretty much as she liked; and she had
| long since given proof of the liberty she EN-.
| joyed by entirely breaking Off with her
| maids of honor, to form elsewhere acquaint-
| ances moro in unison with her ideas and
| tastes.
On hearing that the people were oppressed,
| she resolved to examine their condition and
prove for herself their misery; and this was
one of the causes of her mysterious walks
about the city of Naples.
Her two confidants were Dame Pedrilla
and sly young Castilian, named Inez, the
| same who was at present fulfilling the func-
| tons of Cerberus ct the door of her apart
| ments
Dressed in a costume beneath which it was
| impossible to recognize her, the daughter of
| the viceroy fearessly visited tho steep and
| somber streets Of Naples, which form con-
| tinual staircase that you ascend and descend
/ in turn
| At other times she mixed with the labo-
| rious population of the harbor, and when she
/ met with any one in need of assistance Dame
| Pedrilla drew forth a purse, and few Span
| ish ducats were slipped into the hands of the
unfortunate person, who was hardly ever
| allowed time to express his thanks for Isa-
| bella Immediately disappeared, and was soon
| beyond the reach of oil words of gratitude.
But Isabella's benevolence was more par
| ticularly exercised in favor Of those fisher
men who then lived outside the city, and
| whose wretched cabins scattered about the
| Mergellina, betrayed great Indulgence, if not
complete restitution.
One day, as she was leaving one of these
cabins with joyful heart, for she had just
! saved whole family from ruin, she ex-
pressed wish to go out for sail on the
bay, and run over to Procida to eat oranges
| there.
Pedrilla and she. therefore, went down to
| the shore, and begged young fisherman
who was mending his nets TO convey them to
the island in his bark.
II will do SO willingly" replied he, with
out quitting his work. "The sea is calm, and
was about to take my sister Jeanne out for
| a little trip. So, If you like to go as far as
| my hut yonder and fetch Jeanne, we will set
out directly"
Isabella ran off in the direction mentioned
| by the fisherman, and soon returned, accom-
panied by tall, handsome girl, with seri-
| Gus expression of countenance and proud,
noble look, resembling princess hidden be-
meath the poor attire of a woman OF the
lower classes.
"Good evening, Jeanne" said the fisherman
| to his sister as she approached.
"Good evening, brother" replied Jeanne,
| Offering her fine forehead to her brothers
lips. you've not been lucky, see."
"No, Jeanne, have not. caught a mag
| nifcent salmon but he broke through my
net at the very moment was about to drag
him into my boat. He got off quite safe, and
| this will cost me two days work. / do not
complain. When the slave breaks his chain
| Il is his master who suffers; il is but Just.
| Has Dom Francesca been heref'
eyes, brother, and be left this letter for
you"
The young fisherman took the paper which
Jeanne offered him and attentively perused
its contents
"Dom Francesca" said he, "cannot como
| for a week, and no begs me to visit him at
his convent tomorrow. wonder whether
| he's ILL.,"
"Alasm replied Jeanne, "that would be all
that is wanting to complete our misery"
"TranquiliZe yourself. l rccollect now
that he has shut himself up to finish his great
work before submitting 1t to the court Of
Rome. But you appear melancholy, Jeanne.
What is the matter with youi Pietro came,
no doubt, to see you yesterday, as he
promised"
"Pietro was seriously wounded last night
by the soldiers of the viceroy, replied Jeanne.
"Heavcnsl what do hearf'
at was his father himself who came and
told me Of 1t. I Immediately hastened to
their cabin and dressed his wounds"
kind, good grill your presence, doubt
less, proved salutary balm to him. But do
you care much about the trip / promised
your added he In a low voice, taking his
sister aside. Don't you think that should
do better to go and pay the wounded man
vistr'
"No, for be has just got somo rest, and
must not be disturbed. Besides, we have not
farthing in the house; all Pietro's things
have been seized, and he also is without
money. have not been able to 60 to mar
ket, and 1t win, you say, take you two
days to repair your nets So, how are we to