Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-10-13
NIARCELLNE.S TRIUMPH.

Some ten or fifteen milcs beyond the
mountains in the immediate vicinity Of
Trieste over amoug the rugged passes
of the Garlic Alps, there is a small ham,
let of huntsmcn's dwellings, and among
them, though somewhat isolated, is u
sort of rough inn, which used to serve as
wassail house for the hunters, and also as
shelter for travellers on their way to aud
from aybach. 1t was a cold, buster
ing cvcnu. in March, aud though there
was no storm. yet the blasts as they came
sweeping and VIII sting. whirling and
bowling down the mountain sides, failed
not to drive the people 10 the cheer of
the fre>ide
Within the bar room of this humble
inn were collected some half dozen of the
Alpine Hunters, who passed the mug and
tankard with good zest, now breaking
into happy chorus, ard anon lending
awiling ear to the tale and joke, while
nearer to the hazing fire sat two men,
strangers in the place. who had arrived
just at nightfa!l and engaged entertain.
ment and rest for the night These two
travellers looked not much unlike COM
mon men, but yet there was something
about their countenanccs that attracted
more than passing attention from the
hunters. They did not behave exactly
as honest men would be supposed to
have behaved. for in all their move
ments there was an evident aim TO escape
a too critical observation. They hal
horses in the stable, and were also pro-
vided with large travelling sacks, which
sacks were either entirely or nearly
empty. Ever and anon one or more of
the hunters would cast a furtive glance
towards the strangers, and once or
twice they endcavorcd to draw the twain
into conversation; but the TWO men per-
sisted in remaining by themselves, and
ere long they retired to the room which
had Ecen al otted for them.
"Nlarcelline,n said one of the hunters,
stout, middle-aged man, addressing -
blooming maiden. who stood behind the
bar, 'does Ait:orf return tonight"
mo, SIR" returned the girl, che
comes not till the morrow"
"And has yoar master left you alone.'
asked the hunter
~"uh, no. Alrzorf has LETT Lubin with
me-"
But Lubin is only boy--a mere
lad"
s'Well, what of that?a replied Mar
cclline, looking with somewhat in
ouisitive glance at the hunter.
so, nothing said the man. evidently
endeavoring 10 hide as much as posi-
BILE. the fears or suspicious he enter
tanned; ''only do not exactly like the
looks of those TWO men whom you have
Just shown 10 the room"
Several Of the hunters Immediately
conceded with tn s opinion, but Marcel
line laughed at Their suspicious.
''What an idea, she said. "Why,
what do you take them for?"
ct is not impossible that they are
robbers" returned the first speaker.
cha! ha. ha.." laughed Marrcllinc.
t'Robbcrs in such place as this. Let's
see-thcrc are about twenty groshen in
the drawer, and have exactly seventeen
cruit2ers in my little box up stairs .
What place for robbers. My master
took ali the money with HIM to Trieste,
save what have named"
"Marccline,' said the first hunter
who had spoken, as he stepped forward
and bent his head over the bar, "do you
know if your master received in trust u
large wooden box from an old monk
who wcat lately to the convent of st.
Cecilia"
eyes, he received such one" replied
the maiden, land it is even now locked
up in his strong room."
THAT box contains the massive silver
plate and ornaments of his convent The
monk left it until his return"
"Wcll, It's not likely that these men
can have heard of that" Marccline re-
piled bctravng 81 ght surprise at the
knowledge she had ,ust received; "aud
if they had. they would not surely dare
to rob he house
II don't know about that returned
the hunter Given in large cities these
robbctics take place. You had better
let Justin or Roland remain in the house
tonight"
80, no, l had rather not-folks would
talk" uttered the maiden, as she looked
with deep blush upon two fair youths
among the hunters, who had been thus
designated to her.
Marcellinc remained firm in her de-
termination to accept of no assistance,
or rather guard, from the hunters and
ere long they departed to their several
homes. The maiden was left alone in
the bar-rcom, for I.ubin was yet in the
stable; and as she found herself thus
solitary. she could not rcpress the feel
ing Of fear that came over her While
the stalwart hunters had been there she
had been bold and safe: but now, that
they were gone. she could not banisa
the spectre that intruded upon her lone
illness. The two mea-lhc stranger
traveers-had indeed exhibited any
thing but pleasing countenances, and
poor Marccllinc now began to repent her
self that she had not accepted the kinG
hunters offer
Half an hour passed, and Lubin came
in from the stable Marcellinc, how
ever, said nothing to him of what had
TRANSFERRED, but only requested Inn to
be in readiness to respond TO her sum-
mons in case she should have occasion to
call him during the night. The boy
then went 10 his bed. and once more the
maiden was left alone. Nothing broke
the stiffness Of the night save the blasts
that howlcd among the Alps, and for
half an hour longer she sat by the is>t
decaying cmbers in the fireplace. 1:le
maiden thought surely that if ,He
strangers meditatcd harm. they would
have been, ere this, on the move; f.nd
with the throbb ne of her fear-lailen
+" ~, somewhat quoted, she raked up
cu. upon the hearth, extinguishcd
the lamp that hung above the bar, and
then taking her candle she started for
aer room.
Marcclline had passed through the
narrow entry. assembled the stairs and