Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-24
CHAPTER ".

The uurplo shadows OF the short SOUTH
crn twilight were creeping up the noun
tain side whom old Tommaso tore himself
away from his gossiping friends and sum-
m0ucd his children to leave the dance /;
but the evening was bright and balmy. and
the young people trudgcd gayly along u
c-oqs-road that led by a snort cut 20 Motta
Camastra. chatting over the incidents OF
the day, and often waking the echoes OF
the quiet night with their laughter. some
heavy thurder-clOuds were pihng them
selves in the eastern sky, ofninOuS OF one
of those Sudden storms which SOM times
break over the slopes OF Mt. Htna with
almost tropical violence: bat these they
needed little. nor did they remark how
grave their father had become until he
abruptly joined IN their conycrsation.
"Gioia miq.n he said kindly. turning 70
his daughter, hast thou never thought
of marrying? II wall be a sad day for me
when lose my little Fllomona; but j am
an old man now. and perhaps not long Tor
hi. world. God alone knows and should
not wish my cara 5Gmjnd 10 be left alone
when i am gone
that! " interrupted the girl; you know /
want never to leave Won; / am sure ! an
quite happy a. am. and as for belnc alone.
have / not vou and S.iycstro 10 take care OF
mc?" and che looked at her brother, whose
n
how well he would love and guard ms pref
II was manly and unseish thought,
and il wds his lat, for at that instant a
gun was fired from behind rock at the
side OF the road ard the poor fellow fell on
his face. shot through the heart. Ills
father had scarcely time 10 realize what
had happened wuen two mon, sprlnging
ont into the mOOulici Z. struck MN OF the
I. I,rr l.. f..ae 90
fcll TO the ground MORALLY wounded, cry
ing with his last breath TO FI)mena to cs-
cane. but she, poor child, stood rooted TO
the spot. gazing like one turned TO stone
on the CHASTITY tragedy which IL one short
minute had left her br0therless and an or
ph2u.
bent forward 10 rifle his victim, and, the
light falling full on his features she recog-
nizcd the man hy whose evil glance she
hal been so strangely troubled no the far.
Then an agouy Of terror seized her, and,
with a low wailug crv, size fed from the
place. tearing biindly across fields ana
fences. REGARDLESS of torn dress and bleed
ing feet. leapiu9 the stone walls and dltcues
lkea hunted tawn, without once looking
behind. Til at last, painting, sO5bluS, and
utterly exhausted. sne sank down III
lonely vineyard and lost COrSclCurncSs.
When sho cane 10 herself again large
rGirdrops were splashing heavily. on her
upturned face. the thundcrWas rolling and
cchOug among the rocks and caycrns of
the mountain. and the moon bad gone
down. leaving a pail of nsy darkness
around her, save wncu the VIVID fla hes of
lightning every now and tncn ~, up the
Wild scene with lCud hrlliancv, throwing
for an instant INFO bold rohet the rugged
outlines oi ruined Norman castle perch
q
swollen torrent which She could hear sui
lcnly roaring through the dark abyss be-
low.
Slowly straichtenirg her st.henod limbs,
the Young gIri rose aud pccrcd anXou ~
about hcr at a loss where to seek help in
her forlorn and de-oll-e condition, for IN
the mad terror Of her Sight she had taken
mo- heed OF the direction ~ which she had
oscanpd. Bv groping about with her hands
she discovered inGced THAT she was now in
n vineyard. bat il appeared 90 be only a
narrow patch 81 cultivated land perchod
lirh on amCuutaiu euu-, and shc could see
no san Of Lahitaton: nj last. however. as
her eyes became more accustomed 20 tho
intense darkness that followed the electric
flashes. she thought she perceive! 40 some
distance % faint thread OF l1nt which. az
she stumbled toward K, proved % como
from beneath the door OF q low. square,
stone-lut cottage. little larger tlan an
English cowshed. This gave hor fresh hope,
and summouing AL her strength she gave
fenIlp knock
"Cbr2n rcspoudod shrill female voice
from within
"A p,or miserable Girl who has lost her
,vo,-
"'rben Won must find r. a0ain. We want
no be--ar- horr.n replied tLcyOiC1 larel'y,
or1 Fiiomena heard ths bolt shot il tie
DON
"0h for nity's sake don't shut me OUT"
she cried inpiI6'rinriy. "or ] shall diel only
let rne.- sit hy your trc tin daylight. and
VIM go away. The saints VAL reward You
for your kiudues.."
"Post7. 0ud1'erl- enough. gO.n said the
voice SHARPLY.
But ann no 1ecrar. ] nave money. i
can, l... yOu well" pleaded the girl. who
now heard The bolt slowly drawn. while an
old woman. opcniue the door tcw inches,
Doercd ont inio the darknc--.
Are you aiono?n she inquired suspi-
ciou-lv.
Alas! yes" said poor Fl0mcua. her
ewes filing with tears as she stepped into
-he uddv clOam of light. which sparhlcd
.Drlcatly on her cold crucIfx AID earrings.
Ilcvomau drew her IN and secured the
donrarltu. sav!ng kindly. sit down. my
child and warm Yourself. 4 poor old
c7.,.,io ll.,ne has 10 he careful how She
admits STRANGERS IN such lonely place.
fh,-. ave- 50 Tranv bad poopla about. bat
l,o,. Wet Won ave. cIlid t"-a.d size ran her
Ion6s not uD-outlv through the girls
drlppin. hair. which hung ia rich tangled
1.q.',. over her shoulders. reaching % her
Irc,, What can have BROUGHT you out
on tbe mountain at tins time OF night :"
Size continued seeing how her guest
"but wait tail | rake the fire to-
gcther and then you shall tell ne all about
it,
II was not long before Fllomena, with
many sicls and tears. mad related her sad
story, to which the old woman listened
with great attention, soothing and pettlng
her ia, while with q kindness that soon
enaccd from the Young girls mind the
memory OF her previous harsh manner
And So" she said. when the tale was
finished, you lost all tho money ~
No" replied FilOmena II never
thought of that before. / have It STILL
father gave II me 10 keep. On, tnat ,ney
and brothcr,n
What" exclaimed her hostess win
unWOnted energy. YOU have the MoheN
Nou, wandering all alone ON q night Ike
tins; Glve 1t 20 me, nay dear am sure
you must nate the s!G ! Oh il-"ud Nlu
keep II safe Tor You t,u lle Hi"fIHi-' ave
N#a .