The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-28


divide when our leader, halting called the
younger woman 10 his side and whispered
10 hen for a lew seconds Then turning 10 us
with "a smi' : he requested ms 10 alight Then
he explained that for reasons we would un-
deIsiand later il was necessary that we
permit our eyes TO be hlindiOlded. SuitinE
the action 10 the words, the girl removed
her bright us lyerchicI and bound II around
my head, whispering at ihe same time moi
10 fear. for lcr father would be true TO has
word. The girl then took my hand in hers
and led me slowly up the pathway. We
evidently had struck a rich adventure, and
had ioI some time been reaching the soiu-
tion ol tie mystery 10y accepting The bIigand
theory. which my companion had signaled
10 me sometime before.
Doubts rose in my mind, only TO be dis
PEELED by the
SOFT WARM HAND
which held mine, while gentle whispers, IN
soft Italian. oi comfort and encouragement
made me determined to brave Death or any
other termination 10 our adventure.
Halt au hour OF weary stumbling The
evident pas.a of n sentry, a bridge and the
crest at iie m0untain-ior we were gong
down uow-when my guide stopped me, aud
with quick fingers loosened the bandage
and once more lei in the light Of day.
Turning quickly to see If my companion
In bondage had also arrived, j found that
the girl aud myself were alone. How charm
ing! A pretty Italian hrGandess, the lone,
rocky, mountain path, the stiffness oi abso-
lutte soliUae--can you believe that our
gallant Ml.hipman under such clrcum-
stances did not DO a little quiet flirting?
or course hc did, and his manly bosom was
not piercgd by any sharp stiletio. no, The
warm blood oil the Southern heart had leapt
in quick response TO our kind ac,'on, aud
now. where DO eye could see, we leaped the
reward as, with both hands holding mine,
she. boiling over with words OF heartfelt
blessings l0r saving her father, showcrcd
kiss after Liss upon my lips, eyes and
checks.
j was overpowered absolutely nom
plusspd, breuthess, when The sound OF
footsteps brought a sudden ending TO my
Elysuh. The mother appeared, leading my
friend. who Nas soon freed from has bondage,
and like myself restored 10 sight. And then
falling on their knees the women poured out
such a
STREAM OF PRAYER
10 the Holy Mother as would almost have
saved a villain from Purgatory
The stranger American came in for bless
ings. and then quickly SOLDERING they lead ms
once more downward, and in a few minutes
we entered a little village, which lay quite
concealed, nesting under The sharp shoulder
OF the mountain.
few suIly, bad-lool,ing men and some
women appeared In the street, and exchanged
salutatioas with our guides, but there was
nothing 10 tell that We were in nest OF
brirauds ] then and there made up my
mind tiai every SiCilian town was made mp
of robbers Cut-throats and priests, and that
the whole island was nothing more than a
Tobban rOust
Our guides halted before a house a little
more prc,ruti0us than the others, and nock-
ing the GoaF ushered MS iut0a large room which
took up the whole front OF The house
ID was furnished rather bCt.cr than is usual
IN thc houses o. tle poor, aud there WAS no sign
Of poverty such as would compel arrest for
small debts. Evidently it was In the man 8
other la that De was q staryciHg.
Tic matToa now u-harcd us uto a bedroom
iust back which evidently The daughter usually
occupied. tor the traces OF feminine hand,
and THAI Young one, Was evident In the
DAINTY FITTINGS.
We were not left in doubt; Tor entering.
Blanca Ter such was hcr name. frankly tod
us tha, d Was iCr and that she willingly gave
ii up to Bs tne sayloTs Ol heT dear father.
IakiuE down s. few dresses and some little
pcfs0ra 0Hau nis from draw, she loft Us 10
Tesi Whlie tl.e supper WAS preparing
Wei, aEe IH for ID now Judge" said my
friend "Il brisauds--"
"Iu-ul they are not brigauds; only ordi-
nary sic.iaE citizens. Don't for a mUmout
by WUul 0l act llt % be seen that YOU suspect
anything, aul remember thai every word sou
say is overheard by someone. This momeht Il
probably Toe ouiy one we viii have not under
espo.nal 50 don't say any more. ] want o.
carry uE Dale 0ut Wish mc. Ne have the Old
mans eIafItulo, but that won't last long. The
main iact i that we have NO money, aud arc
% tier Know edge worth nothing 10 tie way
OF ransom. Jlat fact alone saves rs. hn-
other thing De discreet about tie girl She
can oniy gc, us into trouble if we are too Dc
voted.
My companion, with many rrumbles, prom
Used o. DE- HUIe careful, and We removed tbl
stains Of oul travel aud prepared Tor the din.
ner geHlg Rap on ille door, aud The mother
came lu, Cargiulty shutting ID quickly behind
Aer IHcn Do almost q whisper she warned D,
THAT thurC were
MANY BAD ,uN ABOUT.
and that We must De very careful. what we az
Hnd saIG; uot ~ take notice Ol any strange
thiHg we asW, aud a50Yc all not 10 show at
teDt.0u - .ImCai who WIS promised iu mar
Tlage 10 s. c1ueiu, who would bg iu the house
y
Will ils hII.c. The master would end cDui,
Ir0ilci u- EI.rss we made Trouble; then l
was IaHnl 10 iutericrc, aud thcu-With
tiguiLraut ..l.rE ei ler shoulders she pIgsse,
hoI lilrI l0 Del. .ips aud withdrew.
BeiOlg RC UUuls comment upon Tie warn inl
the summons O. dinner came, aud with fueI
iuFo dIagEIr Wc leit our chamber aud eutere
the living .IgH1. q WAS empty, but aimOs
predatory our Luat entered, ACCOMPANIED n
PgLt sHlaH whom ] 30 once remembered q
ono Ol iHr strangers j bad seen and converse
with ln j. lerH0; bat 81 be gave no sign q
recognition 4 made none aud our host intro
ouce7 LtH as L.s nephew, who on tie morTOl
would slIuH us tie ruins at A., as he hin
Eelf would be unable
fuuE.n- Irc ol questions and answers 70
lowed until Lauca appeared, followed By ho
mother bearing ii hinge dish of steWod goa
meat Cu.d cHe-1C black bread a4d q rougl
ECl Niac
COMPLETED THE REPAsT,
which though strong aud garI.cky, was :
ample guaut.ty, and 10 our sAarpcucd appctit,
very good.
Nc Hrl ate Grst tho women going IN an
out aud on.y sitting down when We had GI
lsAcG hua Hl.Ela CruuaT thg Gro 30 smoke on
pipe a.c raarots Daring iHc meal c0uyers
tl0H haa ceased but lAu lari. rvas ri the youn
DEAD WgIe constantly Bpou us With evident a.
trust o." iIauca moved near 10 see that "
Wcre IIeuiluIly provided
Bul nothing happened, and as the wone
immHD.Ht..E Withdrew when the supper w.
H |I.f.rF III.