Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-02-07

Dy gust OF air. had my matches,
and OF course could easily light 1t again,
but was puzzled TO imagine the cause
of It's sudden extinction. looked about
me In the temporary gloom, and saw to
nv surprise q ray OF light proceeding
| from corner OF the very niche where l
had fixed the candle between two
stones. approached and put my hand
10 the place-a strong draught blew
through q hole large enough to admit
the passage OF three fingers quickly
relit my torch, and examining this hole
and the back of the niche attentively,
found that four blocks OF granite In the
wall had been removed and their places
supplied by thick square logs cut from
the trunks OF trees. These logs were
quite loosely fitted. / took them out
easily one by one, and then came upon a
close pile OF brushwood. AS gradually
cleared this away large aperture dis
closed itself wide enough for any man to
pass through without trouble. My
heart beat with the rapture OF expected
liberty; clambered uD-I looked
thank God! | saw the landscape-the
sky! In two minutes / stood outside the
vault on the soft grass, with the high
arch OF heaven above me, and the broad
bay OF Naples glittering deliciously be-
fore my eyes! clapped my hands and
shouted for pure joy! was free! Free
to return to life, to love, to the arms OF
my beautiful Nina, free to resume the
pleasant course Of existence on the glad
some earth-free to forget, II l
could, the gloomy horrors Of my prema-
ture burial. If Carmelo Neri had heard
the blessings I heaped upon his head
he would for once have deemed himself Q
saint rather than q brigand. What did
l not owe to the glorious ruffian! For
tune and freedom! for 1t was evident
that this secret passage into the Romani
vault had been cunningly contrived by
himself or his followers for their own
private purposes. Seldom has any man
been more grateful to his best benefac-
tor than / was to the famous thief upon
whose grim head, as knew. o price
had been set for many months. The
poor wretch was in hiding. Well! the
authorities should get no aid from me, /
resolved, even II I were to discover his
whereabouts Why should betray
him? He had unconsciously done more
for me than my best friend. Nay, what
friends will you find at all in the world
when you need substantial good? Few,
or none. Touch the purse-test the
heart!
What castles in the air built as /
stood rejoicing in the morning light and
my newly acquired liberty-what dreams
Of perfect happiness fitted radiantly be-
fore my fancy! Nina and would love
each other more fondly than before, l
thought-our separation had been brief,
but terrible-and the Idea Of what 1t
might have been would endear us to one
another with tenfold fervor. And little
Stella! Why, this very evening ] would
swing her again under the orange
boughs and listen to her sweet shrill
laughter! This very evening l would
clasp Guido's hand In gladness too
great for words This very night my
wife's fair head would lie pillowed on
my breast in an ecstatic silence broken
only by the music Of kisses. All! my
brain grew dizzy with the joyful visions
that crowded thickly and daZzlingly
upon me! The sun had risen-his long
straight beams, like golden spears,
touched the tops Of the green trees, and
reused little flashes as OF red and blue
fire on the shining surface OF the
bay. / heard the ripping OF water
and tho measured soft dash
of oars; and somewhere from
a distant boat the mellifluous voice Of
1 sailor song verso OF the popular ritor-
nello:
"Sciore d'amenta
Sta parolella mia tieuep amments
| Zompa llari llira!
Sciore limone!
LIE voglio ia mort de passione
Zompa llari llira!"
/ smiled-''mori de passionei" Nina
and I would know the meaning OF those
sweet words when the moon rose and
the nightingales sang their love songs ID
the dreaming flowers! Full OF these
happy fancies, inhaled the pure morn
ing air for some minutes, and then re
entered the vault.
To be Continued.
/