The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-04-10

make as much out of me as possible by
means of various small and contemplate
items, and then to go with broadly hon
est counterance to the nearest police
station and describe my suspicious ap-
pearance and manner, thus exposing me
10 fresh expense besides personal annoy
ance. With the rare tact that distin-
gufshes the southern races the Captain
changed the conversation by reference
to the tobacco we were both enjoying.
at is good, is it not?' he asked.
Excellent" answered, as indeed it
was.
His white teeth glittered in smile Of
amusement.
1T should be one of the finest quality,
for it is present from one who will
aot smoke nothing but the choice brands.
All, Dio! what fine gentleman spoilt is
CarmeIo Neri!"
could not repress slight start Of
surprise. What caprice of Fate asso-
ciated me with this famous brigand? l
was actually smoking his tobacco, and l
owed all my present wealth to his stolen
treasures secreted in my family vault!
"You know the man, then?" / in
auired with some curiosity.
know him?" Aswell as l know N.Y.
self. Let me see, it is two months
-yes-two months to-day since
he was with me on board this
very vessel. 1t happened in this
way was at Gaeta. he came to
me and told me the gendarmes were
after him. He offered me more gold
than ever had in my life to take him
to Termini, from whence he could get to
one of his hiding-places in the Monte
maggiore. He brought Teresa with
him; he found me alone on the brig-my
men has gone ashore. He said, Take
US to Termini and I will give you so
much. refuse. and / will slit your
throat" Ha! ha! ha! That was good.
laughed at him;-I put a chair for
Teresa on deck, and gave
her some big peaches. l
said, See, my Carmelo!
what use is there in threats? You will
not kill me, and shall not betray you.
You are thief. and a bad thief-by
all the Saints you are-but / dare say
YOU would not be much worse than the
tel-keepers, If you could only keep
your hand off your knife (For you
know, Signor, if you once enter a hotel,
YOU can get out againD Yes,-and /
reasoned with Carmelo in this manner:
i told him, 4 do not want a large for
tune for carrying you and Teresa across
to Termini,-pay me the just passage
and we shall part friends, If only
for Teresa's sake Well he
was surprised. He smiled that
dark smile of his, which may mean graf
itude or murder. He looked at Teresa.
She sprang up from her seat, and let
her peaches fall from her lap on the
deck. She put her little hands on mine
the tears were in her pretty blue e.es.
You are a good man. she said. Some
woman must love you very muchp Yes
she said that. And she was right.
Our Lady be praised for it!''
And his dark eyes glanced upwards
with a devout gesture of thanksgiving.
looked at him with sort of jealous
hunger gnawing at nv heart Here was
another self-deluded fool-a fond wretch
feasting on the substantial food of a
pleasant dream,-a poor dupe who be-
ieved in the truth of woman!
"You are happy man" said with
a forced smile, ''you have guiding
star for your life as well as for your
boat-a woman who loves you and is
faithful? is it sop
He answered me directly and simply,
raising his cap slightly as he did so:
.sYes. Signor = my mother"
was deeply touched by this naive and
unexpected reply-more deeply than l
cared to show. A bitter regret stirred
in my sOul,-why, oh why, had my
mother died so young! Why had /
never known the sacred joy that seemed
10 yibrate through the frame and
sparkle in the eyes of this common
sailor! Why must ! be forever alone,
with a curse of a woman's lie on my
life, weighing me down to the dust and
ashes of desolate despair! Something
in my face must have spoken my
thoughts, for the captain said gently,
1.-THE Signor has no mother?"
"She died when / was but a child"
l answered briefly.
The Sicilian pulled lightly at his
cigarette in silence-the silence Of an
evident compassion. To relieve him Of
his friendly embarrassment, said,
lyon spoke of Teresa9 Who Is
Teresa?'
"Ah, you may well ask. Signori No
one knows, who she is; she loves Carmelo
Neri, and there all is said. Such
a little thing she is,-so delicate! like
foam-bell on the waves; and Carmelo
You have seen Carmelo, Signor?'
/ shook my head in the negative.
"Ebbene! Carmelo is big and rough
and black like wolf Of the forests, g..
hair and fangs:-Teresa is, well you
have seen a little cloud In she sky at
night, wandering past the moon all f1eck-
ed with pale gold:--tLat is Teresa She
Is small and slight as child; she has
rip2ling curls, aad soft praying eyes,