Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-05
MARCELLINE'S TRIUMPH.

DOIue I6u nlGt6n
the mountains in the immediate
vicinity of Trieste. over among the
rugged passes of the Carnic Alps,
there is a small hamlet of huntsmen's
dwellings, and among them, though
somewhat isolated, is a sort of a
rough inn which used to serve as a
wassail house for the hunters, and
also as a shelter for travellers on
their way to and from Laybach. 1t
was cold. clustering evening in
March, and though there was no
storm, yet the blasts, as they ca me
sweeping and whirling, whirling a nd
bowling down the mountain sid es,
failed not to drive the people to the
cheer of the fireside.
Within the barroom 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 a happy chorus, and
anon bending a willing ear to the tale
and Joke. while nearer to the blaZ-
ing fire sat two men, strangers in the
place, who had arrived just at night
fall and engaged entertainment and
rest for the night. These two trav-
elers looked not much unlike COM
mon men, but there was a something
about their countenances that at
tpacted more than passing attention
from the hunters They did not be-
have exactly as honest men would be
supposed to have behaved, for in all
no,
dent aim to escape too critical OBJ.
servation. They had horses in the
stable, and were also provided with
large travelling sacks, which were
either entirely or nearly empty.
Ever and anon one or more of the
hunters would cast a furtive glance
toward the strangers, and once or
twice endeavored to draw the twain
IN conversation; but the two men
persisted in remaining by themselves.
and ere long they retired to the
room which had been allotted for
them.
'.Marcelline, said one CT the hum
ters, stout, middle-aged man, ad-
dressing a blooming maiden, who
return tonight?
mo, sir, F." returned the girl, she
comes not till the morrow.
''And has your master left you
alone?n asked the hunter.
''0h, no. Altzorf has left Lubin
with me"
''But Lubin is only boy-a mere
lad"
well, what of that?" replied
Marcelline, looking with some
what inquisitive glance at the
hunter
''Oh, nothing" said the man, evil
IDENTIFY trying to hide, as much as
possible, the fears or suspicious he
entertained; "only do not exactly
like the looks of those two men
whom you have just shown to their
ROOM
Several of the hunters Immediately
conceded with this opinion, but Mar
celline laughed at their suspicious.
"What an idea" she said "Why,
what do you take them for?"
ut is not impossible that they are
robbers returned the first speaker.
''Ha! ha! hap laughed Marcelline.
"Robbers in such place as this!
Let's see-there are about twenty
grosehen in the drawer, and l have
exactly seventeen cruitzers in my
little box upstairs! What a place for
robbers! My master took all the
money with him to Trieste, save what
have named.
"Marcelline, said the first hunter
who had spoken, edo you know if
your master received in trust large
wooden box from an old monk-who
went lately to the convent of St. Ce-
cilia?"
Eyes, he received such a one" re-
piled the maiden, "and it is even
now locked up in his strong-room.
''Well, It's not likely that these
men can have heard of that, Marcel
line replied, betraying a slight sur
prise at the knowledge she had just
received; "and if they had, they
would not surely dare to rob the
house"
Il don't know about that" replied
the hunter. Even in large cities
these robberies took place. You had
better let either Justin or Roland re-
main in the house tonight"
"Oh, no, had rather not-folks
would talk" uttered the maiden, as
she looked with a deep blush upon
two fair youths among the hunters,
who had been thus designated to her
Marcelline remained firm in her
determination to accept of no assist
anee, or rather guard. from the
hunters, and ere long they departed
to their several homes. The maiden
was thus left alone in the bar-room.
for Lubin was yet in the stable; and
as she found herself thus solitary,
she could not repress the feeling OF
fear that came over her. While the
stalwart hunters had been there, she
had felt bold and safe; but now that
they were gone, she could not ban
ish the spectre that intruded upon
her loneliness. The two men-the
stranger travelers-had indeed ex-