The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-06-20

her. A mighty stone slab laid over
the walls formed the roof. She
heard voices inside. Hurriedly she
climbed over the stones that sep
arated her from the entrance and
pushed the curtain aside. She found
herself in space lighted by burn
I ing piece OF pitch pine and occupied
by Paolo Sayiello and two brigands.
One of these, fellow grown old in
a life of sin and crime. lay ON the
ground, mortally wounded. The
morning before Paolo, with three
bandits, had tried to stop a diligence
without expecting armed resistance.
They were received with well aimed
shots through the coach windows.
One of the robbers was killed at
once; the other had his chest torn open
by bullet. No attempt was made
tocapture the outlaws, and the coach
soon disappeared from view. Paolo
and the only remaining bandit car
ried the wounded man on their guns
to the place described. The latter
was doomed He breathed with great
difficulty, and there was no hope for
him to live through the night. Ihave
already explained that originally
Paolo Saviello was not a common
bandit. He had started his career
by revenging on individuals that
which really was the fault of circum-
stances. This mistake led him on to
the path of crime. Assoon as he be-
gan to rob men for their money he
was lost.
Yet his conscience was ever active
ly denouncing him. The more Paolo
through his misdeeds separated him
self from the society of the good and
the more savage he showed himself
toward the world the more unsettled
became his mind. frequently in the
night a secret terror would seize him,
and with fearful anxiety he would
look for a way out of his troubles to
a peaceful state of mind Sometimes
he thought of entering a monastery.
But then it occurred to him that
sanctimonious life would never ex-
tinguish from his mind the memory
of his crimes.
The first misfortune had befallen
him this morning-one of his old fel-
lows dead, the other one dying. Now
he listened to the labored breathing
of the wounded man. A voice with
in him spoke to him thus: 1.-The next
time it will be your turn, Paolo, and
when you are gone there will be re-
joicing among all the just ones wher-
ever your name is known. Feared
like a ferocious animal in Gods crea-
ton, you will end as such. :"
1. 4 i
before him. shaken by feverish tre-
mors.
At this moment the curtain was
lifted, and Signorina Evelyn, like a
heavenly messenger, appeared to his
enchanted eyes She was being of
strangely rare beauty, surrounded by
the glory of youthful innocence and
purity. The idea never occurred to
Paolo that this apparition could be
one of flesh and blood, like himself.
Overcome by awe, he fell on his
knees, crying: "Holy Madonnai
Blessed Virgin"
The signorina smiled at the pros
trate vagabond, who offered to her
the highest tribute of veneration,
carried away by his imagination. 81
am human being like yourself, =
she said, with a foreign accent, land
have lost my way. shall be CRATE
full to you for a shelter and protec-
ton for the night, and tomorrow you
may lead me back to Girgenti."
Paolo. still full of fear, rose to his
feet, and, touching her white fin
gers. which she willingly offered to
him, he said, Madonna, whoever
you may be, am your slave; dispose
of me-"
The signorina looked around in the
strange, narrow room, where, stretch
ed out on the ground, lay the two
bandits.
who are your" she inquired curl
ously.
Poor shepherds, Paolo answered
embarrassedly. I'VE have hidden
here from the storm"
"And the old gentleman there-he
looks SO pale. Is he ILL"
HE has fever, Paolo cautiously
answered. While he said this the
idea Mortified him that the stare of
the dying man might meet the un-
suspecting look of his guest. There
fore he said:
'I ann going to prepare you room,
where you may be alone"
He called Pietro, his comrade in
crime.
"wake up, Pietro. make room.
We have a guestI"
Half asleep yet, Pietro rose from
his couch, and glancing at the jewels
on Evelyn's arms he muttered to Pa
o1o:
"where in the devils name did
you get hold of herr"
Paolo, ashamed of the mans bru-
tality, said:
Keep still and do what 1 tell you.
She shall be treated like the Madon-
ma herself"
Heuntied the rope that carried the
curtain and turned it SO that the in
closed space separated them from the
dying man. Pietro stood aside lean
ing against the wall and observed
with cynical smile his captains ac-
tions, which he could not under
stand. Paolo spread his mantle on
the stones. and stepping back said:
"Be this your boudoir for the
night, madonnaI Could make these
| etonas to fr1I-T1 into soft ni11ovyS and