Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-05-31
Saved from Banditti.

gToupe OF savage and worse than saw
age bandiiti. Two of them had sur
prised her down below on the pass,
and had dragged her up to this place,
small plateau among the CalabrIan
hills-above towering heights. above
d zzy depths; no hope, no chance OF
escap'. no ruth in the dark faces around
her. Was she to be assigned TO the
chief, or gambled for, or fought for
among the infamous crew?
She was a beautiful girl, dressed in
the picturesque Ne4polItan peasant
dress; but she was not a contadina.
! Beat ice was a circus rider and trape-
zist, an upright and honorable girl,
leading, despite her perIlous calling,
blameless lite. She knew what fate
awaited her now, and even in the agony
| of such dread ana terror. as only a
woman can know, her quick. keen
| brain was devising some means of es-
ctpe-to death, if not life. She could
face death with unAInching gaze, she
| had only one fear now-the fear of
| dishonor.
/ Thtre were six of the men, including
the chief They mad drawn apart, aud
were talking among themselves, with
many a glance toward the motion less
figure of the unfortunate captive. she
would have sprung over the preci-
| pice, but her feet. too, were shackled,
10 prevent any such attempt.
Suddenly, from behind piece of.
jutting rock, a seventh bandit made
MS appearance tail. handsome fell
low of % or 26, picture to delighl the
artists eye; but probably as ruthless a
ruflian as the rest. He stepped out
| close to Beatrice, and was evidently
ignorant until then of her captiyi v.
for he started, and half exclamation
escaped him. But he paid no heed 10
BealrIce's appealing look; whether be-
cause the others were looking that way,
or because his heart was full of revenge
and bitterness, she could not tell, but
she feared the latter, and the moment
tary flash of hope in her heart sank
and persisted
For this man was Andrea Cavozzi,
once fellow performer with Beatrice,
and passionate lover of hers; but he
had tluled too much with Tessa Yer
oui. uni she, wild with Jealous anger,
had declared that she would never
speak To him again. He left her, VOW
ing tnat if ever they two met again it
would be his turn; and, impulsive Cal
abrese as he was, he joined the bril-
gands-so rumor had it, and rumor
spoke truth, for there heiwas and Bea-
trice felt that her quondom lovers
prophecy had come to pass. 1t was
bis turn; would he take his revenge?
He had turned awav from her mute
appear; she dared make no other. The
brigands were almost ignorant of
Andrea's original calling; at any rate,
certainly of the cause of his association
with them. CsvsZZi was the last man
to make himself the butt Of brutal ieers
and be would keep his own counsel.
He joined the others and talked with
them. Beatrice heard him laugh care
lessly; her heart sickened. He was
utterly hardened; he meant TO leave
her to her fate. Could he, who had
once been so gentle, have become so
brutahzed9
The men approached her; the girl
he'd her breath, Cavazzi. she noticed =
for nothing escaped her-kept in the
background
NOW then,n said Avieto the chief =
and dice were brought out. They
were going to play for her. Suddenly
q thought came to her.
"Ecceenza, she said to the chief.
He turned round.
"Ebbene, Carissima2n with a look
that was an insult.
you are going to throw dice for me-
she said. tWill you give me a chance
to make choice il | earn up"
They all laughed.
"How can you earn itP" said Avieto
with q sneer.
Il am not peasant; | am a trape-
zist 1 could walk the tight-rope
across this chasm.
ii was 600 feet TO the bottom Here
she was interrupted. All exclaimed,
those of the men WHO had seated them
selves sprang to their feet.
''Ay. It's true," said Andrea, speak
ing for the first time. Il have seen
her at Naples dance the tight-ropa. fly
tue trapeze. ride TO make one marvel"
The wretches looked at each other.
Let her earn choice" said three
or four together.
The glances interchanged negatived
the words Beatrice knew very we'll
there was no hope of good faith. She
had another scheme--a desperate and
daring one, but at the worst it was
death; indeed there seemed little chance
Of life
"Sbe might choose handsome Cav
azzL eh?' said one
That's il! chnckled the chief
Wei. il was a good idea of the girls
They would have gratuitoua eXhibi-
ton of her skill. aud she would no
more have her choice at the end than
at the beginning Maybe Andrea'S
handsome features aad splendid per-
sonality had caught her fancy; she
thought anyway, that he would be a
less hateful master than any of the
others. But none OF them had the
least idea of relinquishing his claim -
least OF all il favor of Cavazzi, who
was regarded as half hearted robber,
too merciful and ScIupolous by far.
I'VE can't stretch the rope over the
| rbacO1 - said AyiatO. ,tnn npa aau ,ras