Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-05

tunlcS, tue party steppeu out inlc tn5
cold and singing air.
Up on the sidc-arc of q star-lustrous
sky Etna's peak stood out like wall
of onyx, against which it seemed that
one would crash at single steps adj
vance. Cecil and Janet shudderngly
contemplated the black cone for u
moment, and, after brief whispered
consultation, turned back TO the hospice,
refusing to attempt the ascent.
ut is cruel AID brutal to force any
one, against their will, into such hor.
rible experience exclaimed Janet in.
dignantly. "Ceci may do as she likes.
| shall remain at the Casa"
~ have always been an obedient
daughter" sobbed Cecil, "but this is too
much. positively refuse to go step
further F"
Poor little Laplock rolled his eyes,
first at the girls and then at Mrs. Lap.
lock and her sister, in mnmentary help.
less beMilderment; but any one could
have seen that he was secretly proud Of
their unexpected aud spirited resistance.
"Lillibridge Laploclt!" finally shouted
Mrs. Laplock in towering rage, Twill
you stand there like gibbe,ing IDIOT
and see your wife defied-d6flGd on
Mount Etna in the presence of grinning
hirelings! 7"
at is positively astounding" gasped
the alphabetically indignant Miss Cow
entry.
"Antoinctte Won Houler Coventry
Laplockl ! most undeniably, unequivo.
cally and unqualitiedly do! This thing
has gone on long enough. There are
one or two people in the Laplock family
beside yourself-not all Mind, perhaps,
madam; but still, matter; matter,
madam, that from this latitude, longi.
tude, altitude, time, date, hour, minute,
is going to be taken slightly into ac-
countr'
Never before had tho patient little
man conducted himself like this. Be-
sidea, the regolvers were again in his
hands, and the delirium Of joy at dis
covering himself at last an emancipated
man was so great that it set him dane
ing and whirling around and around
upon Etna's lava shoulder, like a
marionctte at a fair.
Mrs. Laplock shrieked and Miss Gov
entry also shricked. No one imme-
diately coming to their assistance they
slid down upon tine ground together, u
tumultuous heap Of humiliation and de-
feat; victims of arrested female develop.
ment at the hands OF tyrant man.
Then the guides kindly stood them
upon their feet again, while Mr.. Lap.
lock ran back TO the Casa; ecstatically
Rugged both the Young ladies while
vowing that the three would stand to-
gether the rest of their natural lives;
left them his firearms and the iniunc.
ton to be comfortable together as well
and as long as they could; and then, in
demure but still hilarious defiance, re.
joined the party, assuring the ladies that
he was at their service for the ascent of
the peak, or the descent of the crater
itself, if it would in the least contribute
to the happiness of the Laplock family
Mind.
Back at the Casa, Cecil and Janet
built rousing fire; barred the outer
door; tried the door communicating
with the little third apartment as well
as its outer door, which faces the path
to the crater; cuddled themselves upon
the hunks Tor another refreshing sleep;
and, when they were at last awakened
by the late morning sunlight streaming
through the little windows of the
hospice, set themselves diligently at the
loving task their conspiracy and sue
cessful rebellion had made possible.
This was letter to their betrotheds,
written by Janet, interlarded and
amended d score of times by both, and
finally hastily Transcribed and read
aloud by Cecil as follows:
Dear Winfield aud Tom: We write hastily
to YOU from the Casa Inglesi, near tile
summit of Mount Etna, where we have
secured few hours privacy, through an
act of absolute defiance. What may be its
dreadful results we cannot possibly
imagine. We are very miserable. Cecilis
mother is determined that we shall never
see either Of you again.
She also goes on terribly about lots of
other things.
We could not have secured this fortunate
opportunity of writing, had not Cecil's
poor papa also successfully revolted. 1t
was a terrible scene! We are very proud of
him now and love him more dearly than
ever.
But think, if you can, how we are stu
aled: Utterly alone (at this lnoment) in an
old stone hut at the top of this dangerous
volcano. Savage beasts may be prOwling
about us. The more dreadful banditta may
at any time attack us. Indeed, only yester-
day the guides and Cec's papa saw them
lurking around the Casa where we are.
But Mr.. Laplock left his pistols with US,
and we are resolved to sell our lives dearly.
Ii is all too horrible TO write about fur
ther. We both never believed human
beings could be quite so wretched.
Did you call at Rosemary Villa? Do
write us at once to the Hotel Continental,
Paris, where we shall be in the latter part
OF May, BE sure to send the letter in Mr..
| Laplock's care and to put "PersOnal' on
the envelope in several places.
DO believe us when we assure YOU we
were as cruelty deceived as yourselves.
] We were ordered from Brighton to Folke.
stone, through deceptive dispatch from
Cecils mother. When we learned the
truth, we could scarcely bearit How YOU
both must have felt, too! 1t was all per
| fectly dreadful
We have thought YOU might do some
thing. You would have Mr.. Laplock's
manful cooperation now. Remember
| where VIC are to be in May. We do not
know where we may be dragged to from
Paris. We are expecting the folks back
from the crater at any moment and must
close--hoping and praying for opportunity
to post this at Catania.
CECIL AND JANET.
7. S.-Don' t forget to send your letter in
| Mr. IIaplock's care.
Ps.-Write to us the very moment you
receive this.
.s.-We are both of US wretchcdIy
miserable. q. and ].
The reading of the letter was scarcely
finished when the door leading to the
locked apartment of the Casa was flung
open and two burly, bearded men, clad
in the picturesque garb of the Etna
region, sprang through, and in another
instant Cecil and Janet, speechlcss from
fright, were securely pinioned in the in.
truders' arms.
There could now be heard the voices