Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-03-31

Ss ohN -
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, speechiess from fright,
were securely pintoned in the int1uders'
arms.
There could now be heard the voices of
the returning guides, calling to their teth-
cred cattle as they descended the noun
tain, in advance Of the weary Laplocks;
and the captors stole out of the Casa to in
tercept them. There followed violent
gestures, excited chstteripg, the payment
of money and then the disappearance of
| the treacherous guides.
The disappearance of ths Laplocks,
which Immediately followed, WAS far more
| startling. Mrs. Laplock and Miss Coven-
| try entered the Casa at the outer door,
previously closed, that faced the mountain
side and now stood open, which was i'm
reached hand from behind the hut. Mr..
Laploek, who was following at some dis
lance, was quickly seizsd and shut and
barred within one of the little stone sta
bles standing some distance from the hut.
He struggled msnfully against inoarcera-
ton, but . few swift words from his cap
tors compelled silence.
Then the men In Sicilian garb ran into
the Casa as screams of women issued from
tho historic hut.
"Ld1libridgel" shrieked Mrs. Lsplock,
wildly. But there was no answer. "Ce-
Gill Janetl Are you alive and still un'
harmedp
eyes, yss-but In the hands of the same
captors az YOURSELF" came uncertainty
from the main apartment of the Casa.
"You will perish before you accsde to their
demands"
'tNo, won't, Cecil; no, indeed, won't!
Oh, what are they, Cecil, deara Quick!
Reveal them at once, and they shall all be
granted! Won't the banditti let you come
. little closer to our doorl Oh, please do,
Misters bandittii"
"We cannot. Mrs. Lsplock; for we are
a9ingly to the imprisoned Mind.
Then in rude Italian and In stern reoi ia
tive brooking no appeal, came q list of
their csptors' demands, with Cecils hest
tant and falterfng translstions.
"They say they are no ordinary outlaws,
but men Of position and standing who, un-
der the circumstances, are most desperate
in their discrimination"
"Graciousl" whispered Mrs. Laplock to
her sister. ''Perhaps they are noblemen
in disguise-that's better than professors.
Who knows, Corneliaa"
"Who knowsi" echoed Miss Coventry
chatteringly.
"rhey Say they first demand our hands
in marriage"
'Grantedl You won't mind that, will
| you, dearsi"
'Nol" and "Any sacrifice nowi" were
4 - an r IL
"They say" resumed Cecil, with great
emotion, s'that they will burn the Casa
over our heads If you do not solemnly
promise never, never, never to interfere by
look, act or deed, with our betrothal here,
our marrisge and our affairs ss husbands
and wives"
"Grantedi-gladly, gladly. Why, /
never heard Of such bandith in all my
Nfei"
"And, finally, they say they have learn
cd from the guides of your shameful
treatment of poor, dear papa Lsplock, and
that no mercy win be shown If you ever
again badger him, worry him, put upon
him, or conduct yourself towards him 9th
| er than ~ m aHsctionate wife, q lady OF
dignity and position and . cansiderate,
The societies all flashed before Mrs. Lap
looks eyes, and shs was silent.
'Tn heavens name. give In sister; give
mi" implorsd Mrs. Coventry.
''Grantedl" finally groansd Mrs. Laplock
In the hoarseness Of despair. Anything,
| everything for liberation from this dun
gson. IL never would have put upon
him ct I'll Il he had spoken mp like = man
| ut hrstin
The bar Of the inner door was Instantly
ts1rawn and Mrs. Laplock's Mortified eyes
beheld Cecil and Janet, pinioned Is at frst
but not BY the thongs Of Sicilian ban
ditti; for they wers held proudly IN the
arms OF the professors. who had for weeks
bsen tapping and hammering at old Etna's
lava sides.
"Tom, bring Laplock at once. Wen