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

tainly from the main apartment of the
Casa. you will perish before you will
accedc 10 their demands"
enc, ! won't, Cecil; no indeed / won'tl
Oh, what are they Cecil, dear? Quick! !
Reveal them at once, and they shall all
be granted Won't the banditti let you
come little closer TO our doorg Oh,
please do, Mistcrs bandittim
1--WE cannot, Mrs. Laplock; for we
are bound-Onch y Janet called back
discouragingly to the imprisoned Mind.
Then in rude Italian and in stern
recitatiye brooking no appeal, came a
list Of their captors' demands, with
Ceeils hesitant and faltering transla-
tions.
"They say they are no ordinary out
laws, but men of position aud standing
who. under the circumstances, are most
desperate in their determination"
"Gracious" whispered Mrs. Laplock
to her sister. Perhaps they are noble
men in disguise-that's better than pro-
fessors. Who knows, Cornelia ~
"Who knowsg" echoed Miss Coventry
chattcringly.
"They say they first demand our
hands in marriage"
"Grantcd You wont mind that, will
you, dears 2"
"Nop and "Any sacrifice now p
were Cecips and Jauet's instant re-
joinder.
They say" resumed Cecil with great
emotion, 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 betrnthal
here, our marriage, and our affairs as
husbands aud wives"
"Granted gladly, gladly. Why,
never head of such banditti in all my
lifar
And, finally they say they have
learned from the guides of your shame
full treatment of poor, dear papa Lap.
lock, and that no mercy Will be shown
il you ever again badger him, worry
him, put upon him, or conduct yourself
towards him other than us an atfec-
tionate wife, lady of dignity and posi-
iion, and considerate, Christian
womanw
The societies all flashed before Mrs.
Laplock's eyes; and she was silent.
I'm heavens name, give in, sister;
give in implored Miss Coventry.
"Granted !" finally groaned Mrs.
Laplock in the hOarseness of despair.
Anything, everything, for liberation
from this dungeon. IL never would
have flL upon him at all, If he had
spoken up like a man at first F"
The bar of the inner door was in.
stantly drawn and Mrs. Laplock's hor-
ritied eyes beheld Cecil and Janet, pin
Toned us at first-but not by the thongs
of Sicilian banditti; for they were held
proudly in the arms of the professors,
wAo>had for weeks been tapping and
hammering at old Etna's lava sides.
TON, bring Laplock at once. Wen
make a trio Of it, while the mood is on /"
whispered Rodgers to Tarbot.
In Il moment, Mr.. Laplock, putting
and blowing from his headlong haste,
with tears of joy trimming his eyes,
was among them.
"Lillibridge Laplock, we-are--
ruined !" sobbed his wife, sinking help
less!y into his outstretched arms.
"Antolnette Won Houler Coventry
Laplock lon the contrary, here in this
Jovian atmosphere, we are all at this
very M ment to begin lives of happi-
ness and peace"
And never rang out such "Hear =
hearsp such huzZas and such hurrahs
as then and there banished the dead-age
mountain myths atfrighted to their
caves and brought the grinning, swarthy
| guides 10 the hut, as on that pleasant
April morning pealed like marriage bells
of beneticence and bliss from Casa
lnglesi's doors far up Mount Etna's
blanched and serried heights.