The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-30
AFTER LONG YEARS.

In the first cabin they dined sumptu-
ously and lived happy idle, luxurious
life In the steerage-heaven have mercyl
how they suffered
Millicent May shivered when she thought
Of it and wondered why such things
should be-why some were SO rich and
17rne so poor.
But one girl, though she was rich one,
had little in her power on that dosolate
waste CT waters. Still that little Mill
cent did.
In vain her friends demonstrated
Millicent had her own way. Once a day
at least she penetrated into the inferno
below the comparative paradise of her own
domain and fed those poor parched lips
with her dainoies.
And when, with land in sight, the little
heiress emptiod her purse into the dark
hand of penniless Storage passenger and
mado her for the moment rich and full of
hope, she turned toward her eldest boy.
''Never forget to pray to the Madonna
for this beautiful signorina, ''she cried.
Remember, it is all that you can do, and
my curse upon you if you forget it!''
She had given the woman her address,
but tho poor creature did not come to her
/ What fate befell her Millicent never knew,
and in time the memory of those classical
faces, gaunt and meager from starvation,
| ceased to haunt her
John Blair had met her, had looked into
her eyes, had touched her hand, had ut
tered those subtle compliments that win
vonlan's heart so easily, and though he
was neither rich nor great he was the one
man of men TO her.
| Six months from the day of their meet
| ing John and MiIlicent were married, and
happier pair would have been hard to
! find.
Only in one thing did Millicent prove
! herself misunderstanding could tempt her
to an ocean voyage. A tour IN Europe
was Johns anticipated pleasure, but her
experience in crossing the ocean had made
her averse to its repetition.
| So John, who had no wish to go alone,
| left the matter to tho cure of time. At
| last hoy almost as tall as herself called
| Millicent mother, and the nursery 7zas
musical with little voices.
| Then older and moro willing than ever
! to do anything to make John happy, Mill
/ cent agreed to the European trip, and the
| married lovers took their places in great
| ocean palace and left land behind them.
| They found themselves in Naples and
ready one bright morning to do what all
! visitors to Naples most desire to do
namely, ascend Vesuvius.
Nliliicent forgot her unpleasant sensa-
ton when, standing near the crater, her
| and looked upon the beautiful country be-
/ low.
John, glancing at his watch, counted
the time that lay between them and their
inn, and they began their descent.
The guide paused and uttered cry.
| Before them, risen as it seemed from the
very ground, stood Il group of men, who,
1 without further parley, surrounded thcm,
! and seizing the brides of their horses and
! tying the hands of the trembling guide
i behind hir led them away over the rough
mountain roads in silence.
John Blair was no coward, but to en-
deavor to resist such force would have
been sheer folly N q single man.
Booty, as ho reflected, was probably
their object, and his wife's safety was his
first thought Holding her hand in his,
! he conforted her well possible and
! finally, with sinking heart, obeyed the
orders of ono who seemed to DO the cap
/ tain and dismountcd at the entrance of an
old ruin, Into which they were forced to
enter.
Thon the guido fell to wringing his
hands and weeping and imploring the lady
and gentleman to pay whatever ransom
was required.
1T is always heavy ore for Ameri-
cans, " he cried, "and if you refuse your
cars will be cut off or you will be muir
dorcd outright. As for me, 1 expect death.
Some Of these men arc my enemies. 1
Ehot one of the band once. "
Tho last rays of the setting sun faded
from the narrow window, and darkness
fell upon the room. Then they heard the
sound of returning feet and presently the
christening of q door
A figure entered, and going to the fire,
| which had nearly snoldered out, flung
upon Il some dry wood, which kindled
into blaze, and by its flame liG two
torches which were thrust into sconces in
the wall.
BY this light they saw that it was
q woman, who seemed to have brought
some food for them upon sort of wooden
tray. She was old and gaunt and bent,
but her features had strange beauty
about them nevertheless and awakened in
Millicent's mind memory too vague and
indefinite for words.
In another moment the truth flashed
upon her as the woman knelt down to de-
posit the tray upon the floor. Sho uttered
q little cry, shriller one responded to it.
and the aaunt creature lay PROSTATE be-
fore her, kissing her garments.
cit is the signorinAH' she cried. And
Miliicent knew the Italian woman of the
cteerage.
''Then it is thus that Giacomo returns
benefit cried the woman. MY male
diction upon himl But he did not know
you-he cid not remember as 1 do. Wait
! You arc safe!''
In another moment he was there, and
Milliccnt knew that they were safe. Bad
rs he must have been, a bandit and an
outlaw, this Italian had retained his graf
itude.
He fed them with the best he had to
give and led them safely from his fast
nesses to d spot where the lights from the
city of Naples seemed to smile q welcome
to them.
There he babe them adieu, and the
guide, overwhelmed with astonishment,
conducted them back to their inn.-New
York News.