Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-05-29
AFTER LONG YEARS.

life. In the steerage-heaven have mercy!
how they suffered
Millicent May shivered when she thought
Of IL and wondered why such things
should be-why some were SO rich and
some SO poor.
But one girl, though she was rich one,
had little in her power on that dcsoIate
waste of waters Still that little Mill
cent did.
In vain her friends demonstrated
Milicent had her own way. Once day
at least she penetrated into the inferno
below the comparative paradise OF her own
domain and fed those poor parched lips
with her dainties.
. And when, with land in sight the little
heiress emptied her purse into the dark
hand of penniless stcerage passenger and
made 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 il :"
She had given the woman her address,
but the 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
woman'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 Millcent 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 the cure Of time. AT
last hoy almost as tall as herself called
Millicent mother, and the nursery was
musical with little voices.
Then, older and more 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 Nesuvius.
Millicent forgot her unpleasant sensa-
ton when, standing near the crater, her
husbands arm about her waist, she turned
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
Tie guide paused and uttered a cry.
Before them, risen as it seemed from the
very ground, stood group of men, who,
without further parley, surrounded them,
and Selling the brides of their horses and
tying the hands OF the trembling guide
behind him led them away over the rough
mountain roads in silence.
John Blair was no coward, but to en-
dpavor 10 resist such force would have
been sheer folly in "a single man.
Booty, as he reflected, was probably
their object, and his wifes safety was his
first thought. Holding her hand in his,
he comforted her as we'll as possible and
finally, with sinking heart, obeyed the
orders of one who seemed to be the cap.
tain and dismounted at the entrance of an
old ruin, into which they were forced to
enter.
Then 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 one for Ameri-
cans, " he cried, land if you refuse your
ears will be cut off or you will be muir
dercd outright. AS for me, ! expect death.
Some of these men are my enemies. l
shot one of the band once
The last rays of the setting sun faded
no do ri,
fell upon the room. Then they heard the
sound of returning feet and presently the
christening Of door
a figure entered, and going to the fire.
which had nearly smoldered out, flung
upon 1t some dry wood which kindlcd
into blaze, and by its flame lit two
torches which were thrust into sconces in
the wall.
BY this light they saw that it was
. woman, who seemed to have brought
some food for them upon "A 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 "A memory too vague and
Indefinite for words
In another moment the truth flashed
upon her as the woman knelt down 10 de
post the tray upon the floor. She uttered
"a little cry, shriller one responded to it,
and the gaunt creature lay PROSTATE be-
fore her, kissing her garments
1t is the signorina!" she cried. And
Milliccnt knew the Italian woman of the
stccragc
49, Then il Is thus that Giacomo returns
benefit cried the woman. My male
diction upon him. But he did not know
you-he did not remember as do Wait
You are safeI'
In another moment he was there, and
Millicent knew that they Were safe Bad
rs he must have been, "a bandit and an
outlaw, this Italian had retained his graf
itudc.
He fed them with the best he had to
give and led them safely from his fast
ncsses TO IA spot where the lights from the
city of Naples seemed 60 smile welcome
to them.
There he bade them adcu, and the
guide overwhelmed with astonishment,
conducted them bgck to their inn.
York News.
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