Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-01-10

OF il and wondered why such things
should be-why some were SO rich and
some 50 poor.
But one girl though she was rich one,
had little i'm her power on that desolate
waste of waters still that little MILL
cent did.
In vain her friends demonstrated.
Milliccnt had her own way. Once n day
ut 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 littlo
heress cmptied her purse into the dark
hand of a pcnniless steerage passenger aud
made her for the moment rich and full OF
hope, she turned toward her eldest boy.
"Never forget TO pray 10 the Madonna
FOR this beautiful signorna, she cried.
Remember, it is all that you can do, and
my curse upon you If you forget II!
She had given the woman her address,
but the poor creature did not come to hor.
What fate befell her Millicent never knew,
and in time the memory of those classical
faces. gaunt and moagcr 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 II
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 Millicent were married, and
happier pair would have been hard TO
find
| Only in one thing did Millicent prove
herself misunderstanding could tempt her
10 an ocean voyage. \ tour in Europe
was Johns anticipated pleasure but her
experience in crossing the ocean had made
her aVcrsc TO its repetition.
so John, who had no wish to go alone,
left the matter to the cure of time. At
last a boy almost as tall rs herself called
Milliccnt mother, and the nursery WAS
musical with little voices.
Then, older and more willing than ever
10 do anything To make John happy, Milf
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.
Milliccnt 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, glancng at his watch, counted
the time that lay between them and their
inn, and they began their descent.
The guide paused and uttered "A cry.
Before thom, risen rs it seemed from the
very ground, stood group of men, who,
without further parlcy, surrounded them
"a
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 On
draVQr To resist such force would have
been sheer folly in single man.
Booty, rs he reflected. was probably
their object and his wifc's safety was his
first thought Holding her hand in his
he comlortcd her aS we'll ~ possible and
finally. with II sinking heart, obeycd tho
| orders of one who seemed In hc the emp
tain and dismountcd ut the entrance Of an
old ruin, into which they were forced To
entcr.
Then tho guide fell To wringins his
hands and weeping and implorng the lady
and gentleman To pay whatever ransom
was required.
1t is always u heavy one for Ameri-
cans, he cried, and If you refuse your
ears will be cut off or You will he muir
derod outright. As for me, | expect death.
Some of these men are my enemies, |
/ shot one of the band once
The last rays OF the setting sun faded
| from the narrow window, and darkness
| fell upon the room. Then they heard the
sound eff returning feet and presently the
unfaStCning of a door
a figure entered, and going to the fire,
which had nearly snoldered out, flung
upon it some dry wood, which kindle.l
| 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
"A 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 a. strange beauty
! about them nevertheless and awakened in
| Milliccnt's mind u memory too vague and
! indefinite for words.
In another moment the truth flashed
upon her a. the woman knelt down to de
! posit the tray upon tho floor. She uttered
"a little cry, u shriller one responded to it,
and the gaunt creature lay PROSTATE be-
fore her, kissing her garments.
II is tho signorinal" she cried. And
! Milliccnt knew the Italian woman of the
| Storage.
"'Thcn il is thus that Giacomo returns
a benefit cried the woman. My male
dic;ion upon him But he did not know
you--he did not remember rs do. Wait
You are Safe
In another moment he was there, and
Milliccnt knew that they were safe. Bad
~ lac must have been. "a bandit and an
outlaw, this Italian had retained his graf
itudc.
lie fed them with the best he had to
give and led them safely from his fast
nc>scs t. - spot where the lights from the
city of Naples seemed 60 smile a welcome
| to them
There he babe them adicu, and the
guide overwhelmed with establishment,
conducted them back to their inn.-New
| York News.
! \ Portal Card scheme.
In the course Of time large manufaot-