The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-01-04
LONG YEARS.

ously and lived a happy, idle, luxuri-
GUS life. In the stccrage-heaven have
mercy!-how they suffered.
Millicent May shivcrcd when she
thought Of it and wondered why such
things should be-why some were so
rich and some so poor.
But one girl, though she was a rich
one, had little in her power in that
destitute waste of waters. Still, that
little Millicent did.
In vain her friends demonstrated.
Millicent had her 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 dainties.
And when, with land in sight, the
little heiress emptied her purse into
the dark hand of a penniless steerage
passenger and made her, for a mo-
ment, rich and full Of hope, she turned
toward her eldest boy.
Never forget to pray to the Madon-
Tia for this beautiful s%ignoria," she
cried. ''Remember, it is all you can
do. and my curse upon you IL you lot
get it,"
She had given the woman her ad.
dress, but the poor creature did not
come to her. What fate befcl her Mil
licent never knew. and in time the
memory of those classical faces, gaunt
and meagre from starvation, ceased to
haunt her.
John Blair had met her and looked
into her eyes and touched her hand.
had uttered those subtle compliments
that win a woman's heart so easily.
and though he was neither rich nor
great, he was the n man to her.
Six months from the day of their
meeting John and Milliccnt were a
ried. and a happier pair would have
been hard to find.
Only in one thing did Millicent prove.
herself notwithstanding could tempt
her to an ocean voyage. n o IN
Europe was Johns anticipated pleas
ure, but her experience in crossing the
ocean had made her averse to its repe-
tition.
So John, who had no wish to go
alone, left the matter to the care OF
time. At last q boy, almost as tall as
himself. called Millicent mother, and
the nursery was musical with little
voices.
Then, older and more willing than
ever to do anything to make John hap
| py, Millicent agreed to the European
trip, and the married lovers took their
| places in a 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 Mount Vcsu-
wins.
Millicent forgot her unpleasant sens
alton when, standing near the crater,
her husbands arm about her waist,
she turned and looked upon the beau
tiful country below.
John. glancing at his watch. counted
the time that lay between them n
their inn, and they began their de-
scent.
The guide paused and uttered a cry.
Before them. risen. as it seemed. from
the very ground, stood n group Of men.
who. without further parley. surround
ed 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-
deavor to resist such a force would
have been sheer folly in a single man.
Booty. as he reflected. was probably
their object, and his wife's safety was
his first thought. Holding her hand In
his, he comfortcd her as well as pos
| sible, and finally. with a sinking heart,
obeyed the orders of one who seemed
to be the captain. and dismounted at
the entrance of an old ruin, into which
they were forced to enter.
Then the guide fell to wringing his
hands and weeping and imploring the
lady and gentleman to pay whatever
| ransom was required.
at is always a heavy one for Amer
icans,' he cried, land if you refuse,
your ears will be cut off or you will be
murdered outright. AS for me, I ex-
pect death. Some Of these men are
nv enemies. l 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 of returning feet,
and presently the unfastening of a
door.
A figure entered. and. going to the
fire, which had nearly smouldered out,
flung upon it some dry wood, which
kindled into a blaze, and by its fame
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 a sort Of
wooden tray. She was old. and gaurt
and bent, but her features had q
strange beauty about them, neverthe-
less, and awakened in Millicent's
mind a memory too vague and indef-
mite for words.
In another moment the truth flashed
upon her. as the woman knelt down to
deposit the tray upon the floor. She
uttered a little cry, a shriller one re-
sponded to it, and the gaunt creature
lay PROSTATE before her, kissing her
garments.
at is the signora!" she cried. And
Mill;cent knew the Italian woman Of
the steerage.
+ Then it is thus that Giacomo returns
a benetit!" cried. the woman. MY
malediction upon him! But he did not
know you-he did not remember, as I
do. Wait. You are safe"
In another moment he was there,
and Millicent knew that they were
safe. Bad as he must have been to
have been a bandit and an outlaw,
this Italian had retained his gratitude.
He fed them with the best he had to
give. and led them safely from his
/ .--. IL Ns-AA-