Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-28
AFTER LONG YEA Rs.

In the first cabin they dincd sumpvo-
ously and lived happy, idle, luxurious
life In the steerago-heayen have inercyi
how they suffered
Millicent May shi,ered when shcthought
Of IL and wondered why such thipts
should be-why some were so rich aic
some 80 poor.
But one girl, though she was IL rich one
bad littic i'm her power on that dcsoiat'
waste az wat"rs. sun that i!ttle MiNt
cent did
In vain her friends remonslra,,i
Miliccnt had her own way. Once g..
ut least she penetrated into the !nfyra
below tie comparative arad-cof her ~
domain and fed those poor parchcd III.
with her dainties.
And When with land in sight, the i,tl'
hciless empt!cd her purse into the G...t
hand Of "a pcnnilc,S Storage passenger ae|
made her for the moment rich and fuh ,+
hope. she turned toward her eldest boy
"Nevcr forget 10 pray 10 the madonna
FOR Iii, beautiful >ignoeina she erica
"Remcmbcr IL j. all THAI YOU can do, aiJ
my curse upon you If you forget it''
She had given the woman hcr address
but the poor creature did not come 10 her
What fate bcieil her Alilli"cut never knew,
and i'm time the memory of those classical
faces guunt and mc8 ger from starvation
ceased 90 haunt her
John Blair had met her, had looked into
her eyes. had touched her hand, had Ut.
tered thu~c subtle compliments that win
woman heart so easily. and though ho
was neither rich nor great he was the one
man of men 10 her
six months from the day OF their meet.
ing John ard Millicout were married, and
happier pair would have been lard 20
find
Only ia one thing did Miliccnt prove
herself misunderstanding could tempt her
20 an ocean voyage tour in Europe
was Johns anticipated pleasure, but her
experience in crossing the ocean had made
her averse - its repetition.
80 .Iuhn, who had no wish to 90 alone,
left the matter TO the cure 81 dine At
last hoy almost rs tall rs herself called
Millicent mother and the nursery WA
musical with little voices
Then, older and more willing than ever
TO do anything 60 make John happy, Mill.
cent 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 al
visitors To Naples most desire To do
namely, ascend NosuyiuS.
Milicont forgot her unpleasant sensa-
ton when, standing near the crater, her
husband ; arm about her waist, she turned
and looked upon the beautiful country be
low
John, CHANGING 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 them, risen rs it seemed from the
gcry ground, stood group of men. who.
without further parlcy, surrounded them,
and selling Che 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-
draNor 10 resist such "a force would have
been sheer folly in "a single man.
Booty. as he reflected, was probably
their object and his wifc's safety was his
lrst thought. Holding her hand in his,
he comfortcd her as we'll "a possible and
finally, with sinking heart obcyed tho
orders Of one who seemed 10 be the cap
tain and di,mountcd at the entrance of an
Old ruin, INTO which they were forced &c
enter.
Then the guide fell TO wringing his
hands and weeping and imploring the lady
and gentleman To pay whatever ransom
was required.
1t l. always heavy one for Ameri
cans he cried, land if you refuse your
,ars will be cut off or you will be muir
Tered 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 fade
from the narrow window, and darkncs
fell upon the room. Then they heard tn
sound OF returning feet and presently TIN
Infa>tcning Of "a door
\ figure entered, and going to the fir,
which had nearly smodered out, fun
upon 1t some dry wood, which kinGl"
into "a blaze and by its flame lit ~.
torches which were thrust into sconoes n
the wall
BY this light they saw that it VIZ
a woman, who seemed To have brougl
some food for them upon "a sort of woodo.
Tray. She WAS old and gaunt and hem
but her features had u strange beaut
about them nevertheless and awakened 81
Milliccnt mind a memory too vague ar
indefinite for words
In another moment the truth flaShr'
upon her aS the woman knelt down To de-
post the tray upon the floor. she uttcrc,
= little cry, shriller one responded 20 il
md the pauut creature lay PROSTATE be
,Ore her, kissing her garments.
1t is the signorina!" she cried. Anc
Milliccnt knew the Italian woman of tb'
Storage.
"Thcn it IS thus that Giacomo return
! bcncGtl' cried the woman. My male
dic;ion upon hin But he did not kno,'
you--he did not remember as | do Wait
You are safen'
In another moment he was there ant
Millicent knew that they were safe Bat
As he must have been, "a bandit and al
outlaw this Italian had retained his graf
itude.
He fed them with the best he had t.
give and led them safely from his fast
nesSes To u spot where the lights from TIA,
city of Naples seemed 60 smile "a welcome
20 them.
There he babe them adicu, and the
guide, overwhelmed with astonishmcnt
conducted them back TO their inn.-Ncw
York News.