Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-06-24

! $1,000 49, w iAiis,'l q IliOlliGilA lOUEE III
the vault. The swarms of beggars that
infest Naples exhibit themselves in
every condition OF rags, dirt, and
misery; at the very worst | could only
be taken for one of them And what
ever difficulties | might encounter, no
matter. they would soon be over.
Satisfied that had placed Me brig
and coffin in a safe position, | secured
the pearl and diamond pendant had
first found, TO the chain round my
neck | intended this ornament as d
gift for my wife. Then once more
climbing through the aperture,
| closed 1t completely with the logs and
hrushwood as it was before, and ex-
amining it narrowly from the outside,
| saw that it was utterly impossible to
discern the smallest hint of any en-
trance to subterranean passage, so
well and cunningly had it been con-
trived. Now, nothing more remained
for me to do but to make the best of
my way To the city there TO declare
my identity, obtain food and clothes
and then to hasten with all possible
speed 10 my own residence.
Standing on a little hillock, | looked
about me to see which direction [
should take The cemetery was sit
uated on the outskirts of Naples
Naples itself lay on my right hand.
| perceived n slipping road whiting
in that direction, and Judged that if |
followed it it would lead me to the
city suburbs Without further hesita-
ton ! commenced my walk. 1t was
now full day. My bare fe, sunk deep
in the dust that was hot as desert
sand-the blazing sun beat down
fiercely on my uncovered head but
felt none of these discCmforts: my
heart was too full of gladness. | could
have sung aloud for delight as | step
ped swiftly along toward homeland
Nina! | was aware of great weakness
ir my limbs my eyes and head ached
with the strong dazzling light; oc-
casionally, too, an icy shiver ran
through me that made my teeth chat
ter. But ! recognized these symptoms
as the after effects Of my so nearly
fatal Illness. and | paid no heed TO
them A few weeks rest under my
Wlfe's loving care. and knew | should
be as we'll as ever. | stepped on
bravely For some time ! met no one
hut at last | overlook a small cart
laden with freshly gathered grapes.
The driver lay on his seat asleep. his
pony meanwhile cropped the green
herbage by the roadside and every
now and then shook the jingling bells
On his harness as thpGgh expressing
the satisfaction he felt at being left
to his own devices The piled-up grapes
looked tempting, and | was both hun
CRY and thirsty. ! laid a hand on the
sleeping mans shoulder; he awoke
with start Seeing me, his face as
su1ned an expression Of the widest
terIC he jumped from his cart and
sunk down on his knees in the dust,
imploring me by the Madonna, st.
Joseph, and all the saints to spare his
life | laughed; his fears seemed 10
me ludicrous. Surely there was moth
ing alarming about me beyond my
paucity OF clothing,
Get up, mani | said Il want moth
ing of you but "a few grapes, and FOR
them | will pay" And ! held out to
him a couple of francs. He rose from
the dust, still trembling and eying me
askance with evident suspicion, took
several lunches of the purple fruit,
and gave them to me without saying
word. Then, pocketing the money
| protfered, he sprung into his cart
and lashing his pony till the unfortu-
nate animal plunged and reared with
pain and fury, ratified off down the
road at such a break-neck speed that
saw nothing but a whirling blot of
wheels disappearing in the distance
was amused at the absurdity OF this
mans terror What did he take me
for | wondered? A ghost or brigand?
| ate my grapes leisurely as / walked
along they were deiciously cool and
refreshing -food and wine in one
n. ct several other persons as ! neared
the city, market-people and vendors Of
ices--but they took no note Of me
in fact, avoided them all as much as
possible On reaching the suburbs |
turned into the first street saw that
seemed likely to contain a few shops
II was close and dark and foul-smell-
ing, but | had not gone far down IL
when ! came upon the sort of place |
sought-a wretched tumbled-down
hoyel, with a partly broken window,
through which a shabby array Of
secondhand garments were to be dim
ly perceived, strung up for show on
pieces of coarse twIne II was one of
those dirty dens where sailors, return
ing from long voyages, frequently go
to dispose Of the various trifles they
have picked up in foreign countries.
so that among the forlorn specimens
of secondhand wearing apparel many
quaint and curious objects were 10 be
seen. such as shells, branches Of rough
coral. strings OF beads, cups and dishes
carved out Of cocOa-nut dried gourds.
l.. L. 81