Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-06

HASH VI LIS eyes, i huShs ueopiGr III
protestations, that if Carmelo NeI
lever did get clear Of the galleys,
would be an excellent thing for him
Luzi3ni's vessel CHANGED to be within
reach.
You have your brig the Laura
still?'' l asked him.
Yes, eccellenZa, the Madonna b
praised! And she has been newly rig
ged and painted, and she is as tri
and trim craft as you can meet witt
in all the wide blue waters of III
Mediterranean"
Now you see,'' l said, Impressiyely
1 have a friend, a relative, who is il
trouble: he wishes to get away from
Naples quietly and in secret. vii
you help him? You shall be paif
whatever you think proper to de
mand."
The Sicilian looked puzzled. HI
plffed meditatyel at his cigar and
remained silent.
He is not pursued by the law"
continued, noting his hesitation. 'He
is simply involved in a cruel difficulty
brought upon him by his own family
he seeks to escape from unjust per
secutiOn."
Andrea's brow cleared
"Oh, if that is the case, eccelIenza,
] am at your service. But where does
your friend desire to go?''
paused for a moment and consid-
cred.
ITO Civita Vecchia,'' I said at last;
from that port he can obtain a ship
take him to his further destina-
ton
The captains expressive face fell
he looked very dubious.
| ITO Civita Vecchi is a long way,
very long way" he said, regretfully;
and it is the bad season, and there
are cross currents and contrary
winds. With all the wish in the world
| o please you, eccellenza, I dare not
un the 'Laura' 50 far; bit there is
another means"
| And interrupting himself he consid-
red awhile in silence. I waited pa
iently for him to speak.
whether it would suit your friend
j know not" he said at last, laying
MS hand confdentially on my arm,
but there is a stout brig leaving here
for Civita Vecchia on Friday morning
next
The day after Giovedi Grasso?" /
Cueried, with smile he did not I'M
derstand. He nodded.
Exactly SO. She carries a cargo Of
4acrima Cristi, and she is a swift
ailer. l know her captain-he is a
good soul; but and Andrea laughed
lightly, che is like the rest Of us-he
owes money. You do not count the
francs-no, they are nothing to YOU
but we look to the sOldi. Now, if it
please you I will make him a certain
offec Of passage money, as large as
you shall choose, also | will tell him
when to expect his one passenger, and
and can almost promise you that he
will not say ro,"
This proposal fitted in 50 exactly
with my plans that 1 accepted it, and
at once named an exceptionally mum
iicent sum for the passage required.
Andres eyes glistened as he heard.
ct is a little fortune!" he cried,
enthusiastically. would that
could earn as much in twenty voy-
ages! But enc should not be churlish
such luck cannot fall in all mems
way"
I smiled.
And do you think, AMIGO, I will
suffer you to go unrewarded?" [ said
And placing two twenty-franc pieces
in his brown palm l added, CAS- you
rightly said, francs are nothing to me.
Arrange this little matter without
difficulty, and you shall not be for
gotten. You can call at my hotel
tomorrow or the next day, when you
have settled every hiDg-here is the
address," and I penciled it on my
card and gave it to him; "but remem-
Der, this is a secret matter, and l rely
upon you 10 explain it as such to your
friend who commands the brig going
to Civita Vecchia. He must ask no
questions of mis- passenger-the more
silence the more discretion-and
when once he has landed him at his
destination he will do we'll to straight
way forget all about him. You IN
deTstanG?"
Andre nodded briskiy.
Isl, 81, signor. He has a bad mem
DRY IS it is-it shall grow worse at
your command! Believe it!'
I laughed, shook hands, and parted
with the friendly little fellow, he re-
turning to the Molo, and l slowly
walking homeward by way OF the Villa
Reale. An open carriage coming
swiftly toward me attracted my at
tenti0n; as it drew nearer recognized
the pIanciDg steeds and the familiar
velvets and Russian sables looked out
smiling, and waved her hand.
1t was my wife-my betrothed bride,
and beside her sat the Duchess di
Marina, the most irreproachable OF
matrons, famous for her piety not
only in Naples but throughout Italy
Sc Immaculate was she that it was
difficult to imagine her husband daring
| to caress that upright, well-dressed
| form, Or ventuTing to kiss those prim
| lips, color than the carven be.\fs of
! her jewe,ed rosary. Yet there was a
story about her toO-an old story
that came from Padua-of how
| v0Ilpo and Handsome nGh1aman had