Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-02-04
AFTER LONG YEARS.


Millicent May shivered 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 on that dcsolate
waste Of waters Still that little Mill
sent did.
In vain her friends demonstrated
Millicent had her own way. Once "a day
NJ 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 empticd her purse into the dark
hand of penniless stoerago passenger and
made her for the moment rich and full az
hope, she turned toward her eldest boy
"Ncver forget To pray TO the Madonna
Tor this beautiful signorina, she cried
Remember, IL is all that you can do and
my curse upon you if you forget itl'
She had given the woman her address,
but tho poor creature did not come to h0r
What fate befell her Mllcent never knew,
and in time the memory of those classical
faces gaunt and meager from starvation,
ceased 10 haunt her
John Blair had met her, had looked into
her eyes, hal touched her hand, had uL.
tered those subtle compliments that win a
woman's heart SO easily, and though he
was neither rich nor great he was the one
man of men 70 her.
Six months from the day of their meet.
Ing John and Millcent were married, and
q happier pair would have been hard tC
dnd
Only ia one thing did Milicent prove
herself notwithstanding could tempt her
20 an ocean voyage. A tour in Europe
was Johns anticipated pleasure, but her
experience in crossing the ocean had made
her averse To its repetition.
So John, who had no wish to 90 alone,
left the matter TO the cure 81 tine At
last hoy almost as tall us herself called
Millicent mother, and the nursery wa
musical with little voices.
Then older and more willing than eve,
% do anything 10 make John happy Milli-
cent agreed 10 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 10 do what all
visitors TO Naples most desire to do
namely, ascend NesuyiuS
Alillicent 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, CHANGING at his watch, counted
B.. time that lay between them and their
II md they began their descent
~ guil" paused and uttered cry
Before them, risen rs it seemed from the
90, Of
without further parley, surrounded them,
and seizng the brides Of their horses and
tying the hands of the trembling guide
behind him led them away over the rough
mountain roads i'm silence.
John Blair was no coward, but to en-
deavor To resist such "A force would have
been sheer folly in 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 oomfortcd her as we'll as possible and
finally, with sinking heart, obeyed the
orders Of ono who seemed to be the cap
tain and dismounted at tho entrance of an
old ruin, into which they were forced 70
antcr
Then the guide fell TO wringing his
hands and weeping and imploring the lady
and gentleman to pay whatever ransom
was required
1T Is always n heavy one for Ameri
cans, he cried, land II you refuse your
ears will be cut Off or you will be muir.
dered outright As for me, expect death
some OF these men are my enemies
shot ono of the band once. "
The last rays Of the setting sun faded
from tho narrow window, and darkness
Eel! upon tho room. Then they heard tho
sound OF returning feet and presently the
uniastoning OF door
a figure entered, and going TO the fire.
which had qe1"Iy ,moldcrcd cut, flung
upon 1t some dry wood, which kindlcd
into "a blaze, and ~ It's flame lit two
torches Which WIre thrust into sconoes In
hp val
Ey t'is f;.t they saw that it was
a "on.tn, 'G.o seemed to have brought
,ono food tuf them upon u sort Of wooden
ray. She WAS old ANA eaunt and bent,
nut her lea' urcs had strange beauty
about them LcNrTtheleSs and awakened In
: mind mcmory too vague and
Indefinite lor words.
In another momcnt the truth flashed
upon her es the woman knclt down TO de-
post the tray upon tho floor She uttered
! little cry, shriller ono responded to it,
md tho gaunt creature lay PROSTATE DO.
ore her kissing her garments.
1T is the signorina" she cried And
know the Italian woman of tbs
Storage.
Then 1t H. thus that Giacomo returns
a beneltV cried the woman. my male
diction upon him But he did not know
you--he did not remember as 4 do Wait
You are safel'
In another moment he was there, and
Millicent knew that they were safe Bad
rs he must have boon, "a bandit and an
outlaw, this Italian had retained his graf
tude.
He fed them with the best he had TO
give and led them safely from his fast
lesses TO "a spot where the lights from the
'ity of Naples seemed Co smile welcome
% them.
There he bhde them adieu, and the
guide, overwhelmed with astonishment
conducted them back to their inn.-New |
York News.
Postal Card Scheme.