Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-29

cold one. But again the question comes
| up, Why more than one? for, as on
| former occasions, several are observ-
/ ed. That does seem strange. Do they
| propose making Sabine wedding of it,
and carrying Beppa boldly off? If so,
they need scarce take such pains and
precautions, for surely she would let
| them off with less.
While in jest thus conjecturing, with
al in anything but testing mood they
observe one of the shadowy figures
crossing the street, and stepping up
into the porch. Then the door bell
rings, after an interval, answered by
| Beppa.
Listening, they overhear dialogue
which is of more than usual interest.
rs the Signor Torreani at homer"
asks he who rang the bell
NO." answers Beppa, speaking the
exact truth. for he is not.
That's unfortunate" returns the
stranger, seeing that I've some bus
| mess with him.
is it Important"
| "Very."
| well, he's not expected back till a
late hour. And be your business ever
I so pressing it'll have to keep. The
Sindico isn't doctor, and can't always
be at home. Even if he were, women
ought to wait. same as they have to
for their weddings. l suppose that's
what you've come about? You want
him to sign the license, or, maybe, a
marriage settlement"
Nothing of either sort" answers
the applicant, impatiently Its mat
ter of far more Importance, a very seri-
Gus affair, indeed, which concerns the
Sindico himself"
Might know what it is?" asked the
prying Beppa, in a confidential whis-
per.
well, may tell you this much" re-
turned the man, chat the Signor Tor
reani is in danger, not only of his lib
erty, but his life"
mercy me! But how, signore? You
may tell me that, too. I'm his trusted
servant; you needn't fear
ooh, I'm not afraid to trust you. But,
perhaps, you wouldn't understand it. :"
"Try me-"
well, then, have you ever, by chance,
heard of the Liberatori?"
The serving maid gives a start. for
she has heard of the Liberatori. and
knows something of the relations ex-
listing between them and her master.
These may have compromised him.
what of them?" she anxiously asks,
her sympathy taking the place of her
frivolity.
Much" replies the stranger, shut
nothing to concern you, only your mas
ter. must see MIN at once
per Cristo, you can't. The mores
the pity"
Can l have a word with the signo-
rina, his daughter, then? That may do
something to stave off this trouble i'm
pending over him."
'I'll see," answers Beppa, starting to
go upstairs.
"Only one word with her." adds the
man calling after. eff she'll speak to
me here at the door, that'll do"
Lucetta, in the balcony, having lis
tened through all, is prepared for the
request brought up by Beppa. There
can be no harm In her going to the
door; indeed, it is her duty, after what
she has heard Her father is in dan
ger, and she may be able to avert it.
Parting from Camilla she glides
to meet not one man but four She
sees not their faces, all being masked.
But the one nearest, flinging out his
arms, lets his mask fall off, exposing
features she has seen before, and by
that same lamp which lights it now.
She saw it on that night when the
bandits captive was being taken off
between his two guards; though the
face is not either of them, but that Of
the third man who so rudely accosted
her, known to have been their chief.
At the recognition cry escapes her
"a scream, instantly suppressed by
a capote flung over her head, its loose
folds thrust between her lips, almost
suffocating her.
Her feelings afterwards are those Of
one in a dream. She believes or fam
cies herself lifted aloft, then borne
away through endless space, at fright
full speed, without the power to stop
it. For, in truth, is it a dream, such
as oft accompanies the horrid sensa-
ton of syneope?
CHAPTER LIV.
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