Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-22
fellow-sentinel alone in the courtyard
CHAPTER XvIX.
THE MASONIC GRIP.

comes to close, the captive feel as if
some new and heavy misfortune were
already upon him. His friendship for
Luigi Torreani, though originating in a
chance incident, is not of the common
kind, such as are every day formed, to
terminate as soon as by circumstances
the parties become separated. On the
/ contrary, it is an affection bordering
on fraternal. and by good fortune on
| both sides reciprocated
When man feels such interest in a
friend, he is apt to extend it to the
| friends sister, If he have one; all the
likelier if she be young Nor Is it
weakened by the fact of her being per-
] sonally unknown, but rather strength
ened through the piquancy of antici-
1 patton; as the fields that are far off look
| greener, and skies a brighter blue; but
when added to all this portrait of the
1 lady, reliable as a faithful likeness,
/ shows her ITO be both young and pretty,
then interest enters the realms of the
romantic, accompanied with a longing
to look upon her.
AN these phases of thought with his
friends sister for their theme, have
passed through Henry Harding's mind.
And more; for many other circumstan-
ces have contributed to stamp deeply
the pleasant impression made upon it
| by the first sight of her miniature like
ness in the London studio-verbal de-
scriptions, and incidents related by a
! loving brother, with her praises loudly
sounded. The portrait itself had been
| enough to bespeak their sincerity; and
in the young Englishman's heart had
laid the foundation for a love which
only needed seeing the original to de-
velop into all-pervading fulness.
He has now seen, and oh! under what
circumstances!-see Lucetta Torreani,
but to know she is in danger of fate
-.the worst, felleSt, that could threat
en- her!
Though a dead silence has succeeded
outside-only the wind whistling about
the old walls-he still fancies himself
listening to Giovanni's confident decla-
ration. 1.-THE capo has set his heart on
/ having that girl, and he'll have her
sure" The words seem ringing in his
ears causing the blood to course hot
through every artery of his frame.
Surely is the Sindico's daughter in
danger. And what can he do to avert
| it; his own life in peril-imminent as
that of her honor? Of his own life he
was lately thinking but thinks of it
no more now. He would hold it cheap
ly, gladly risk it still further, to save
the sister of his best-his bosom
friend. But he can do naught-knows
he cannot; and the knowledge saddens
almost maddens him. Never has he
felt so impotent; and never before so
much needing power and strength.
He has retired from the window, and
sat or sunk down despairingly upon his
prison bed-a pallet of straw placed
upon a rough wooden settle. For a
time he only chafes at his utter help
lessness to serve either himself or any
other. 1t is manifest with a moments
refection-quick as the lightning S
fash To one situated as he, thoughts
run rapidly and spread, touching every
point Still in the wild conflict of his
emotions may not something have es-
capped him? Has he exhausted all the
possibilities?
Becoming a little composed he thus
questions himself. Perhaps with cool
err and more resolute reflection he may
conceive some scheme of deliverance;
and to this he now bends all the ener-
| gies of his soul.
But for a few seconds is he thus oc-
cupied when an idea occurs to him,
and he only wonders at his not having
thought of it before. For it lies on the
surface as it were, upon the spot; its
execution, if at all possible, possible at
once. Some words spoken by the sem
tinel. Tomasso, have thus suddenly
1 kindled the spark of hope in his mind.
j Recalling what the bandit said, with
its pitying tone, which at the time
strangely impressed him, he now sub
mits it to calm mental review. And
while doing this remembers also GER
| tain observations he has made at an
earlier period of his captivity, of which
| this same Tomasso was the subject
| Several times his attention had been
attracted to the man, not so much
| from any popularity in his appearance
| but rather his behaviour. This better,
even to contrast, than that of the ruff
fans around him. Moreover. on his
(, face, not so ill-fayored, the young Eng
| lishman has at times noted an ex-
preston seeming to say: Il am here,
not from choice. but because l can't
help it,
| If the tale he has tod Of himself be
| true-and why should not not2-that would
explain all: and. above Ell. his commlser-
alton for Frai.oesco Torreali. Henry Har-
ding has not kept the company IF he Sin