Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-29
''The Rifle Ranger" The Scalp Hunter" &C.

I
Hitherto the contadina has succeeded
in stunning an encounter with her for
mer prosecutor His inquiries about
the second young lady observed by him
in the balcony, at first skilfully evad-
| ed, have been at length set at rest by
the point blank answer: 'fShe has
gone away But the white lie, for
which Lucetta Torreani feels no shame,
may not serve after all, and some ac-
cident or babbling tongue may yet be-
tray her secret
With care Camilla maintains her Sc
clusion-keeping indoors all day, and
only going out at night. Then only
into the balcony, where she can look
| through lattice that conceals her from
those traversing the street. Many an
hour the two young girls, standing side
by side, have passed in this way;
though not always without seeing
something to alarm them. More than
once they have observed the figures of
men, cloaked, and with hats drawn
down over their brows, not hastily
passing, but lettering; lowering, as if
watching house. And that it is their
house-the Sindico's-both have sus-
picion-indeed, almost a belief.
Very naturally this causes them ap-
prehension and they have talked over
the matter, wondering what it can
mean. 1t is. after all. that Guardiola
has got some information about the
prescribed peasant girl-once the object
of his ardent pursuit and passion
being within the house. and is thus
endeavoring to assue himself? No. not
likely. Armed as he is, with all power
to make domiciliary search--for Val di
Orno during the stay of his troop is
under martial law-he would not take
this surreptitious way, but at once
boldly enter the dwelling and ransack
1t from cellar to roof. 1t cannot be
that. The contadina, herself most in
terested, does not think so. She has a
thought, conjecture, more like the
truth, to which she gives expression
| suggestingly, though not with much
! confidence.
eff it be Guardiola, it's not me he's
after"
'Who, them" asks Lucetta.
Yourself, signorina."
But why should he thus, at night,
and in that stealthy mysterious way?
I'm sure he has opportunities enough
of seeing me during the daylight-fnds
them, whenever the fancy takes him,
l should say
True; but as you've been all the
while repulsing him he may also have
fancy there's rival in his way, and
wants to be sure about it. I've no
doubt he's jealous of you, signorina"
jealous! That would be strange
seeing there's not soul in this place,
except the cura, who comes near our
house. or would dare to enter it on any
errand of that nature. To be jealous
of the poor priest condemned to per-
petual celibacy! Don't you pity him,
Camilla? l do"
you needn't ask me that!" rejoins
! the contadina, with significant smile.
"Of course pity him, or any other man
who can't get married, though I'd far
more grieve for the woman who'd have
|
band, base wretch that he is, and cow
! ard, too You should have seen how
he quailed when brave Luigi threw off
! the two soldiers. and threatened to
| throttle him, before jumping into the
balloon. He was as pale as piece of
marble, and so weak l hadn't the least
trouble in holding him back. l could
have plucked the sword out of his hand,
| if I'd been so minded"
For some moments the two young
girls are silent, their thoughts carried
back to that scene in the Piazzi di Po-
polo, of which one has but heard, the
other being not only spectator to it
but one of its principal actors.
Soon, however, they return to talk
about things nearer and of more imme-
date interest, of that which perplexes
them, the cloaked skulkers they have
several times seen on the street Rea-
soning as they have done, they no long
er believe them to be Guardiola and his
satellites. Yet it is equally difficult to
think who they are. There is only one
other conjecture that seems rather feas-
ible or probable, the contadina suggest
ing it. May not all these mysterious
movements and stealthy approaches be
made towards Beppa? 1t is known that
the housemaid has her sweetheart as
well, though not three or four. Still,
the supernumeraries may be only
friends of the Corydon, engaged to sus-
tain him in his amorous encounter with
| the robust Phyllis.
| On the same night when this prob
able solution of the mysterious affair
occurs to Camilla, and the two stand
| in the balcony discussing it, thew see