The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-10-20

-cOnlcdl hill OF corona, recognized 1F9Si-
meme, and beyond it lay Perugia. turned to
call my friends attention to the scene, and
at first did not perceive where he was. An
other glance showed him standing on the
edge of the cliff, a little to my left, shaking
bis clenched hand in the direction of Perugia,
whilst on his face was marked every sign of
sorrow and hate.
Curious to see what this would result in,
made no attempt to attract his attention,
but IN a moment he shook off the influence
which possessed him, and rejoined me with
a calm brow. We thereupon continued our
journey with this difference, that my COM
panion was now as silent as hitherto he had
been cheerful. My own dark thoughts too
came back to roost, and in gloom we de-
scended the Cradle, pushing our way through
the myrtle with which it was covered, and
walked on, holding Montevarchi to our
right.
We kept sharp lookout for the foragers.
and, seeing no signs of them, made up our
minds, after some consultation, to risk going
to Montevarchi, which we reached without
| mishap little after noon. 1t was not my
intention to halt there more than an hour
or so, which l, hoping that 1 would have
better luck than at Bucine, intended to
spend in trying to hire an animal of some
kind to ri,lc.
We stopped at the Bell inn, near the gate.
and, after deal OF bargaining, which con-
| sumed a good hour, the landlord agreed to
hire me his mule for two crowns. The ras-
cal wanted ten at first. Just as the matter
| was settled dozen or SO of troopers rode
| in, and, spying the mule, in the twinkling of
an eye, claimed it for carriage purposes.
1t was in vain that the landlord protested
| that it was his last beast, that it had been
| hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me,
and many other things beside. The soldiers
were deaf to his entreaties, and, although
| had more than a mind to draw on the vii
lains, l had the good sense to restrain my
self, for the odds were too many against
me. l therefore hid my chagrin under a
smile, and the mule was led away amidst
the lamentations of mine host, who was fur
tber put out of pocket by gallon or SO of
wine, which the troopers consumed, doubt
less in honor of the prize they had taken,
ncglecting in the true fashion of the COM
pagnes grandes to pay for it. 1t was fit
lesson to the landlord, for had he not, in
his cupidity, haggled for an hour over the
hire of the animal, he might have been
| richer by two crowns and still owned his
mule. Thus it is that avarlce finds it's own
| punishment.
On going off, the leader of the troop, man
whom / knew by sight and by reputation
as a swashbuckler, if ever there was one,
made me a mock salute, saying, in allusion
to my quietness in surrendering my claim
to the mule: "Adieu, Messer Feather-Cap
| may your courage grow as long as your
sword" This taunt swallowed ruefully,
and Immediately set about my departure.
My companion, who was not mixed up in
the alteration, joined me silently, and we
followed in the direction taken by the troop
| ,aA hx.t ho lor,ofinnc IF ho tnn
keeper, who vented his spleen on us as the
indirect cause of his misfortune.
The foragers, who, owing to the warmth
Of the weather, had removed their breast
plates, which were slung to their saddles,
were going at a walking pace; and it was
! amusing to see how the mere sight of their
presence cleared the streets. Noting, how
ever, that they did not appear to be bent on
personal injury, we did not think it neces-
sary to 60 out of our course, or delay our
departure until they left the town, and as
we walked fast and they went slowly, by
the time they had reached the main square,
we were not more than dozen yards behind
them.
At this moment we noticed the figure of a
woman, apparently blind, for she was
guided by q little dog attached to n string.
The poor creature was crossing the pave
ment almost in front of the leader of the
troop, and, as she was right in the path
of the troopers, we attempted to warn her
by shouting, and she stopped irresolutely,
hardly knowing which way to turn. The
troop leader, without making any effort to
avoid her, rode on in pitiless manner, and
she was flung senseless to the ground. In
this her hood fell back, uncovering her face,
and my companion, suddenly uttering loud
cry, ran forward, and, Selling her in his
arms. began to address her with every term
of endearment, in the manner of father to
his child.
The troopers halted-discipline it will be
observed was not great-and one of them
with rough sympathy called to my friend
to bear the girl, for SO she looked, to the
fountain, at the same time that their COM
mander gave loud order to go on, and tt
leave off looking at q fool and beggar.
had, however, made up my mind that there
was a little work for me, and, drawing my
sword, stepped up to the swashbuckler'i
bride, and asked for ive-minutes' inter
view there and then.
He burst into loud laugh. "Corpo d
Baeco! Here is Messer Feather-Cap with hi
courage grown. Here, two of you bind hin
to the mule"
But the men with him were in no moo
to obey, and one of them openly said:
: cit is always thus with the ancient Brico.
''Do you intend to give me the pleasure
; SEEK" 1 asked, cor has the ancient Bric'
taken off his heart with his corselet?"
For a moment it looked as if he wer'
about to ride at me; but my sword wa