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

"Rocconi, take twenty files. and after
these Mascherazoni! Follow. till You
find them. I'll join you in the pursuit,
soon as I've settled some business here.
Saying which he slips out Of his sad
die. commanding two of his men to
alight also. Then, with sabre trailing
on the stones, and making as much
noise as a whole chain gang, he en-
tiers Sindico's house, ordering one of
his satellites after him, the other d.
rected to stand guard at the door.
Rocconi, dividing the troop, takes
one-half away, leaving the remainder as
halted.
Those who remain still keep to their
saddles, the people thickly clustering
around-for all Val di Orno is now
aroused, and out-with renewed wonder
at this disposition of affairs. Voices
clamor inquiringly, but none in answer
to explain why the sentry has been plae-
ed at the Sindico's door. as it were,
locking the stable after the steed had
been stolen. But. unaccustomed to
military formalities, they suppose this
must be one. and soon are silent, some
only continuing to mutter discomfort.
Amidst their mutterings they hear
noises inside the house-the tread of
heavily booted feet upon the stairs and
along the inner passages, with now and
then a voice in shrill treble which
most of them recognize. For Beppa,
who speaks. is as well known to them
as the carved grifin's head surmount-
ing the Fonte Spout in the Piazza
They can tell she is in a temper, talk
ing angrily, and as if demonstrating
with the two who have so unceremon-
iously intruded into her masters house
the master not being home But her
remonstrance appears to be disregard
ed, and the tramping continues; only
at intervals interrupted by the creak
of an opening door or the clang of one
shut carelessly.
Those lettering outside at length hear
a sound differing from all these-a
shrek, several times repeated, and in
a sweet feminine voice, certainly not
Beppa's. Still is it cry Of distress?
Responding to 1t, the crowd surges
for the door, and several would rush
into the house. But the sentry, with
carbine in hand and sword-bayonet
fixed, sternly tells them to stand back.
And so stand they, but scowling and
impatient at being thus hindered,
when a woman calls for help.
Perplexed also, as much by the cries,
which have now ceased, as by the sem
try obstructing them-alike mysterious.
Nor is the mystery at an end, as
they see the officer and soldier, come
out, conducting between them young
girl, not gently and CALAMITY, as pro-
tecting her, but roughly and rudely, ns
policemen with a prisoner
At the sight a cry ascends from the
crowd, angry as that sent up on hear
ing what had happened to the Sindi-
co.'s daughter Now 1t is her protege,
her friend, on whom ill-fortune has
fallen. AS most Of them know,
peasant girl; but on this account not
less deserving, and perhaps more re-
ceiving,. their sympathy. For, seeing
her in the hands of the soldiers, and
dragged along to the osteria, they
deem her in little less danger than she
carried off, by whom they know not
nor whittier.
Even after they have learnt this, which
they soon after do. from Beppa-who, hav-
ing also recognized the bandit chief. has at
length recovered temper to declare it-it is
a question which of the two, sgnorna or
contadina-the bandits captive or the sol
dier's prisoner-is most to be commiser-
ated.