Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-01

be endurable. Besides, what an ex-
perience twill be for him. 1t will make
him intimately acquainted with Italian
brigand life in all its pharesque reality.
He may become its chief interpreter;
distinguish himself by painting scenes,
which, hung against the walls of the
Royal Academy, may some day secure
him fame; wealth, and-Bella Mainwar-
ing?
No, not that-never! He does not
wish it; would not have it. She has
long since gone out of his heart-al-
most from his memory, and when he
thinks of her it is with relief rather
than regret.
And this moment he is not thinking
of her at all. The situation is too
serious for thoughts of the past, and his
are alone given to the future. What it
is to be he can only conjecture-fore-
casting as above The forecast, not so
greatly troubling him, he ceases strain
ing at his cords, and makes up his
mind to accept with equanimity the
captivity in store for him.
Just at this moment his guards, who
have got between them a large skin
| of wine they are making much lighter,
commence talking in louder tones, SO
loud he can make out what they say,
thus giving him a start of astOnish-
ment Not the subject matter of their
discourse, for that is of the most or
binary kind, being about the weather.
1t is the tongue in which they con-
verse-not Italian in any of its varied
provincialisms, but downright honest
English, A patois It's true, but still
the language of Britain.
The Englishman pricks up his ears
and listens with breathless earnest
ness Not long before hearing enough
to assure him that, at least, one of the
two bandits is born Briton.
The other speaks English also, flu
emily and with fairly correct pronun-
ciotion, but with a foreign accent-evi-
IDENTIFY Italian. 1t is the former, how
ever, whose talk most interests him,
from his vernacular clearly proclaim
ing him a John Bull, all the more by
it's broad dialect, with the misuse of
the letter H.
To think OF meeting an Englishman
list or traveller, but veritable brigand!
This, to Henry Harding, is something
superlatively strange-indeed, almost
ludicrous. But that he has encountered
such parsonage he can have no doubt.
The discourse to which he is listening
puts it beyond question.
BLASTED cold it be-" remarked the
Britisher Minds me O. the climate
O Highland"
me too says the other, adding:
eve may expect it so, Ricardo. Win
ter's coming on; though here upon
these mountains it's chilly at all
times"
Chilly enough now to be DANCED
nasty uncomfortable. l wonder what
the captain means sendin' us up here?
The chap would a been kept as safe
aside the fire, an saved us all this
shiverin'"
"That's true; but | suppose Carvino
has his reasons. Maybe he don't want
the gentiluomo to be made too wise.
Gobetto says he's to be let go again, as
he's only a poor devil of painter
with not a soul to look after him-and,
therefore, no viscatta to come. For
that reason the capo don't care for him,
and intends starting him off, soon as
he's painted some portraits, of which
the Signorina Popetta is sure to have
one. BY the way, Signor Ricardo, he's
a countryman of yours
"Who sayed that?'
HE has himself told them he's an
Englshman; only lately arrived in
Rome"
THAT'S easy settled I'll see"
Ricardo, as the other has called him,
rises from his seat, and, taking step
or two, places himself alongside the
prisoner; who, on his part is pleased
with the opportunity thus offered. Ban
dit though he be, the man is his own
countryman, and may have within his
heart some lingering spark of patriotic
sentiment capable of being rekindled.
1t is but slim, unlikely chance, still
worth the trying; and the young Erg-
lishman determines to appeal to it.
Speaking first, in the most concilia-
tory tone, he says:
IF mistake not, you're country
man of mine?"
"A countryman O. yours" gruf1y re-
joins the bandit.
Eyes; you're an Englishman, are you
not?"
well, I've bed that-one't on
time"
Il hope you are STILL
'I'deed, do We? Whether / be, or
whether l beant, what's that to your"