The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-08-04

handsome, a fine singer and dancer, a
hard worker. good fellow all round
All the girls in the village were in love
with him.
Handsome Caesar fell in love with
handsomer Zabetta. True, her family
was poor. But what difference did
that maker Caesar had enough for
both Their betrothal soon followed.
Nobody could deny that they made a
fine looking pair. To be sure, some
families whose daughters would not
have objected to occupying Zabetta's
place limited privately at the record OF
the Gemellas. But none spoke openly,
remembering that same record.
All went we'll until Maria Vincente
came to Boscotrase Then Caesars
affection for Zabetta cooled. Not that
Maria deliberately did anything to
tempt the young man away. But it
soon became known through the town
that Caesar and his sweetheart had
Quarreled; next, that he was betrothed
to Maria.
Then, indeed. people shook theiI
heads and some said. Poor Zabettap'
But others, who knew her family's
record better, said, poor Caesar!"
And evers body waited to see what
would happen.
1t was the next day after the break
that Zabetta bought the dagger. The
Gemellas always acted promptly. But
she found 1t difficult to decide whose
blood the sharp point should drink
Sometimes she felt 1t would be
Caesars, sometimes Maria's. and Oh
one black day when the two passed
her arm In arm she determined that
IL should be both and she had hard
work to restrain herself from putting
the sentence into immediate execution.
Then came the greet eruption.
For generations Vesuvius, mutterine
and grumbling, had looked down on
the presumptuous vineyards and olive
groves, boldly pressing nearer the re-
gion where 1t had decreed no living
thing should grow. Unheeded 1t had
given warning after warning, like a
cross old man who is continually max
ing threats, but whom no one takes at
his word.
At last the giant that dwelt in the
mountains fiery heart decided that II
was time to teach the forgetful race
Of men one lesson more So pouf! He
blew off the cone and descended in
streams OF lava and sheets Of ashes
Boscotrase was one of the worst
sufferers For time its citizens noped
they might escape with shower Of
stones and cinders. But one night the
scarlet ribbons that had been trickling
like rivers of blood down the rough
slopes turned toward the village and
flight was the only resource.
In few hours Caesar had seen bis
vineyard and olive grove damaged be-
You'd hope of reparation in his own
lifetime. From wealthy man he had
become poor. Although he did not
notice 1t, Maria's affection had cooled
perceptibly from the moment when she
realized that her lover was now no
richer than his fellows.
Zabetta was gloomily preparing to
fee from her home at the coming OF
the lava. To her whether she escaped
or not mattered very little. The cata-
clysm without found responsive echo
in her heart, fey. scorched and
blasted.
With a small bundle of her belong
ings she was hurrying along the street
amid the ashes and falling stones
when a pale faced, shrieking figure
rushed past her.
Zabetta's hand involuntarily sought
her bosom, whence lurked the stiletto
She was alone with her hated rival
In that fearful semimidnight VINO
would know If she slew Maria?
The other shrank back, seeing her
stern face and guessing the import OF
her bosomed hand.
where is Caesarr grimly question
ed Zabetta. Maria covered away.
II left him at his house little while
aro. The lava was coming. AS be en-
tered to get a bundle the walls fell
and buried him. dared not go in
He is dead"
Coward Kissed Zabetta. Drop
ping her load, she gave the shrinking