The Washington times., 1911-11-08


Dust bianching walls, ground. grass,
and even the leaves of the cypress aud
olive trees, into a uniform drab hue.
l shouted. but no reply came. Evident,
\ ly the inhabtants had long since Joined
the human river thathad for days been
flowing toward Naples for safety.
Tile houses were OF far better sort
than those which strewed the higher
slopes. Evidently persons ot some con-
| sequence had lived here.
We TUNED into the lane at the head
the cC,net of a ruined chap.i, almost
coIlided with a man VINO was lifting a
| heavy sack into cart. Just ahead
stood two other carts, with one or two
The nan we had almost rur. against
| cropped his sack Shouting to his coin
ps MONS. he snatched a muskot from
| the cart snd whirled about on Us. His
cCuipan .ons, In flash, had followed !,!u
| example.
We stood unarmed, helpless, confront
| ed by four disreputable, villainous-look-
ing Neapolitans, who covered us with
Billy started back with an oath, then
flung himself between Doris and the
| threatening. weapons.
For myself, stood still. One of the
| rare ideas that have inserspersed my
! career now came to me-
Tossing aside the torn fragments OF
he,Sst the coat that had wrapped about my my
| ashes, ! touched with one hand the
scarlet scarab, which still adorned my
"Murena." l said. your memory is
The foremost man, at sight of the
scarab, let his musket fall unheeded
to the ground. while. he. sought TO
peer through the mask of blood and
dirt and ashes that -smeared my face.
"Eccelenza! he gasped. your"
His comrades, on seeing the scarab,
| had lowered their weapons, and now
r.
you were about to assassinate us?"
| I asked, while Doris and Billy looked
on in amazement at the sudden turn
affairs had taken.
9, ~ Can e. eccelensa MA ftersiye our stupid
advantage of the panic to save a few
trifes from the earthquake-in other
words, to search deserted houses for
| such valuables as their scared own
| flight. Naturally. the task was of a
| sort that could not brook intrusion.
Possible tale-bearcrs are out of place
at such a time.
believe me. in shooting such in
truders We should have acted only in
self-protectfon, lest they might carry
| word to the soldiery down below there
enza and his friends are in distress.
We are your excellency's servants.
Command us"
lnls lady, SAID i, rs weak and un-
nerved. wish her transported to the
nearest point whore we can get train
or back TO Naples"
Our carts--eccelenza- they are poor,
springs. IL eccelenza and his friends
would deign---
"Eccelenza" and his friends did deisn
Five minutes later two carts were wind
ing down the ash-cho hoked lane toward
the main road. In the foremost sat
Murena, and beside hir Billy Gregg.
In the rear cart. driven by a black
jSwIedn ndr,s fsloT oSs Tho nt knew s no English
To her surprise and possibly dis
pleasure. had quietly swung myself
into the vehicle beside her and had sat
down with her on heap OF sacks be-
hind the driver.
neither Of us spoke. She was very pale
and rested her head wearily on her
hands. She was worn out, unstrung
This was surely no time to say what /
! ha1 resolved to say.
So | said IL.
May I speak to you?" / began, lame
rs 1t necessary" she aueried, wear
/ iiN. a faint suggestion OF scorn in her
sweet. tired voice. Remember. we
! |. You said so Yourself"
! And lied when / said it!' broke
| forth. For we have so much in com
| mon that for me there is no one in
this whole wretched world but you!
whoever and whatever you are-what-
ever you have done or may yet dol
| love you! | love you! Doris, can't you
see ghat II means to me?
II Know your secret, and it's knowl-
edge was the deadliest blow fate ever
dealt lucklcss man l tried to put you
out OF my heart. out of my life. But
| always YOU crept back. When / saw
you lying there so still. so silent. on
that ledge. l believed you dead. And
then ] knew that there could be no
more fighting against this love of mine,
Iosry l saw that that living or dead. was ali
life. matter nothing. II you will not
reEounce them. then I will accept them
me- '"e a'reS'eu
At NV first words she had started,
ana momentary wave Of color had
rushed into her cheeks. But as I went
on. in this first ana last confession OF
love | was ever to make. look of won
der and bewiiierment filled her eyes.
II don't understand" she murmur-