Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-08-15
Ole
Miller'S Ghost
A Story OF GaribaIdi and the
One Thousand
By F. A. mitchell

The union OF the Italian states that
occurred during the middle of the last
century was accomplished by the unit
Ell efforts of three different leaders
who, strange 10 say, were not at all in
accord. and in the case OF two OF them
there was great antagontsm. These
three men were Victor Emmanuel,
king of Sardinia; Count Cavour, his
prime minister and General Garihaldi.
The king acted as a rallyiug head for
the Italian people, CaVourS splendid
diplomacy prevented the interference
of foreign powers, and Garibaldi struck
the blow
When Garihaldi, at the head OF l 900
volunteers. landed ON the Siciliau shore
to support the revolution In that island
and advanced eastward he fought
battle in which he was victorious, and
the supporters Of his enemy. the king
OF Naples, commonly called Bomba, re-
treated to Palermo, where the kings
main army was located, protected by
fleet OF war vessels in the harbor,
During this fight. when Garihaldi
was advancing, an Italian soldier. Giu-
scope Guardct, was captured by Bonn
ba'S troops This Guardet was as much
of a genius in Il small strategic way
as was his general in leading armies
Guardet was sent forward with other
prisoners in the direction of Palermo
that they might not be rctakcn by
their advancing comrades. But In any
event soldiers IN retreat do not make
the best OF guards, and Guardet. who
had been wounded, pretending that
he could not keep up with his Captors,
Jagged behind and when he saw that
he was unohserved by those hurrying
on ahead of him sank down behind
some bushes.
IL the prisoner had been In the rear
instead of in advance of the retreat
ing army he would have needed only
to wait for Garibaldi to come up. As
1t was, he must conceal himself till
the main body and rear guard of the
royal troops had passed on. AS soon
as he ceased to hear the confused
sounds of the guard ahead of him he
SlibllS hl's l't Ills "puh'i'
which was not in Il vital part, and ran
as fast as his legs could carry him into
Il wood beside the road on which he
had been marching. Sicily Is noun
famous country. and he was on Il slope
ut the foot Of mountains Il stream run
ming through it down to the plains be
low. Following this stream he came
to water mill.
Guardet found the mill deserted ex-
cept for a donkey hitched to post, on
whose back were several bags of -four
evidently intended for delivery. In,
side grain and flour We're in bags and
in heaps,
The fugitive seeing that he had
found a good hiding place. threw him
self down on the bags Of -four to rest
and. being exhausted. fell asleep, He
was soon awakened by voices and,
starting. ran up pair of stairs to the
upper part of the mill, where he found
a large heap of flour The voices came
nearer till he could hear them directly
below. Guardet burrowed into the
-four, leaving only breathing space
for his nose at the back part OF the
pile, where ii would not likely be
noticed. The corners were chattering
below, and the hider soon learned that
they were Neapolitnn soldiers. He had
been missed almost as soon as he had
dropped behind. and these men had
been sent back for him Noticing that
the mill was IA good hiding place. they
searched il, When they came up the
stairs Guardet Withdrew even his nose
under the -four and held his breath.
They did not think of looking for n
man in such plce. and Guardet had
the satisfaction of hearing them go
away.
AS soon aS he was free to come out
from his hiding place he did so. white
as the -four that had shielded him.
Going into little room where the
miller kept his accounts, he found
fragment Of looking glass fastened to
the wall and by il saw that his face
was like that of corpse Wiping
the -four from his forehead with his
hand. which was covered with blood
from his wound he left smudge of
blood coagulatcd with -four Then the
Idea of playing the part of "A ghost. If
necessary to effect his escape, occurred
to him. and lie dabbed himself here
mud there with blood. ana with some
ink he found beside the miller's ac-
count books blackened the sockets OF
his eyes.
Surveying his image In the mirror.
be lost all fear Of capture. for, know
II2 well the superstition Of Italians, he
fit sure he could easily put 10 flight
whole army OF them
Fhe sun was now low behind the
fountains. and Guardet concluded 10
sally forth with view to working his
way backward 10 rejoin his comrades,
Leaving the mill, he saw the donkey
SIN patiently standing tied to the post.
and it occurred 10 him that there was
10 need for him 10 walk when he could
n well ride To heighten the ghOstiy
effect he empticd the bags Of -four over