The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-23

says to tell you that 1t you viii go to the last
of row of nine expresses which grow on
your bluff at the riverside half mile south
from the villa, and let down the money, as
much as you can send in notes that are not
marked or IN any way arranged to trap him,
by fish line from the last tree (away from
the villa), that he will be in the stream and
take the money, and that ] shall be let come
home. Please do it after dark, and go right
back to the villa where will meet you before
midnight Oh, do this, dear motherl do this,
for want to come home.
your
'MAReARErTAn
When her watch registered midnight, she
stole out of the cave and over the face of the
cliff to the trees. She walked along buoy
antly, full of exultation to think that she
might not pass that way again in secrecy.
The next day went 50 slowly that she al
most died of its length, it seemed as if all the
sad days of the world were hours in it, and as
if the heart of her mother were turned from
her. A great tree grew on the bank below
her, and in its branches she at last saw the
sun trapped and vanquished before it fell
behind the other lower river bank, invisible
till morning. Then the darkness came on
by degrees, like shades In the ebb of dying
tone, until night settled over everything.
And then she heard her mothers voice far
above her, not raised in any words, but in
strange little sobbing noises, that told her
of love and lonely, fear-flled nights and
horrid dreams and unlovely visions She
heard something rattle on the stones, and
Enrico's voice said, Il can find my way to
tiny cave down there, and see that the brute
gets his money"
Margaretta' heart stood still forvery fear,
she flung herself across the darkness, grasped
the trunk of that one tree and, with sobof
horror, raised herself into its branches.
81 can't find the track" Enrico called,
turn the lantern on it, dearest / can't
get down to the cave"
He came on steadily until a shrek
sounded from the cliff. Enrico, someone
has caught me- He turned and felt his
wayto the summit, while Margaretta slipped
from the tree again. It's trunk had stopped
the progress of tin dispatch box which she
vainly tried to jerk from the string. She
bit and tore at the cord until it yielded,
after cutting her mouth and tearing her
hands with its hot nip of friction. She
heard reassuring voices from above; their
fright was over. Signora Ritz had fancied
uCISEu SGlLCu lIOul S1lC ICLCtNSO lllS
string without its dispatch box, and Mar
garetta heard her pass along the path, half
dead with excitement. Enrico's voice salts
fed her, it was as tender as her dreams of
him had been; she found her opinion of him
justified, and mentally deled Uncle Elipha-
let. She passed quickly over the face of the
cliff, it was second nature to her now, and
found the path between the first and second
expresses. The dispatch box she had long
since decided to hide under the veranda,
but she moved along with it under her arm,
hunger and thirst forgotten, her diary in her
breast. A better idea came to her: she had
grown thin, she would fill her frock with
her winnings; and there under plane tree
she flung the box far from her, and packed
her frock with booty, the price of home"
shesaid. Yes, Uncle Liphey, the priceo an
Italians happiness and of mothers
peace" She had pins to make her wealth
safe, although they were rusted and joy at
her heart, as she ran to the front of the villa
and pounded at the door Let me in,
mother, let me in; I'm well and strong and
happy"