Year: 1874

Nhy do you annoy me Win your peril
nacity you are entirely unknown to me- ,"
Mother MangaDo, for she it was, re-
garded her with hideous leer, for mo-
ment, and then, as the carriage neared
them, said :


Perhaps not so much as you are to me,
not SO much as will be to you, and with
a sudden movement, she caught her haIds
and pinloning them with one arm, stopped
her cries Of distress with her other hand.


If it was preconcerted arrangement,
the abduction, it could not have been
more successfully carried out than it was
now. Everything conspired to favor the
scheme, for the road was deserted, and
Claribel was but feather in the arms Of
the strong woman beside her who, the
moment she had forced her into the car
rage had held handkerchief saturated
with some potent anasthetic which at once
merged the maiden into a state vf com
plete unconsciOusnes.


The carriage took course directly north,
and although several hours had elapsed
since her abduction, when Claribel awoke
they were still travelling


where am r. she asked in an alb
stracted manner.


I'm the mountains, was the reply,
''you need make no attempt to escape
am old but powerfully strong"


She relapsed into silence and sank back
in her seat tumultuous thoughts filling
her brain


Finally, in lonely and deserted portion
of the mC untains the vehicle stopped, and
Claribel and her captor alighted, the latter
pressing tenacious grasp the maiden's
arm. The carriage turned again to the
south and disappeared, while the woman
led her captive down a steep path and into
valley thickly interspersed with trees and
shrubs


Invisible from the mountain above, yet
in full view, III the moonlight as they
reached the bottom of the ravine, was a
little rude cabin, built far back III the
rocks. Mother Mangano knocked loudly
at the door, and a man soon appeared with
a light


Father Dominic said the woman with
hideous grin, II have brought you the
bird for your cage"


The man bowed silently, preserving
grave, dignifed demeanor, and bade them
enter


He started back as he caught full view
of Claribels face, and a low, unguarded
cry arose from his lips, then, observing the
ferret-hke eyes Of Mother Mangano fixed
upon him, he dropped mis- gaze, pointed
towards the door of room, held the light
while the two entered it, and then sank
down i'll a seat, pale as death and with a
shadow of indescribable amazement upon
his face


''The same face-the same form My
God, am | to be enabled to make repara-
tion to thee, after all these years of sin.
agony, and remorse Both under the
same roof unknowing, unknown, to one
another / must keep the presence of
her, a secret Mother Mangano will not
dare to intrude on my side of the house,
and this Is but temporary arrangement
Of Burdols. Curse that man, he has
bound links of iron about me, but | will
do this reparatIon now in my power if
forfeit life"


He dropped his head upon the table be-
fore him, and seemed wrapped in a reverie
for some time. Finally he arose and went
to door leading from the room, exactly
opposite to the one which he had opened
when Mother Mangano and her charge left
the room He took key from his pocket,





way leading up into the attic above
Carefully drawing to the door, and bolt
ing it on the inside. he ascended the stairs,
and stood in large loft, rudcly and PLAIN
ly furnished. Upon a lounge, reading, by
the light Of candle, reclined a woman
who lifted her face with an expression of
gladness as she perceived him entering


"Ah my good friend" she said, in
sweet gentle voice. II have been very
tired, and have been reading, an English
work, too, you seem to be a man Of many
resources, and liberal education"


The man bowed his head silently, al
most humbly.


my education has been limited, he
said, in English. al understand French,
German and Italian only by contract with
these nationalities. am an American.


"YoU r. exclaimed the lady, the Sister
Agnes, Of whom we have spoken in a
previous chapter.


To BE CONTINUED