Miss Caprice

in January, on the hill back of the city of Valetta, on

, dotted with sails, a hazy line far, far away that may be the coast of Africa, the double harbor below, one k

ty that rests mostly upon the side of the hill un

limestone, generally three stories in height, with a flat roof

reach their present position, leads to the country; the Porta Marsamuscetto to the general harbor

of the ways of Moorish

stone are massive-England

uage not unlike the Arabic, though E

ir loves and hates, and the vendetta has been known to exi

tive garb is still worn by the lower classes, and i

ious colors, making a cap such as is worn by the sai

se, or forms a receptacle for any smal

colored cotton or silk. Then there is worn a cotton shirt, with a short, loose vest, or waistcoat, as they were formerly

kind of silk or print which is called the half onuella. The upper part, the onuella, of the same material, is drawn into neat gathers for the length of a foot about the center of one o

a dress gracefully. Many of the best ladies of Valetta no

t the same time whiling away a few hours of time, for their stay at the Island of Malta has not been of their choosin

will give the reader an idea as to their identity, leaving ind

the young lady with the peach-bloom complexion and sunny blue eyes, whose fig

h a face that is rather Napoleonic in its cast. A born diplomat, and never so happy as when engaged in a broil or a scene of some sort, they have given this Yankee aunt of

nd bound to bob up serenely, with the mos

an over whom she towers, and of whom she is secretly

from that wonderful city, by name John Alexander Craig. Among his friends he is simply Aleck. His manner is buoyant, and he loo

some mission besides a tour for health and s

rdy build, with a handsome face, whose ruddy tint sugges

seeing how they rush things out in that Western metropolis he may have occasional qualms of fear lest this young doctor finally reach the goal for which both are aiming. That goal, any one can see, is the favor of

f a select club-house, where the garrison officers fence and

day, for one cannot move at Malta without being attended, and it

e singular Maltese city of

her admiration of the picturesque scene with various phras

n each side, looks a trifle

ulge in when they have a superfluity of beaus, in order to extract some amusem

ils of his long coat, and his glasses pushed

rom his high forehead, standing collar, and general dignified air, is no mean-looking fig

discussion arises as to the possibility of a foreign enemy ever being

the British officer, like most of his class, believes that John Bull is invincible on land or wave. Of course, the young man from Chicago disputes

suddenly hit upon an idea at last-an idea that offers a solution to the problem th

e American, and

untrymen being brave; will yo

an turns a

my own praises. Personally, I never claimed more than the average amo

girl with English ideas chooses to

him to be a regular fire-eater-that all Chicago has rung with

ou spoke of my proving somet

oo

oints to a white flower growing out upo

that flowe

e replies

like to p

nd it would be impossible for even an experienced Alpin

e flower, or I assure you I wo

d man would cl

rtunately, perhaps, my life is too precious to some one other than myself, to admit of t

," begins th

the little man draws in his head ver

war

er lips. No one hears it but the young doctor, for the att

es not flush, but turns very white,

ke no apologies, save the one that my life is too valuable-to o

o accomplish what he wants. Take a less

is a cleft. This he has secured, and, by crawling as far as is saf

eeds in clutching the coveted article in the

s the flower to Lady Ruth

sh that a British officer did not fe

anks him, a

as prettier at a distanc

ther he has made such a huge ad

noon sun

down," decla

und and I am ready

moment and be contrite the next. She finds an opportunity a minute later, when the co

what she utters gives him a pleasurable feeling, and brings

h. I did not believe

tabooed, and the party of tourists proceed dow