The Sicilian Bandit / From the Volume Captain Paul""

the marriage three days before the appointed time without informing Teresa of her interview with her old lover; and

ed above the door on the exterior of the chapel; a tree whose trunk issues from the breast of the conqueror of Vitikind, and after dividing into many branches, it reunites at the summit to give birth to the Prince of Sinebaldo, the father of St. Rosalie; but her noble birth, the riches of her house and her own beauty had no effect on the young princess; at the age of eighteen she quitted the court, and, ben

ast was prepared. The country people in the neighbourhood had been invited, and they had flocked to the feast from four or five leagues round. The tables were arranged on an esplanade, shaded by the foliage of green oaks and parasol-like firs, perfumed by orang

ountains rises that separate the island into three parts-the eastern, northern, and western-at the extremity of these three valleys, the magnificent Sicilian sea was seen in three places; and, by its varying tints, it might have been taken for three distinct oceans

wo servants carrying torches, and followed by a host of attendants, came down the marble staircase of the villa and went up to the esplanade. The peasants were about to

ips, and offered it to the prince, who emptied it at a draught, and pouring into it a purseful of golden ducats, desired it to be given to Teresa, for whom it was a wedding gift. At the same instant, loud cries of "Long live the Prin

about to open the ball with his bride, and for that purpose was advancing towards her, when a stranger, who had entered by the aloe walk, appeared on the esplanade-it was Pascal Bruno, in the Calabrian costume we h

s upon him, remained pale and erect, as if she had seen a spectre; every one tur

sa, and stopping before her, he folde

Pascal?" sta

I was waiting for you, that you were about to be married at Carini, an

groom," observed Gaetano, goi

lied Bruno. "Come, Teresa, I think

claimed Gaetano, extend

," cried Pascal, tak

p!" exclai

lt. The men appeared by their actions to be about to seize upon the murderer, who quietly drew a pistol from his waist and cocked it, then with t

resa," sa

ose actions were guided by fear-she mechanically obeyed, and the horrible dance

sa, as if the music alone had supported h

ee," and then turning to the spectators, "and now, if any one desires t

placed in an iron cage at the chate

h to see it, you must make haste, for I swear

im; besides, whether it arose from fear or interest, every one w

the following morning, when every effort was made to capture the

onal safety, particularly when she reflected that by her duplicity, in concealing from Teresa h

ed with people who had gathered together to see the young men fire at the target, an amusement much encouraged by King Ferdinand the Fourth during his forced sojourn in Sicily; and many of those who were, at the time we are speaking of, about to devote t

uno was placed. The latter could only be reached by a flight of steps in the interio

aying the expense of the cup-the charge was two carlins for each shot, for which the party received in exchange a number, drawn by chance, which fixed the order in whic

w down two carlins, and a voice was heard asking for a single number. Every one turned round, astonished

still no one addressed him; but as he was known to be the best hunter in the countr

seemed to take no part in the enthusiasm and merriment of his countrymen. At length it was his turn; they called his name, he started and raised his head as if the call was unexpected; but recovering himself at once, he to

e slowly raised the barrel; every one watched him with anxiety, and they saw, with astonishment, that his aim was above the target; but he still continued to raise his rifle, until it was in the direction of the iron cage. Then the rifle and

rget, picked up his father's head, and without uttering a word or loo

fact, they commiserated the fate of Antonio Bruno, who was much respected by