The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 99: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ LL THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. eee ee eee ee 93 I will watch them both. I will bring her down to the dust ; she shall own me her master. Revenge is sweet !” * * * * * For more than a week Frank remained a captive among the bandit band, and, greatly to his sur- prise, not only recovered from his wound, but fast regained his health and strength. He was fed well, and comfortably lodged, but no one spoke to him save Basil, who more than once urged upon the brave Boy Soldier to join the Bandit Band. But he would not, and treated the proposition with scorn, He was allowed free range of the grounds in and around the cavern, and, after a few days, as fortune would have it, he met the fair Agnese. He did not speak to her then, but, from her blush and timidity, he judged that the meeting was not altogether displeasing to her. By private signals these two young lovers hit upon a pleasant rendezvous, in a shady grove, where evening after evening they met in secret. The spot was a plefsant one, and no one eyer dreamed of their secret nightly meetings. And it was well that they thus supposed, for there were many of the band ready and willing to obey Cavolti in all his nefarious deeds. But turn we fora moment to Cavolti and his plans. * * * * * It was here that the lovers would meet, and, un- seen, as they thought, by mortal eye, breathe forth the sentiments of their hearts. It was one of those delightful Italian evenings when not a cloud was to be seen in the heavens that Frank, proceeding to the well-known spot, a maiden of rare beauty rushed into his fond em- brace. For a few moments the lovers regarded each other with all the ardour of mutual affection. “‘Oh, this is happiness indeed !” cried Frank, ‘“‘to hold thee in these arms and call thee mine. But why that tear, fair Agnese? At such a time as this, joy alone ought to be the tenant of thy bosom.” “Alas! I know not why, brave Frank, but a mysterious dread rushes through my frame as though some dreadful calamity was about to happen.” “Nay, heed it not; love,” said Frank, “’tis but imagination,” “Tt may be,” said the beauteous maid; “but look! what is that ?’’ at the same time directing his attention towards a dark object some short dis- tance before her. “Oh, it is but the shadow of some neighbouring tree,” exclaimed Frank ; ‘‘and yet it cannot be— no, ’tis some vile spy !” Grasping his dagger he rushed to the spot. The person quickly retreated, but not before he had a full view of his retiring figure. ‘That form is Cavolti’s, or I am much deceived.” ““Cavolti!” responded Agnese in alarm to her lover ; “gracious heavens! what does he here?” “That I should have asked him,” exclaimed Frank, “had he not like a craven fled; but why this agitation? what is coupled with his name to occasion this emotion? Tell me, Agnese, I implore you.” “Alas | you know not, brave youth; yet listen,” cried the still trembling maid, ‘‘and I’ll explain, You are, perhaps, not aware that Cavolti was an early suitor for my hand, On the plea of my ex- treme youth, and his hate of Cavolti, my father refused his proposals, and with joy I found myself freed from his hateful advances, and, as I hoped, for ever, “In this I was deceived, for but’a short time had elapsed ere he again proposed and renewed his pretensions with all his fierceness and former ardour, but he was again rejected. “Vain were his efforts to conceal his rage at this my second refusal, which he ayerred arose from my love for some more favoured rival. This was soon after your escape from the cave. “*T know the presumptuons villain,’ growled Cavolti, ‘ who has dared to cross my path; but let him beware, for I will prove his deadly foe.’ “With these words he left me. “From that time his conduct completely changed. “The ardent expression which used to illumine his countenance when we met, is now supplanted by a heavy scowl, and he will fix his large, dark eyes upon my face with a fierce intensity that fills me with dismay. “ This morning I abruptly met him, “Fire seemed to flash from his eyes. “With difficulty could I suppress an ejaculation of horror, as I turned to avoid him. “Seizing my arm, he exclaimed, in a bitter tone of warning, “«The time will soon come when Agnese shall have bitter cause to repent the rejection of Cavolti. Think not, proud girl, ever to become the bride of him I suspect. No; I swear, by Heaven, rather than that, my dagger should stretch both him and thee lifeless at my feet,’ “Throwing my arm rudely from him, with the whispered word ‘Remember,’ he rushed from my sight. ‘“T am convinced that his heart is black enough to carry his threat into execution,” said Agnese, trembling ; “therefore, avoid him, dear youth, for should you meet I tremble for the consequences,” “ Nay! fear it not, fair Agnese.” But while speaking the sound of distant foot- steps broke upon the surrounding stillness. Agnese heard her name called in loud, angry tones. This was an unwelcome sound to the lovers, as it was a sure signal of her father’s carousing and drunkenness, ‘‘Parewell, Frank!” faintly escaped from her lips. ve Farewell, my love,” returned he, folding her to his bosom ; ‘to-morrow at twilight, at the same hour and place, we meet again, Till then, fare- well |” For a moment their lips met, then, sighing, they tore themselves from each other’s embrace. Frank followed her with his eyes until she was hid from his view, then, drawing his cloak around him, he proceeded on his lonely walk, musing on the threatening words uttered by Cayolti to the fair Agnese. Lost in these reflections he walked, heedless of surrounding objects, until a sudden exclamation startled him. When, looking towards the spot from whence the sound proceeded, he beheld the same figure he had seen before. He was slowly preceding him, apparently uncon- scious of being observed. : The hot blood rushed to the cheeks of Frank. His proud heart swelled to repay the insult offered to his fair Agnese. Hastening forward the next moment beheld him by the side of the object of his resentment! , <<< QQ Ax2°Aa°AW LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL A oO Ccomicbooks CO