The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

——=_ 136 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. the snares laid by the charms of some foreign beauty. She, of course, did not know it, but, as we have seen in the course of this story, such was the actual fact. With a wild joy, therefore, she left the academy at Marseilles, and her pale face was flushed with expectation as she contemplated the chance of meet- ing with the brave, handsome youth, who long ago had made the conquest of her heart. From one place to another the banker and his daughter travelled, and mixed much with company. Whenever she went to the houses of nobility or gentry her father always found himself thrown into the company of officers of the Italian army. Nelly’s striking beauty made sad havoc among the young men whithersoever she went, and not a few of the fiery lords of Italy felt their hearts beat more rapidly than usual when Nelly cast a passing glance at them. “Tsn’t she beautiful ?”’ “How pale and bewitching !”’ were the remarks heard on every side when out in company. Now, as. both Nelly and her father knew the Italian language well, they were never at any loss when out visiting at the houses of various persons who invited them. Wherever they went, however, little else was talked of but the bold deeds of the Boy Band of Volunteers, and of the handsome, dashing young captain who led them. Nelly listened to the accounts she heard regard- ing Frank and his young heroes with a heart beating high with pleasure and pride. The more the ladies praised him the more Nelly felt faint and sick at heart, “This, then, is the cause of his long silence,” she thought ; “he has forgotten me, and cast his eyes upon another. -Would that I knew where he was, [ then might find out whether it be true or not that he has lost all love for me.” Both day and night did the charming Nelly think of the gallant youth at the head of his Boy Band. And the more she meditated the more she desired to see him to learn, if possible, whether it was true or not that he had proved faithless to her, But of these her secret feelings no one knew anything. Now, as chance would have it, her father in his travels put up for a few days in the nearest village to Frank’s encampment. Here it was for the first time she learned or heard something of the story of Agnese, the bandit’s daughter, She quickly discovered the abiding place Frank had provided for Agnese, and resolved to visit her in some strange disguise. Thus it was by accident Frank saw her on the stairs of the tavern. She had procured by some means the dress of a Sister of Charity, and concealed her long hair and beautiful features that no one would have dis- covered who she was. When she saw Frank leave the chamber of Agnese her heart beat wildly and strangely. She had not for some time any strength to move, and at first resolved to descend and not confront at all the maiden who had stolen her lover’s heart. Upon after thought, however, she boldly entered the sick girl’s chamber, and conversed with the invalid on religious matters, The pretended Sister was so good, kind, and endearing that soon Agnese opened her whole dt Jf heart to her, ‘And do you really love this English youth?” the Sister asked, with a great effort. ““T do,’ said Agnese, with choking accents, “TJ love him with all my heart; he is so brave, so kind, and true,” “And he, of course, loves you in return?” said the Sister, with a faint, but sickly smile. ‘‘ Ah, sweet young lady,’ Agnese replied, ‘that is more than I dare hope or say.” “He has never declared it, say you?” “Not as yet,” was the blushing reply; ‘‘ he has acted towards me with great consideration ; in- deed, if I were his only sister, he could not haye been more attentive.” “But perhaps he may declare his passion one of these days, should the war soon end.” ‘““My heart misgives me,’ was the faint reply. ‘“‘T never knew what life was until I met him, and then my heart was filled with a sweet, entrancing pleasure it never knew before,” : ‘Poor girl !” the Sister sighed, “and little does she think that another has felt that pleasure also, but one whose heart now, alas, is cold and de- serted,”’ | ‘What says the Sister?” Agnese lancuidly asked, ‘““T was merely remarking that perhaps the reason why he has not declared his passion may be that he has left other sweethearts bchind him in England. I do not say that he has, you know, but perhaps it may be.” . “Think you so?” said Agnese, with a flushed face, J “IT know not, but it may be so, dear girl ; and, lest your heart be not already too much wrapt in him, I would say, beware! Do not believe all these handsome English youths say.” GRAND DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES!! Se 1,400 VALUABLE PRESENTS GIEVEN AW aAYV WITH THE BOYS OF ENCLAND, Consisting of Ponies, Pet Dogs, Pigeons, Ducks, Fowls, Rabbits, Concertinas, Watches, Cricket Bats, Balls and Stumps, Bows and Arrows, Fishing Rods, Quoits, Boxes of Colours, Sets of Characters, Scenes, Stage Front, etc., ete. ORDER No. 1 OF THE BOYS OF ENGLAND. ONE PENNY WEEKLY, With No. 1 is PRESENTED A LARGE AND MAGNIFI- CENT ENGRAVING OF THE BATTLE OF CHEVY CHASE, AND A SET OF CHARACTERS FOR A NEW PLAY. FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF ANY OTHER BOYS’ JOURNAL. LOOK OUT FOR THE BOY SATLOR; OR, LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR, A most interesting and powerfully-written Tale, to be completed in about 30 Numbers, Vo. 2 with No. 1, and a LARGE EN- G7 GRAVING, GRATIS, « Comicboo