The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

138 a et THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Balls and parties were going on everywhere. Among those who gave the most splendid balls and parties was Donna Julia Guilio, the wife of an Italian nobleman of great wealth and fame. Among others invited to a grand ball and enter- tainment given by her in the opera house, hired for the occasion by Donna Julia, were the two young English yolunteers, Captain Ford and Major Caspar. Both of these gallant young men at first declined to accept the invitation, but they were so pressed on all sides that at last both got leave of absence for a few days, and went into Crema. Frank and Caspar dressed themselves as neatly as could be expected for rough, hardy young soldiers, and, directly their names and rank were announced at the door of the reception-room by loud-mouthed officials, all eyes were turned upon them. A buzz of admiration was heard on every side as _ these two gallant youths entered the opera-house, | and neither of them had been there long ere they found themselves conversing with much spirit to two celebrated belles of the town. Frank and Caspar were the envy of the men, and the idols of the fair sex, on that occasion. The soft swell of lovely music fell upon their ears, and, as the entertainment was soon over, they whirled in the fascinating mazes of the waltz with charming signoritas, and thought but little of how things went in merrie England, the land of their birth, The dancé was at its height, and every one was merry. Frank and Caspar loitered in the lobbies, par- taking of refreshments and smoking, when who should pass close by but Nelly Lancaster, leaning on her father’s arm ! If a thunderbolt had fallen at Frank’s feet he could not have been more surprised. He would have spoken, and was upon the point of moving towards her, when their eyes met. Nelly’s gaze was cold, hard, and cheerless, She swept by him like a thing of marble. There was even a slight curl upon her rose-bud lips, but slight as it was it sent the blood back to the young soldier’s heart like an icy torrent. He left Casper’s side and walked rapidly towards | her; but heard her conversing with an clegantly ? ————————————— —_ attired young Italian officer, and narrating a story she had heard about a certain young English volunteer officer who had abducted a bandit’s daughter |! These.few words fell like a death-knell upon Frank’s ears, and he felt desperate. “* All is lost,” he thought. If he could {but have‘five minutes’ conversation with her, all things could be explained. But this was impossible, She was surrounded on all sides, and Frank had not the ghost of a chance of obtaining a stolen interview. For the rest of the evening Frank was sorrowful and dumb, Many a fair dame conversed With him, but he had no heart for frivolity or gaicty. How long he remained sitting lonely and thoughtful he knew not, but was suddenly aroused from his reverie by Col. Medicci, who passed by a in arm with a female wrapped up in a hooded cloak, A sign from the colonel brought Frank to his feet, when De Medicei said) in a soft accent, ‘ f know the fair-signorina willoexcuse me, but an urgent message has just reached me from Gen. ae — bs . te Garibaldi, to which I must instantly attend; and therefore I commit you to the care of a young officer of great merit, who will conduct you to-your carriage.” : vr Frank took the young lady’s arm, and as he did so Col. Medicci said, in an under tone, “Come to me immediately; say nothing; but there is hot werk in store for us.” By this time Frank arrived at the portico of the opera-house, outside which were ranged files of carriages, 2 ‘What carriage shall I ask for?” said Frank, for the first time speaking to his fair charge, whose face he could rot see. Rin i ‘Sir Edward Lancaster’s carriage stops the way,” said a loud voice. eos In a moment Nelly stepped within if, and the vehicle drove off. Frank stood there as if in a dream. It was Nelly he had escorted, and he knew it not ! But as the carriage drove off he heard. Nelly archly sa «Capt, Ford will find all his old love letters returned to his camp by thé time he feturns— farewell |” +2 As he stood there dumb and unable to more, Caspar hurriedly approached him, saying, ‘Frank, come this way; the police fear that some of Basil's band have intruded here. Jn that case they mean mischief to you ; come this Way.” “Oh! it cannot be possible!” said Frank, moodily, “‘ that any of Basil's infamous band could have obtained admission here ; but, if s6, what of that, I fear them not, d—n the biack villains.’ “But come this wsy, tell you. Yon stand in danget there, for how easy would it be for an cloaked rascal to approach you and déal a deathly blow.” After much persuasion, Frank followed Caspar’s advice, and re-entered the opera-hotise, As should have been explained before, the whole pit had been boarded over for the dancers ; but in the programme two entertainments were announced, namely, an operetta to precede, and a diverfisement to serve as an interlude, to the dancing. This divertisement. was in progress at the moment when Prank and Caspar re-entered, and stood near the great doorway smoking. To the no small surprise of both these young officers they were now joined by several of the Boy Volanteers, who had received @special invitations and leave of absence from Colonel Medicci himself. Among whom were Hugh Tracy, Mark, Fatty, Buttons, and others who bad arrived in Crema that very night by coach, especially hired for the pur- pose ; but all under promise to return to camp again upon the next day: Fatty and Buttons amused themselves highly with eating and drinking at Donna Julia’s expense, and almost made their heads ache with incessant dancing ; Master Tony especially, who wheeled about just as nimbly and gracefully as a young elephant. Frank was surprised but pleased at De Medicci’s condescension to his brave young féllowers, and immediately left them in their glory to wait on the colonel. ‘Don't let any one find ont the secret, Captain Ford,” said De Medicci; but the old general has got a plan in his head to storm the Austrian fort on the high road to Trent, as you know our volunteers have been battering at it for about a week with their cannon. They have already made a breach in the walls, and Garibaldi intends to assault it to- Eomichbooks a a com “ 7. a ee