Mezzoni the Brigand — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. | 31 “We have reason to be grateful to him,” said Marion, earnestly. “Indeed we have; I should have lost you, my child, but for his daring and manly rescue.’’ “It was nearly the end of your Marion, that isa fact, papa.’’ “Such an act in France would have commanded the insignia of the Legion of Honor,”’ said the father. ‘It was bravely done,’’ she murmured to herself, in a thoughtful mood. “Does he ever speak of his family at home?’ “Oh, yes. He has a mother and father living and two sisters. He describes his mother so tenderly that I have fallen in love with her.’’ ‘*T shall be jealous, Marion.’’ ‘“No fear, papa.”’ And the fair young girl came to his side, parted the thin gray locks from his forehead and kissed him lovingly. He patted her cheek as he gazed proudly at his daughter. A carriage was called, and they drove out to watch the queer street scenes. ‘‘Cleanliness and the free use of water are among the lost arts of Naples,’’ said the colonel. ‘And drainage a myth,”’ suggested Marion. ‘““Ay; the city smells rank to heaven.”’ “Mr. Hammond calls it dear, delightful, ieee | Naples,’’ said Marion. “Very good, it is both dirty and attractive,” said the colonel. ‘‘A sort of beggar’s paradise.”’ The old soldier spoke truly; there is no quarter free from beggary. Murillo’s ““Beggar Boy”’ is re- peated every hour of the day. Lazarus and Dives jostle each other everywhere. The palace and the hovel are contiguous, starvation and abundance, ele- Eomichbooks (ele)