HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 1892-02-19, Page 6,
T• tke
ThlkiithaPeeelle
• for _'the
°.th& Duke of Platenea
The bridal garland, falls tian the bier: .
The shadow of a erowa that e'er him hung,
-Irlikaggidet tho-alladOW OeS,kliy Death; 7
celjaltinder, truthful;
reverent, pare.'
'Acall•rnsiC° That" 4,..1/Orld.4140 mourns
with:Ten. •'
trbe thrones aro 33101140:11).1Your loss; '
re dor polacei Toti-heoo•MWrted•P
�rIf thie eartlika ruled hyPerreqt Love, '
est,afteriffis ;brief range oebiameless 404,
ostroll of feneralln an Angel ears,
nrids." happierthan the merriestmarriage-,
°. The face of Death is to, ward: the Sun of Life, *
. His shedovi darkens earth; his truer name, •
"Onwerd."hosliseordenee in the will,
,-,eki•,01,a1•011 of that Eternal Harmony
whereto the werldS beet lime, tho' faintly
„„, ..,sheard--
PAIX.thergreat Hereafter mourn in hope;
eon:Mote
t }Ito to
ARITONE'S DEVOTION
• OR, A TALEOF tlU,1!7NY
"§" next day was :Whit -Sunday. Peri°,
: neoel, drove in to Naplesnvitlat the,
ritteme, and was very glad that the great
*eye/heat of "tlincle George's" • probable
arrival excluded all other topics of coltversas
It lasted throughoat the drive, and,
indeed, eagreesed CaptainBrittoa's thoughts
o witch , during church -time that he was
ad,,to effect his escape with Sibyl: after
0.89Tbon, leaving Carlo and Francisco to
esecondeervice, senile he hastened to make
&dee as to the Pilgrim.
o' his surprise and delight, be was
:greeted just outside the, church by his
*other.
Sibyl, • who. had very vague recollections
of her uncle,' studied 'him with a child's
' 'keen criticibilu."
," He is ,like papa," she ,relfeeted, ." hut
idler and finer ; his heard is beautiful;.
hdrwhite and curly,. like a Father tilirist-
' he " ' SOW his eyes. like
e 13tae1f..Sxelthis point,' She
0‘!'
-t:fte'eitiller•Sati-C.m.,
' :iirl Ahit$,441414ng;',': i.el'''..:
.13,se .searysjigh•lf
r e o Sleet'
ecalrneL b .kaicer: the
r. Vhat!,., *-134TAc10.0
is this your
ttoir,;!,have gra*.a,
drWhat have you
4,4
Wdire�tly,"- re -
e may e may As well wait
*if youaret, not in ahiury. By the
• ink you;have MAI heat*
'MarriedihoitlfA'
noblemen has
,ppy as to',4neet with your ap-
;. ,iBritton, well aware Of
•ess for titles • and ,O041
• nun face,,,t a ,
(MSe mar -
aa: ., eyes. '
Ong ,Italian'neightior of ours, Sig-
nWal,f;itoble' at but ofe
iLlfattilly;-iyaslikelyStodir tbe
litan Bu. Ohl 1 „tun thoroughly
with tho affairthOroughlY Pleased
heir tn,a'rich old uncle ; so
it iasatiafictoryinaery way."
hopeheis good enough for dear little
• "Said Mr. Britton dryly- Somehow
*Simi of his pretty niece marrying the
fOrelgitter whopreptise,d for her did- not
• • •
ell, "ii,X. to that, I doubt if there is
',eine,in the, world ''quite geed enough for
er' -Bald Captain Bitten,, rubbing his
but slightly embarrassed by the
ammo of his prayer -blink. ," You will
o Denati,' though, I am sere or that. He
iii a fins fellow. Just now, poor boy, he is
"in great trouble—lost his mother quite sud-
denly, and Of course he's dreadfully out up.
I In &et; I think the only thing will be to
haiten on the marriage, and get him right
way from the place for a bit. Ah, here
• they come 1 That's right 1" and he hurried
forward lest Sibyl should forestall him as a
iiewsbearer."
:Mr. Britton glanced quickly at, Fran-
cesca's fiance, and felt his insular prejudice
melting away. A more beautiful face he
had never seen. Something of its serenity
" vanished, however, as captain Britton
. approached—a sort of shade passed over the
forehead, and he evidently came back to
the present with an effort. The captain
• brought hien forward, and introduced him
• in his usual rather boisterous and petronit-
,, ing way. Mr. Britton Wee all the more
struck by the grace and dignity :of tho
Italian, and he held out his hand cordially.
"1 have bean hearing of you, Signor,
• .Donati, ' he said, pleasantly. You must
-, let me congratulate 31,00, for, 'indeed, I
think you ii.roa very happy inaM" •
The Italian smiled, surely the Reddest
smile over seen, as he bowed WS aeknowl-
edgmente. Mr. Britton was startled and
perplexed, but Francessca's happy face
reassured him ; and had not the captain
said that his future son-in-law was in
trouble?
"1 want you all to come and spend the
day on my yacht," he said, turning to his
brother. The gig is waiting down by the
• Arsenal. Come, you must really take com-
passion on my solitude. , Signor Donati,
hope youll put up with that barbarous
custom, an early dinner; but the fact is,
our cook's caddy is so near the men's
quarters that if I dine late the, poor fellows
are half grilled at night."
After a little more discussion they all set
off for the Arsenal, "where the "gig," a
term which had baffled Carlo altogether,
resolved itself into a four -oared boat,
manned by trim -looking English sailors,who
bore the name of the Pilgrim in red letters
across their blue jerseys and in gold letters
round their hats. dr. Britton took his
place in the stern, insisting that his
brother must sit beside Sibyl to trim the
boat; and, having thus managed that the
lovers should be Hide by side, gave the word
to start. Sibyl gave a cry of delight as the
golden -brown oars were promptly raised in
the air and simultaneously lowered into the
Water.
es "Oh Uncle George !" she cried, " how
ppy-you must be with this dear little boat
ears waiting for you, and men to do so
utifully just what you say !"
-" Ah 1" said Mr. Britton, laughing, "wait
till -you are on board the Pilgrim! I see,"
he added, turning to Carlo and Francesca,
"that you two have already taught this
little one to understand the proud sense of
possession."
Francesca smiled and blushed. Carlo ap- U
peered to be engrossed with, a vessel which w
they were passing, the huge Dania, then a
not quite coin letti•d.
sigipine lie said, turnin back with a
,
. _ •
a bright smile which veiled the pale at hin
heart, "I imams) ,there iii no need to intro-
Thzce
you to our ,monster vessel; you prob-
ably-. know much more .about hr 14191,•_we
" They tell me our neighbor tho ,Aida
Is I egs to an Italian gillent or duke, or
so thing Of the sb±t,» eitid Mr. Britton.
"What was the name, Oxenherry ; do you
recollect
•
Caresses I believe, Or," said the
coxewaiit.
"Count Carosear said Captain Britten,
with a beaming face "The name seema
familiar to me. A friend of your*, PerhaPal
Carlo?"
"Jo, sir; I have never even., met him,"
said Car/o, repressively.
"But the name is familiar to yo.5
surely
"it is certainly A well-known name,"
said Carlo, still in tl,s,3 same Ones.
Mr. Britten was a little puzzled ; he
couldlaot make Out whether the Italian
'knew of something, not to the credit of
'Count Carossa, or -whether his tone nierely
implied a great distaste of the captaih'e
love of the aristocracy, '
By this time they were alongside the
yacht, and the captain, forgetting all about
the count, began to admire hiss brother's
latest toy.
"A very pretty little . vessel indeed,
George. I confess I envy you. Sibyl,
what do you say --shell we not sell the villa
and live afloat? Now,
Carlo, don't forget
to take your hat off to the flack; it's a mor-
tal'insult to forget that !"
Carlo laughed. Just for a little time he
forget his cares, and his first thought, as he
glanced round the deck, With itii exquisitely
smooth and white boards, its shining brass -
Work, its cunninglyarranged skylights and
Companions, was this:
"Ay4eht is the hist place in . the world
for private ebneersistiona 'One -snore day of
freedom! Oho Mere day.'s Peace of ` mind
for my darling. , !,
As for Sybil; she was wild with happiness,
now watching the, gig as it was hauled up,
new trotting off hand-in-hand . with the
coxswain to 'the forecastle, ;looking.- -with
leUgeog"eyes,. at the tope-ladderli, and chat..
tering 'Without inteinaissiOn.• •
• It waanat without 'dififiett that lhan-'
celiac': bore her off to be washe and brushed
409,Ke dinners and had it not been Stor the
4aaAkati,O4 of the the,:•', Shifting: , tnl?1,e' in the
,salOns: ShewouldhardlY beYelieen iiidueeti
to etaY' doWii bele* fer lo' dun a duty as
eating.
Carlo thWhoirethe rules ‘..Of the English
Senday!hadalesait,,bespa' incomprehensible,
vaiRn..iiiptoas an: bat . he
hlitta'eTirSti°eat.ot-akiiig part iis,m erin'*Satlittatediacriatineaitsman,
being, of Seurip„,readienbugli to epeak out
his own Opliiiish if it were asked, but not
feeling bonnet° volunteer it. The argu-
Ment-Wai 'es last interrupted by the entrance
of the steward.
‘,g 4 heat hag just come ,across frona the
Aida, sir, with Count Carossa's 'card, but
%he captain can't torOto•imit, whist the men
Say, all of thenrbeing Italians"
Carol at once offered to act as interprete.
and ran up on deck, returning with the
Saeesage which he delivered with an im-
partial face.
"Count Caress& preients his compliments
to the owner of the Pilgrim, and it would
give him much pleasure to make his ac-
quaintance. If quite convenient to Mr.
Britton, the count will call upon him in the
afternoon.'
Very happy to see him, I'm sure," said
Mr. Britton, who was the soul of hospitals
ity. "Perhaps, °Signor Donati, you would
he so good as to frame a polite message for
me and deliver it to the messenger -,-or stay,
I'll mite it on my card."
This done, they all adjourned to the deck,
where before long they were joinedbyCount
Carossa, a fine-looking Irian of two or three -
and -thirty, to whom Captain Britton took
very kindly. There was much amusing
discussion as to the merits of the two
yachts, then of Mr. • Britton's honieward
route, during which the count discovered
that Francesca and her father were living
in the neighborhood, and did his beat to
push the acquaintance, eliciting very easily
an invitegon to dinner on the following
Wednesday. :
Carlo, after the count's arrival, had kept
sedulously in the background, and had said
but little. Happening to, glance at him
once, Mr. Britton was struck by the strange
expression of his face. He hastily turned
• his eyes toward Francesca; she was smiling
in answer to seine polite nothing addressed
to her by the Count.' ,
The afternoon Was spent in rambling
about NriPless. showing Uncle George he
many:lions as he cared to sec; then they re-
turned to the yacht, to that curious English
meal celled "tea "—a new experience to
Carlo—and it was arranged thatthey should
drive home in the cdOl. Of the evening,taking
Mr. Britton with them.
"It has been such a delightful day," said
Franceada ; "I think I agree with Sibyl
that being a Sunday It has being all the
alicer."
The lovers were standing near the wheel
in thel dim starlight; perhaps Carlo was
glad; thatthe light was no clearer.
"See," he said, "there hi Venus just set-
ting; not there; lea out yonder behind St.
Elmo."
CHAPTER XL
A FIRST 'ENCOlJNTER.
"Blest, too, is he who can divine
Where real light doth be,
And dares to take the side that seems
Wrong to man'ablindfold eye.
" Then learn to scorn the praise of men,
•
And learn to lose with God;
For Jesus won the world through shame,
And beckons thee His road."
• =Faber.
" I have something to say to you, canna ;
let us linger behind the others; there is no
hotter place on earth than these streets of
Pompeii, and I think we know them well
enough." •
The ,whole party had driven over early
on the Monday motning to show Mr.
Britton the more recent excavations; he
had been to Pompeii before, but many years
ago.
To Carlo and FranCesca, however, those
old gray streets and ruined temples were
perfectly familiar, and Francesca was not
sorry to follow out Carlo's suggestion, and
dispatched Sibyl to tell the others that they
would wait in the Temple of Venus till
aheir return. °
"At which message you may be sure
nele George will laugh," she said. "Had
e been wise in our generation, Carlo, we
hould have chosen the Tem le of Isis, but
hap this is my favorite ; and, after all, we
re roof against tenaing now."
-
Carlo, 'relied eadly aa ho looked across the
beautiful oxpainiO, o Slia one side,
beyond the; ruined streets, ley 'the verdant
Campagna, hennaed by Yeanvius, and
Somme; eta tJie 904cr was a iet erre lev41,Y
view of ea, and mountains, with the white
&nisei of Calitellemare gleaming in the sun-
shine. '
"Wo have not chosen a very- shady
place," Bald Francesca. "But, see, there
is just a little patch of shadow, down there.
Let us acme."
"Do you know what that lair -said Carlo,
repressing a shudders
Why, yes, to be sure," she replied,
gayly 3, " lei the altar of 1,0.40.11,0" Row
fond Clare need to be of peking. 'about, in
here-edon't:you remilmibet wish she had
come with Uncle George." "
"And I, too • L would have given any-
thing to have had her.here—for your sake,
cartina."
There was something so unusual in his
tone that Frances& looked up quickly.
"Carlo tido, you frighten me ! Come and
sit down on this step py 'me in the shade.
Why do yeu wish'Clara'here for my sake?
What do I really want with any one now
that I have you ?"
"But if, as we were saying last night,
there was a battle to fight and I had to leave
you?',
" Carlin° ! what do you mean? Surely
there is not going to be a revoltition—a
war?" •
" Oh no, it is much tamer than that," he
said, with a slightly bitter smile. Then a
eudden light illumining.hia face, he put his
arm round her and held her closely.
"My dear one," he said, speaking rapidly
and with great earnestness—" my own tree
love, you gave me fresh courage last night
by your words. • Carina, there are other
wars than those betweeu nations ; there is
the great, war in which you and I have
vowed our servie,e ; you would not wish me,
I know, to Prove coward in that—to be a
deserter. I must tell you, in plain- words,
the actual case, even though it is hard to
do it --even though I would give the world
to keep all knotvledge of :mob evil from you.
Francesca, do you kuow what killed my
mother? I will tell you. It was the know-
ledge that Anita was living in hourly peril
of proving unfaithful to her husband!
--that one who would ruin her—that one
who dares to call his foul passion by the
name of love, b actually a Member of Mer-
lino's company. Merlin° himself suspects
nothing; if hp did he Would halfkill Anita.
I have thought of every possible plan for
getting rid of this. villain without betraying
my sister, but, darling; there is only one
way that Will answer, and it is this; to get
• rid of this man—this baritone—I must take
hisplace myself." "
You must offer," said Francesca,
faintly; "but perhaps Signor Merlin° will
not accept you.
""The post has already been offered tome
by. Merlin°, and on Wednesday, Francesca
mut, I must let him know whether I accept
his offer of not." ,
Ah -1”•
She locked her hands to gether convul-
sively, but only that one tab of intense, in-
tolerable pain escaped her
There was silence—a silence so deep that
the distant sounds of the workmen busy
over the excavations seemed quite near. A.
little lizard darted ,iscroas the pavement
close to their feet, and plunged into the
maidenhair that fringed the altar.
Francesca opened her eyes.
" MY love !zny love 1" she cried, "don't
look like that ! See, Carlo thio, I am going
to keep my word. I will say, like the wives
in the old days, 'Go and help,' and not
cry.; I promise you I'll not cry. And yet—
yet—oh! how can I help it when .you. set
me so bad an example ?"
With a stifled sob she broke off and hid
her face on his breast. The •sight of her
suffering had unnerved him but quickly
he regained that strange self-mastery which
was all the more remarkable because it was
'combined with an ardent, emotional,.
• highly-atrung temperament.
You are helping me to keep my word,"
he said, drawing her yet closer to him.
"As a child I promised my father on his
• death -bed that I would shield Nita, and
my inistbeee kilt entreaty you heard."
," Do I help yen ?" she said eagerly; "do
I really help? The I ant no, longer un-
happy. It was the thought of your going
quite away- where I could do nothing --
nothing for 'yen -lit was that broke my
heart: If, even away, I can help you—if
iFeien in this wecan work together—then
Iean bear it." - • '
• " Your 'father,"' he se.id, hesitatingly;
" I tell him at once—and, carina, he
will not see things in the light you see
them."
"He will not approve of your going on.
the stage," said Francesca. "He will be
vexed and annoyed, but he cannot help ste-
ing that it is the only thing to be done., '
Carlo made a faint gesture of dissent. The
last sentence was tio like rranceeea, sot am -
like the captain.
"He will most naturally wish that I had
never spoken to yeti. • Indeed, I myself
could almost wish it, darling; for what
have I brought you but trouble and grief,
and the shadow of disgrace?"
"You have brought me yourself, Car -
lino," she said, with a sweet mirthfulnees in
look and tone; "you don't seem to think
much of the gift, it is true."
"And yet if I had kept silence a week
longer all would have been different. I
should have gone off with Merlino's com-
pany, and there would have been no discue-
aion and remonstrance • I should not have
vexed your father—shOuld not have felt I
that I had spoiled your life. You would
have heen free, and the pain would have I
been mine alone." •
"Why,' you vain boy 1" she exclaimed,
half laughing, half crying. "do ,you think c
it was that tale you told me in the 13elve- a
dere that made me love you? You know
quite well I have loved you for years and t
years! And then you talk of going away in a
silence and leaving ine free and happy. 1
ar ino, 'm ashamed of yea 1
Like* two children, they forgot -for a little
while the dark future, and basked in/ the h
sunny present. Parting was a thought
hardly to be conceived while they sat
together in the old Temple of Venus, and
made love to each other after the fashion of a
lovers in all ages and climes.
After a tithe they talked of Carlo's future b
life; he spoke warmly of Sardoni, g
quoted Piale's high opinion of Marioni, the
conductor, and said all that could be said in C
Merlino's favor. He wanted to paint hie w
new life in bright colors for her sake, and e
he talked cheerfully of winning Nitele love vi,
and confidence, g with more wow-
ana than he really felt.
Carlo was invited to dine at the CAMS
Bella that evening ; he diad not yet made
hp his mind Whether 'lie would ;tell all' to
Captein Britton face to face, or whether he
would write him a letter. Though' a very
fluent speaker, he was not particularly fond
of writing Englisb, however; and if only a
favorabk opportunity could be found he
rather 'inclined to an interview with the
captain.
The opportunity came. Dessert was over,
Francesca had left the room, Mr. Brittoii
excused himself soon after, as he had a
great number of letters to write ; the cap-
tain drew labi chair up to the table again
and passed, the wine to his guest. Carlo
knew then that hie time was come; the
hand with which he helped himself to snow
•trembled a little. but his voice was firm and
well modulated when he spoke.
" It seems a little ungracious to be glad
that Mr. Britton's holiday should be in-
vaded by business lettere," he began, "but
I particularly wanted a few words alone
with you." '
Captain Britton thought of his scheme for
hastening on the marriage, and quite hoped
that the same idea had occurred to Carlo.
A kindly smile played about his broad
mouth.
"1, too, wanted to speak vzith you all
day, but these family parties are no time for
confidential talk."
Carlo thought of the Temple of Venus,
and was silent. Captain Britton resumed:
"The fact is, I am anxious about you,
my dear fellow ; .youlook to me far from
well. I wish that sister of yours was at the
other side of the Atlantic, and that's the
truth of it; it was a bad day for all of us
when she returned. When do they leave
Naples? You'll never be yourself again till
you are rid of that brother-in-law."
"1 am not likely to be rid of him for
some time to come, I fear," said Carlo,
plunging ,boldly into his subject. "It is
about the step which I propose taking that
I wish now to speak to you."
Did he mean to propose that wedding
journey which the captain had planned?
His face was grave almost to sternness, but
then the Merlinos were quite enough to
acebunt for that:
"I know it is a step which you will dis-
approve,' resumed Carlo. And yet—
there is no help for it—take it I must."
Captain Britton's hopes sank; he began
to think apprehensively of all the things he
should least like to happen.
"Well, short of turning Romanist again,"
he said, after a pause.• ' I don't think any-
thing you are likely to do would disquiet me
very peach." •
"-It will, however, delay our marriage,"
said Carlo; "that is, I fear, quite inevi-
table."
• "Well, well," said Captain Britton/
thinking that he-ineant `to study for some of
the higher branches of the law, "you are
both young, and I ca.n assure you I'm in no
hurry to get rid of my little Francesca.
Have you discussed the matter with her ?"
"Yes, and she agrees with me that I
must go.:'
"G� ! Where ?"
"With Merlino's company; it is the only
way in which I can keep my promise to my
mother—the only possible way of shielding
Anita."
Captain Britton was so much startled
that for a minute he could not epeak, only
the color rose to his forehead and his eyes
opened wider. In all his trouble and
anxiety Carlo could not help observing, that
he bore a comical resemblance to the crim-
son shade over the lamp, with its owl's
head and round, staring eyes. How was he
to make, this man, of all men in the worlds
understand Nita's position and sympathize
with its difficulties? While he hesitated
how, beat to put her case without divulg-
ing too much, the captain recovered his
breath.
"Do I understand that you mean to
turn actor ?" he asked, in a sort of hoarse
roar.
Tone and manner were alike • overheating.
• Carlo made one of his dignified little bows
and said gravely, " Merlin° has offered me
reasonable terms, and Piale has long wished
that I should go on the stage. Had I only
my own wishes to consult I should certainly
not choose the career of a public singer;
but, sir, I promised my mother to shield,
Anita, and I must do Mybest—I must think
of her."
"1 should have thought you were bound
to think of your promised wife, said the
captain, wrathfully—" to consult her
wishee."
"Francesca agrees with me," said Carlo;
"she would never keep me back from a
duty."
"Francesca is a fool, then. Duty,
indeed ! A duty to mix yourself up with a
set of idle, profligate fellows! A duty to
'Oahe would make him fully coinpreliendt .
it and hear it out.
"You condemn me, sir, before you have
• grasped the situation," he began, his voice
so subdued by -the strong restraintAQ Wag
putting on himself that it sounded low and '
monetorious. In words plain enough to .
Make the Englishman wince he briefly de-
scribed the dilemma. "Knowing this," he.
went on—" knowing, too, that my mother
trested me to avert the danger, you surely
cannot judge 'lie harshly for taking thia
step. I knew the stage was diehonorable in
your eyes, but I thought you wOuld see in
time that for me it was a necessity."
The captain had risen, too, and was pac-
ing the room with quick, irritated steps-
Nita's story had been a severeshock to him,
Carlo's plain speaking still caused his ears
Connection with a family on the borders of 7 //
to tingle, and -the thought of any sort of
such a, scandal was unbearable to him. He
had a just pride in his Blition ancestry, in
bis holiest, God-fearing forefathers; his
strong love of family, his sense of kinship,
was the best part of the man. But virtuee.
generally have their 'corresponding vices,
and the eaptain had an overwhelming idea
of hie own dignity, and a habit of looking
on other men's affairs from a lofty, heights,
which often made bis judgment faulty.
"1 don't think you in yoar heart believe
all that you say to me, sir," eaid Donati„
struggling even now to make excuse for
Francese,a's father. "Alt I can do is to
bow to your decision. "You will let me
see Francesca ?"
Something in his patient dignity, in hia
00
manly forbearance, struck a hard blow at
the captain's- pride. What a contrast there-,
was between his own behavior and the '
behavior of the Italian! The thought chafed
hint, and called forth a burst of passionate
anger. • .
I taken not dream of permitting you
to see her," be cried furiously. ' I'll
have no more of your kissing and caress-
ing for my daughter; you'll have enough of
that at the theatre. Keep your enreases for
the prima .donnas !"
Carlo's English had forsaken him ; his
voice, so subdued a minute before, was uow •
eager and passionate ; his gesticulationa
were vehement as he poured birth a torrent
of angry remonstrance, a storm' of words so
rapidly uttered that to foreign ears their
were hardly intelligible.
The captain was only conscious of two ,
things: that he deserved this burst of in-
dignation and that he must somehow get
rid. of his 'fiery guest. At such a moment,
and in such agitation, he was not likely to
weigh his words. At length Carlo paused
for a moment, not because his wrath had
cooled, but because his breath failed him.
The captain instantly snatched at his ad-
va`a`taIgsvile. 1 at least save my child from fur-
ther contact with a deceiver 1" he ex-
claimed, heirsely. "She is mine," and
I owe it to her to shield her from such as
you."
Carlo walked slowly home. ' The idea of
Winging the Englishman to his feet and
making,him crave pardon soothed him a
little. " This anger shall not get the mas-
tery of me," he said to himself. "1 will go
in and make my preparations for leaving ,
home just as if this had not happened."
And, with the sort of unreal strength
which anger gives, he actually did begin his
sorrowful task, called the servants together,
told them that he was leaving Italy, pail
them their wages. and diernissed them.
Then, more triei by the sight of their grief
and surprise than he had fancied would be
the Case, he sat down to his desk and began
to write letters. , There was, the lease of the
Villa Bruno to be disposed ol—it was his
for another year; he wrote to a house- '
agent in Naples. There was the furniture
to be sold; he wrote to an auctioneer,
asking that an early date might he fixed for
the sale. At any other time these letters
would have coat him much to write;
but now he felt little, for fierce anger
crowded out grief and regret. He had not
in the least realized that he was never again
to see Francesca - he could realize nothing
but that he had Leen insulted—grossly in-
sulted—by the man who should have been
his best friend. And yet, though he was
still beside himself with passion, he was a/I '
the time aware of an inner voice urging him
to forgive.
After awhile he was seized with a strong
desire to start afresh which comes to every
wounded soldier, whether he fights in the
legions of the Seen or the Unseen. His share
of the wrong must first be set right; th "
was as clear as it was hard. He doubted '
he could bring himself to do it, but he went
so far as to go down to the salOto, take out
his desk, and sit down with pen and paper
before him. And at length; just as -faint
golden streaks appeared in ,the "horizon
heralding the day, the letter was finished
and the struggle over. •
Carlo could not rest till he had done ail
pander to the taste of the dissolute, and i that eould be, done, so he went out into the
play the buffoon on the stage, and 13° 1 cold dawn, and, making his 'way 'to the
clapped by ell the scum of the town 1" Came Bella, dropped his missive hi the
Carlo by a great effort strangled the letter -box. Then, when all was over, when
words of angry remonstrance which rose to he - knew that for the last time he was
his lips' -and tried to understand the feelings leaving the house which contained all that
of an Englishman with Puritan traditions. he loved, his desolation suddertly broke
He would at least try to explain the state upon him. Wrath had stilled grief, but
of ,, affairsItiopatiently.veryhard
for me to understand the claimed him for her own. •His betrothal
now that his anger had passed, grief '
view"w43 YlatealitaanksEl
heart -broken wonder he marveled how it
hoofiethre
asntadgrees,pseirccouhrathbeeagtaraei his; eVen a farewell was denied him. With
; was at an end; Francesca was no longer
it is not, as you would say, the haunt o
was that only now did he fully take in the
the diessilute, , but the resort of the whole
, idea. What was Captain Britton? What
people—"
interrupted him ; lie was ell were all the insults . in the world before tha likr.
the more angry because his companion had one bitter, desolating • fact that he was _
managed, so far, to exercise a well-bred • parted from his 1 ve ?
restraint. Some devil prompted him to How he got home he never knew, but he.
rouse "Yes," t the Italian's said l, a tes sneeringly,
ansgsliyo 7.
" I know own room, and seeing through a mist the
vaguely remembered finding his way to his
your national tendencies well enough, but I sword, and , the red letters of " Aspro-
had thought you were superior to your monte," beneath. Then, in his great
oentrymen. I see I was wrong ; your are anguish, he had cried aloud, "Strengthen
s frivolous and pleasure -seeking as thereat me 0 God! that I, too, may be faithful
f the lot ; it was well said of you Italians till' death."
hat you were only fit, for artis. ts' models ) But afterward all was a blank; and when
rem his eyes.
nd the operatic 'nage."
Carlo sprung to his feet, fire flashing 1 othne thhoorizfl000n,ra.ndfeholeinwgasoltyiiffngnantafuollor
.
lee
n
ag
t
hnd
, he came to himself the sun was far above
"No man is called on to sit still and bruised.
words are not worthy of you, sir ; I am sure
ear his country insulted," he cried. "The , ,
As From a Dream.
you,, lwillforetractottthheetni n. " ; n
part I cretainly ' M rs. Younglove—Algernon, I should like
1
till apply, them to yon," said Captain a Queen Anne cottage.
ritton. ' What have you proved yourself Mr. Younglove-1 know it, dear, but l'na
tit fickle and frivolous? You have alto- afraid you'll have to content yourself with
ether deceived me." •
ei t ft eke 1 ca i n gi ms or;somewhatthopersoomoonothhteiood,
Dn. KEE LRY, of chloride-of-gold-eure
- _,....
. a Maggie Murphy flat.
allrloin gParetwrisatil
ere less intolerable; again he made an fame says asafretida "ri • 0 grain doses
ffort patiently to put before the captain the four times daily is as certain a Wei& tor
hole care; thin time he was determined thIglipas tiuhiine is_ferart.
(To be Continued.)
t't