HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 1892-05-13, Page 6•••,••••••,•,•i.„„„;;;,,,,,,1'
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'144T4061.14 ILe and the London
*One -4 and abPvI3 hi 8 ovin personal
erieving for thie new life, he could die -
thactly hear an inner voice, which had
never failed him, repeating again and
Agana .
44 Remember Anita She hat( no one but
:pan! Pe faithful l"
Long before he had ended the struggle
••can10 the necessity of making some sort of
reply to the offer, but no one ever passed
• through a temptation and found all the
time he desired for preparation. Every inch
•
of the ground had to be contested, and even
in his courteous thanks there was an un-
usual amount of hesitation, which the
London manager put down to diffidence and
inexperience. Piale,
however, knowing
him better, began to fear that it boded a
Muted.
"You are not strong enough for the
drudgery of a traveling company," he ex-
claimed. " Everything points to your ac-
eeptmg this offer."
Carlo looked at him a trifle reproachfully,
and his manner became less diffident and
his words more to the point.
"The offer is indeed a tempting one," he
said; " but I fear I must refuse it. You
see, sir, Merlino ie my brother-inilew, and
• my enagement with him -though it may be
ended next month, if either of us wishes it
to be ended—"
The manager interrupted him.
"But the mere fact that the impresario
is your brother-in-law is surely in your
favor. He would be interested in your suc-
cess -would wish you to seize on this oppor-
tunity, which may be turned to very good
account, I assure you."
Carlo gave Piale a glance which said as
plainly as words, "See what a diffieulty you
have landed me in."
The maestro responded to it by a sugges-
tion which relieved ' his conscience, and
proved of some use to Carlo. ,
"Take a few hours to think it all over,"
he suggested. "1 will come and see you
again about it to -morrow."
That is not a bad idea," said the main
eger. " But I must beg for a final answer
to -morrow morning, for Metasti has failed
me suddenly, and we are in great need of a
baritene. If you refuse -but you'll not re-
fuse, I hope. Signor Piale, you must talk
him over 1?
And after a little friendly banter, and a
few skillfully -framed compliments, te man-
ager "rose to go, shaking hands cordially
with Carlo.
" And I shall hope soon to number you in
my company 1" were his parting words.
Don'ton any account come to the
door 1" said Piale, excitedly. "The damp
night --your throat !-for Heaven's sake,
take care of your throat! And to -morrow
I shall come over to receive your definite
acceptance -nothing less, Mind -a defiiiite
acceptance -or, diavoZo I I shall think you
have gone clean demented !"
For the greater part of thatnight Carlo
fought the terrible craving that had seized
him toe accept the London offer. He was
ashamed to find how ardently he longed for
all that the manager had suggested ; while
Piale's assurance that he was riot strong
enough for the hard work in Merlino's com-
pany had in it a truth which made it doubly
dangerous. It was to be a case of kill or
eure-the doctor had told him as much ;
and though at first the idea had not in the
least shaken his purpose, yet now that he
was alone, with all around him dark 'and
still, he began to consider the two possi-
bilities. •
Slowly the ruling power of his life re-
named its sway over him ; and then, tired
out with all he' had gone through, he fell
asleep for very exhaustion.
When he woke the night was over, the
sun was shining, the thrushes and black-
birds wereainging, the rooks were cawing,
and by the light of the early morning he
could see the familiar picture of the Con-
stant Shepherd. The night of temptation
was over, too, the darkness had passed, and
what he had to do was as clear as day to
him ; moreover, he knew that he could
do it.
sure to have you. I look on you as my pro -
He must definitely decline the London apective nephew, you know, though for the
offer, He must not, as he was half 'tempted present we must keep that hope to our-
• to do, mention it to Merlino, by way ofse e
inducing him to renew his engagement at Joni
once or to raise his salary. He found, how- wordsraof grasped his hand ; those kindly
ohope seemed to put new life into
ever, that Piale hardly underetood this view 'him, and all through that dark day they
of the case, and his interview with the rang in his ears.
maestro was stormy. In the end, however,
Piale had to submit to the inevitable ; and Sardoni was waiting for him at the
B
with a sigh and a shrug of the shoulders, 'Brighton station, and though 'the thought
of returning to the old life had been dis-
owned. that* could not stand against the
tasteful, yet somehow he fell back into
folly'of a man who had no eye to his own
his old place very naturally, and talked
interests, and who deliberately threw away
cheerfully enough as they drove through the
the very tioket which would have brougnt
crowded streets to the Merlinos' lodgirige.
him a prize in the world's lottery.
He stayed to lunch at Merlebank, and "Merlino has engaged a room for yote".
exclaimed Sardoni ; • " they. are staying
diverted the Brittons very • much by the
'mingled fondness and ferocity with which • close to the theatre,
and I thought you
he seemed to regard hipupil. He tried to
would rather be with them. Marioni and I
a
*in them over to sympathize with his dee are down by the sea."
appointment ; and it transpired that the "And Comerio has gone ?"I
instant he had heard of Metasti's illness, he "Thank heaven, yes! He came to see
had hurried to London to see if he could not us off at Victoria last night. That London
, If it hadn't been for that I believe he would
engagement came in the very nick of time.
obtain the engagement for his pupil.
" But, you see, he is bent on his own de -
have managed to prevent your coming back.
struction, concluded the old . man, with a
is
• geature of impatience. " One Might as well These are your quarters, and look 1 there •
try to argue with a mule 1 However, my Gigi on the balcony."
j
son, since you are set on going to America, On catching sight of them the little fel-
let me give you one piece of advice -beware low beat a hasty retreat, and came rushing
of damp beds; take advice, and always
headlong -down the stairs, where, -with a cry
my
1 of joy, he flung himself into Carlo'a arms
sleep between the blankets." •
Carlo made a gesture of horror,•and clung with all the strength of a child's
"Now, dear maestro, you really expect eager love round his neck.
!" " Mamma ie upstairs,". panted Gigi-_
meto be too self-denying
" Self-denying, indeed 1 why, yes, the "come and see her."
life of an opera -Binger is -one eternal practice Carlo, still carrying the little brown -
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time Carlo received the following letter diettenti to the man who had taken hid
tient Sardoni: place,
4t PBAR V.—Out worthy Comerio has. There was nothing for him to do but to
'fallen on kin 'feet, Mid- lias" ChUsined. -the go on patiently, -never despairiog. -Ile
of his aMbition-an engagement for lingered behind the others to see the last
the London season. 'nay is he who de- of the little boy, then made his way along
serveth nothing 1 By what rule of pbilos- the colonnade to the stage door of the
ephy or religion do you explain such an theater, The door -keeper looked up from
i
Vent? • However, it s an ill wind,. that his newspaper and gave him a friendly
greeting, for Merliuo's company had had a
very successful week at Brighton in Novem-
ber, and Carlo invariably won the hearts of
all the officials by his pleasant manner and
unwillingness to give any dirouble.
" Hope you're better, sir," said the man.
" I have a letter for you here."
The letter was neither addressed nor
signed, but he had not lived through all
these months of public life without receiv-
ing sundry anonymous communications,
some of them kindly, some of them grossly
insulting.
This particular missive consisted solely
of an Italian proverb : " Aspetto tempo e
luogo a far tua vendetta, elle la non si fa
mai ben in fretta !" (Wait time and place
to act thy revenge, for it is never well done
in a hurry.)
There was a vagueness about this which
puzzled him. Was it from some outsider
who would warn him that his haste in get-
ting rid of Comerio had been impolitic ?
Or was it from Comerio himself, and did it
imply that, although he might not at once
revenge himself, yet Carlo was not to think
that he had forgotten -that vengeance
would most certainly follow him ?
While he waited for hie first entrance he
showed the note to Sardoni, who at once
solved the mystery by recognizing Comerio's
handwriting.
" That is from our kiend, the Corsican,"
he remarked. " I should know his writing
anywhere."
" la Comerio a Corsican ? I never knew
that. Then such a message is doubly signi-
ficant."
" Why ?" asked Sardoni.
" Because a Corsican never forgives. A
Neapolitan may kill his man in sudden pas-
sion, but a Corsican will wait tor froze, and
strike at last with the cool premeditation of
a devil."
Sardoni looked grave ; he could believe
anything of such a man as Comerio, and he
resolved to keep a sharp watoh, and play
the part of detective in the interests of his
friend.
" It frightens me to act with you," was
Nita's comment ; "you make it all too
horribly real, you die so dreadfully." _
" Yet he is not so violent as Comerio,"
remarked onill Bauer. " He does not pusb
you away for instance, but dies like a.
Christian, kissing the gross and forgiving
you."
"The difference is," said Marioni," that
Comerio dies like an angry blustrer and
Donati like a heart -broken hero. His voice
seems better than ever after the rest."
The next morning Carlo felt •a not un-
natural reaction after the strain of the pre-
vious day. After breakfast he strolled. with
Gigi through the Pavilion gardens ; then,
remembering that he had asked that letters
from Merlebank might be directed to him
at the general postoffice, he went to inquire
if any had arrived, not exactly expecting
any, but with a lover's restless hope for
the improbable. His heart beat quickly
when an envelope in Clare's writing was
handed to him, but it only inclosed e letter
from Enrico Ritter, which had arrived just
after he had left Merlebank. Now that
Francesca was in England, Enrico's( letters
meant much less to him, and he sauntered
down Ship street, and yielded to Gigi's en-
treaties to go on the beach before he began
to read it. The letter was unusually short
and abrupt, and had evidently been written
in great haste.
" Prepare your mind for bad news, amico
mio," it began. " Your uncle has died sud-
denly of an apoplexy, and I have just
learned the conditions of his will. He has
kept to his word, and has disinherited you,
leaving every penny he possesses to the
Little Sisters of the Poor. We are all, as
you may imagine, in a fine state of indigna-
tion, and find it beyond human nature not
to speak evil of the dead. I must warn you,
too,
thatyou have a livingenomy, whole doing
his best to rob you, not of money, but of
your reputation. Some person or persons
unknown have set on foot a scandal about
you and Mademoiselle Borelli, and it is all
over the plaoe. Something of the sort was
suggested last autumn ; the first I heard of
it was a mere surmise, half -jestingly made
at a ball; Mies Britton also overheard the
words, and for her sake I made as light of
them as possible, and, indeed, they were, I
believe,lightly meant. Now, it is possible,
of course, that these words started the cur-
rent slander, but I think it very probable
that Cornell° may have had a hand in the
affair, and thought it best to tell youplainly
the truth that you and Mademoiselle Borelli
are the talk of Naples. You can now take
whatever steps you think fit, and, of course,
can count on us to fight your battles."
blows nobody good. We shall be quit of
and, -Heaven he praised 1-thie is the
last week I shall have to keep an eye on him
by day and share dressing -rooms with him
at night. Your costume a are already being
taken in and up ; Comerio growled not a
little at the nuisance of having them all re-
fitted.when he first came back. He remains
in Mediae's good books, and has been &A-
ing hard for America in the autumn ; but
when anything goes wrong it scores one
to you, for the impresario always
swears that it would never live happened,
had you been in the company. We go to
Brighton on Whit -Sunday, and open the
next day with Faust.' It is supposed that
the Whitsuntide holidays may make the
thing a success. I have my doubts. How.
ever, with you as Valentino it may be.
Write and tell me whether you come back
on the Sunday or Monday, and I will meet
you at the station. Monday will be all
right, if you don't want to call a special
rehearsal after the pleurisy ; but as I'm sure
you could do Valentino in your sleep, I
don't see that we need be bothered with
that. If you are at the vicarage, you might
mention that we sail in September, and that
I could spare a few days in August if they
would like it. Gigi sends affectionate mes-
sages by the yard. He talks of little dee
but your return. --Ever yours, SARDoNr."
Once again Carlo and Francesca kept
their Whitsuntide together. It had fallen
earlier than on' the previous year, and it
was no small comfort to Carlo that his last
day at Merlebank should have chanced to be
that quiet Sunday, when he was able to
walk through the sunny grounds to church
with Francesca, and later in the day to
have a long, quiet talk with her as to the
future. The doctor's verdict troubled kind-
hearted Mr. Britton; and when en the
Monday morning the carriage was an-
nounced, and all the family met together in
the hall to wish Carlo good-bye, he watched
with deep sympathy the silent hand -shake
that passed between the lovers. They both
tried so bravely to keep up appearances,
that Mr. Britton was touched with com-
passion, and drew Francesca aside into his
study. If the work should indeed prove too
much for Carlo," Francesca would never see
him again. He would at least give them
the comfort of a less public farewell; the
captain might possibly be vexed, but Mr.
Britton was willing to risk something for
the niece who, was almost as dear to him as
his own children.
" Donati," he said, " just come in here
one minute, will you ?" then, closing the
door after Calo, he gave him a little push on
the shoulder, indicating that he should go
across to Francesca.
. Carlo did not speak, but he gave his host
a grateful look, and Mr. Britton kindly
turned his back on them and began to make
hay in the papers on his table, to unlock a
drawer with a most unusual rattling of his
keys, and to behave as a kind-hearted uncle
should behave under the circumstances.
Presently, crossing,the room, he opened the(
French window, signed to Francesca that
she might beat a retreat into the garden
and avoid the assembled family, then pion-
eered Carlo through the hall to the car-
riage, talking to him as if they were just
ending the discussion of some business
matter. There were manifold hand -shak-
ings, good wishes, regrets and entreaties
from Flo that he would come again; but at
last the ordeal was -o'er, Carlo was shut
into the carriage with Mr. Britton, and was
driven rapidly along the dusty road to Ash -
borough. He was quite silent, and sat
gazing out at the green hedgerows, seeing
nothing, however, but the inward vision of
the woman he loved. Not till they had
reached the town did he dare to trust his
voice, but a sudden perception that the time
left to him was short, roused his native
courtesy, and he tried to thank his host for
all the great kindness shown to him during
his illness.
" My dear fellow," said Mr. Britton "
can only say that it has been a great plea -
of self denial !" said Piale, gesticulating, faced fellow in his arms, went up to the
a with his nife and fork, sitting-room,
looking anxiously toward .the
Carlo laughed lightly. t pretty, slim figure standing in the bay win-
" And I do my best to 1,1: your very good dow. The brother and sister had been long
pupil, but at hotel blankets I draw the enough apart to see each other with some -
line !" 'thing of the freshness of observation which'
Francesca and Clare did all hey could ta, comes to relations after they have been
talk the old man into a hcri,,,r, and to separated for some time.
console him under his dieapvente,eut ; and Nita thought she had never before noticed
when Carlo parted with nim, at the A01- what a beautiful far e he had ; Carlo pre,
•
borough station, he was not at, all sure that ceived, as he had never perceived before,
it was not emotion which rhaale IitS answers the worn, unsatisfied expression which was
so curt and his voice so gruff. . now so plainly visible about her month and,
" You will not forget about Comerio ?" he in her eyes.
pleaded, at the very last moment. " If I could only comfort her," ho thought;
Piale replied only by a grunt. But there " if I could only get the least bit nearer to
was nothingbut affection in his parting her 1" But more than ever he•felt that she
glance • and apparently he must have con- kept him willfully at a distance, and that
Lon(19...n....tian.Ager4tul.,8Pukedior love for Carmi,y±tr:ay.ra-e.4• 4.443-paesubic
•
high UMW 73111,TMUTIO, for in thee() daye' barrier, which must make her cold and
•
• Carlo looked up from this ill-fated letter
with a dazzled, confused feeling that all the
world was against him. The calm blue sea,
and the pleasure beats, and the merry chil-
dren playing on the shore, contrasted pain-
fully enough with his troubled life. His
uncle was dead, and had never forgiven
him. The thought was a real grief, for he
had loved the autocratic old man, and had
hoped that some day all might be made
right between them. Then there -was that
vile, that extraordinary Blander. Burning
wrath consumed him as he pictured to him-
self Domeniea Borelli, of all women on
earth, singled out to be the victim of such
hateful gossip. And what could be done ?
Ho* could such a Slander bo stamped out 1'
It might be met with authoritative denial,
but what would Neapolitan gossips care for
that ?
The news in the letter which would have
most painfully affected thanyr-the accaunt
of the lost inheritanCe-was' the last point
which occurred to Carlo. Still, he did not
regard money with absolute indifference, or
consider that there was any ,particular
merit in poverty, and it was not in nature
that a man of four -and -twenty should lose a
fortune and feel no pang of regret.
Such matters cannot be looked at in a
vague, impersonal -way ; and though the
ideal here oi sentimental romance is always
above such contemptible considerations, yet
a straightforward; honorable man- iFf hannd
to care for the possession of such money as
will enable him to pay his way honestly in
the World. Carlo thought with a sigh of
the thousand's' of pounds which ho had been
led to expect as his • inheritance, and then hevoice, "now, at any rate, you will big and have caught col& -
'7, .;.:4f•••?..t,VkA.,'
•
rap,'
'lir • at.
tions when Gigi came running up to him.
"I do so dreadfully want a spade and
pail, gio caro," he paid, looking up at him
•with his wistful brown eyes.
"There are many things, Gigi, which
we do so dreadfully want, but shan't have,"
he replied, laughing a little, and stroking
the child's brown cheek.," You and I,
Gigi, meat learn to go without,and must
do what we can to amuse each other."
And forgetting poverty and slander, and
even poor old Uncle -Guido, he transformed
himself into so delightful a sea -monster that
Gigi refilled in blissful terror and excite-
ment to the shelter of the nearest boat, and
by the time the ohase was over, and he had
been devoured and resuscitated in the con-
ventional manner, all thought of spades and
palls vanished from his mifid, and he had
fallen back to his old refrain, " I do love
you eo !"
CHAPTER XXXII.
The bright spr ng sunshine was streaming
into a sitting -room in the Lafayette, at
Philadelphia, and Nita's sweet, clear
soprano wdke the echoes with that most
charming of songs, "Caro Nome." Carley
who from the firsthad constituted himself
accompanist at her daily practice, was
'seated at the piano, and something in the
faces of both brother and sister showed
plainly that time had passed.
As he played the accompaniment of "Caro
Nome," his thoughts involuntarily turned
to Francesca, and he began to wonder
whether Sardoni would soon come back from
his walk, and whether he would have re-
membered to call at the post -office for
letters. It was possible that he might to-
day hear from Enrico, and he was terribly
hungry for news, for Clare, with the best of
intentions, was too busy to write very often,
and when she did write could only give him
second -band reports, while Enrico was as
far as ever from understanding the sort of
details for which a loVer craves.
He looked up eagerly as the door opened,
and Sardoni entered.
" Did you remember the letters ?'' he
asked, glad £hat the song should have
ended at inch an opportune momenta
" For a wonder, yes," replied Sardoni,
who since his -engagement to Domenica had
been ludicrously absent-minded. "But there
were none for you, Val, only one for Ma-
dame Merlino.'
Carlo was sadly disappointed, but yet was
so well used to disappointment that by the
time he had played through a few 'bars ot
"Caro Nome," his face had resumed its
usual expression.
Sardoni left the room again, and Nita,
throwing herself back in a rocking -chair,
began to read the letter. As she read, an
uncontrollable exclamation of surprise es-
caped her. Carlo was turning over the
pages of "Rigoletto," and still whistling the
air of "Caro Nome," looked up quickly.
"Is anything the matter" he asked ; and
as be spoke he noticed for the first time the
big letters of the " Napoli" post -mark.
She read on without answering, but some-
thing in her face roused a nameless fear in
his heart; did the letter concern Comerio?
The, handwriting was not Enrico's, or his
fears would have been instantly arotised ;
he would have imagined that some evil must
have befallen Francesca -some evil which
his friend did not dare to tell him abruptly
and without preparation. But that fear
was not awakened. It must, then, surely
be connected with Comerio, this Italian
letter ! If only she would speak and put
him out of his suspense !
He sat down near her and waited, not
wishing to force himself upon her in any
way ; and at length she looked up, and,
'with a strange tone in her voice, said :
" I have heard from Mademoiselle De
Caiene, Carlo. You had better read her
letter, and she inclosies theae."
In some surprise he took the papers she
handed to him, and glanced at the first. It
was a half -sheet of paper, on the back of
which ther following words were written in
Italian : " An advertisement cut out of the
Timas." Neatly pasted on the other side
were a few brief lines of English print :
' " Oh the 26th inst., at Naples, by the
British consul and by the Rev. Smith,
Renato, Conte Carossa, to Francesca, elder
daughter of Captain John Britton, R. N."
Carlo neither spoke nor moved ; the blow
struck at his heart had been so fearfully
sudden that after the first moment of agony
he felt nothing, but was like one paralyzed.
Still holding the advertisement in his hand,
he stared at those words which had shat-
tered his whole life ; then, as sensation
slowly returned, a horrible craving to know
more seized him, and he snatched up the
next paper. It was a leaflet printed in
silver, an English wedding -hymn, beginning,
" The voice that breathed o'er Eden ; " he
read it through from beginning to end 4-ith
a sort of blank, daz.al feeling. Then he
changed; the frozen blood seemed to boil In
• hie veins, and a look of apguish, which ter-
rified her, dawned in his eyes. Her words
had most. ereelly, moat recklessly, thrust.
the terrible truth before him. He "got up
quickly, and walked with unsteady steps to
the door, by a sort of blind instinct per-
ceiving that to be away from his sister
would be a relief.
But Nita had no sooner spoken than she
regretted her words, aud_would have given
anything to recall them. She rushed after,
him and caught his hand in hers.
" Don't go, Carlo 1" she cried, " I am
sorry I said that -I am sorry for you,
Carlin° Stay 1"
Her presence was almost more than hp
could endure, but though past think'
definitely of anything but the crus
blow he had received and the torturing p m
it caused him the mere habit of Consider-
ing others before himself made him pause
now, though he longed sorely to be alone
with his trouble.
" Ah I why should we have such things
to bear 2" she cried, passionately, thinking
even now far more of her own trouble than
of his.
" God help us both 1" he groaned..
Then, dropping her hand, he turned away
and flung himself face downward on the
couch, unable to resist any longer the par-
oxysms of grief which overwhelmed him.
Nita watohed him much us Kate Britton
had watched him in the hut; her woman's
soul was touched to the quick, and though
only a minute before she had cried, "Why
should we have such things to bear 1"ite
saw now, with a sharp pang of regret, t t
Carlo's grief was the direct consequence of
her own weakness. She:imp:ill down on her
knees beside him.
" Carlino 1" ' she sobbed, " forgive me -
forgive me It is I who have brought it
all on you."
He did net look up or speak, but put
out his hand for hers, and held it fast in a
grasp that seemed to burn her. She thought
he grew calmer, and ventured to speak
again, longing to'awaken his , pity for her
own case.
" Don't you see now, Carlo, that you
have been expecting too much of' me ?" she
pleaded. " Oh, don't you see now how all
those high ideas of yours are in practice
impossible ?"
Her last word, emphatically spoken,
seemed to fill him With strength. In an
instant he was on his feet, while she still 4,
knelt on, looking up at him in awe and
astonishment. Somehow it seemed to her
that she was face to face with the perfection
of manhood.
" Nothing is impossible !" be said.
, And the words seemed to ring and
pulsate in her ears as no words had ever
done before.
She cowered' down and hid her face
trembling before the first divine revelation
which had come home to her innermost -
heart. It was a relief to her when she
heard him leave the room, but the pitiful-
ness of the story overcame her again ; the
love, so far beyond any love of which she
herself Was yet capable, had at length
touched her heart, and she sobbed for grief
and pity.
" Why—oh •why," she thought, with
bitter regret, " did I not from the first
resist the evil thoughts that came ? It must
have been possible for 'me, too !" '
In the meantime Carlo had locked himself
into his own room, and there, pacing to and
fro, looked his sorrow in the face like a
man. Thousands, as he was well aware,
must have been called to bear the same
thing before, but yet there were circum-
stances which made his case doubly hard ;
the utter want of preparation, the dearth of
all but the most public accounts of the
marriage, the knowledge that of his own
free-will he had left Francesca. and gone out
into the world. V�r eight long years he
had loved her, and though there had been
grief, and trouble, and separation for them,
yet he had been sure of her love through
• all, and had been free to lavish oxi her his
heart's devotion. But nowin one moment
all was ended between them,' and the
thought of his love, which, in spite of the
separation, had been an unfailing
solace to him through those weary
years of public life, was now only a torture,
a peril. There would be no beautiful
reality, all his own, to which he could come
back when the day's work was over, as to
some sacred and safe retreat ; she vas now
the wife of another, and he must longer
think of her as his betrothed. 1„ His safe
retreat had become a place of torntent. He
saw that life would be one long battle,• and
that the best he could hope for, after long
conflict, was so far to subdue himself that
he should dare to meet her as a friend ; be
able, perhaps, to serve her in some faint,
far-off way ; be at least able to carry a
brave front, and cast no shadow on her
Seek the next slip. It was a cutting froin weddedhappiness.
the Roma, just a short paragraph stating But was she happy ? Had she, perhaps,
that the marriage of Count Carossa had been forced to acquiesce, in obedience to her
called' forth general attention, owing to the father'e' wishes? Count Carossa, might well
fact that his bride was the acknowledged prove an importunate suitor, and decline to
belle of Naples. That the beautiful English accept as final her first refusal. Had she
girl had made -a charming bride, and that, been forced agajnst her will to -accept him ?
according to the English custom, the wed- Or had he really won her heart ; and did
ding party had been entertained at break- she now see that the past was but a girlish
fast after the ceremony at Casa Bella, the dream, evanescent, and not wholly sweet?
residence of Captain Britton. He hardly knew which of these possibilities
Lastly he read with feverish haste Made- pained him most ; he glanced now at ono,
moiselle De Caisne's letter, rushing im- now at the other, till the misery of ianor- •
patiently through the preliminaries till he ance and suspense almost- maddened °him.
came to the following remarks : And then, with a pang of the we e4 pain ho
" The marriage of •Count Carossa is the had yet felt, a horrible neW3ilea shot
great topic of the day here, and knowing through his mind.
how intimate you and your brother were There was that vile slander which had
with the English owners ,of Casa Bella, I been set on foot two years- ago, and which
send you full particulars. The wedding still inevitably worked its poisonous way,
was really a beautiful sight ; the bride wore growing more dangerous with age, as slan-
a dress of ivory -white satin with a very dere do. Francesca had heard the first
long train, and it really is wonderful how rumors, Enrico had.told him as much ; she
even in this climate English girls seem to herself at Merlebank had half hinted some -
preserve their compleiion. Miss Britton's thing of the sort. At first she had indig-
is the most charmingly delicate coloring I riantly refused to credit them, but when the
over saw. Everyone is envious of °mint tale was in eVeryone's mouth, why then her
Carossa. I only hope ho deserves so very inner -tent° and ignorance of' the world
fascinating a wife 1" would surely make her credit them the more
Carlo folded' the papers and put them easily ; and how ready the captain would be
back in their envelope. Every'Veiitige of td believe anything of the sort touching an
color had left his face, and Nita began to opeeatic singer, ho realized only too bitterly.
wonder vir-bether ho would ever move or More and more as he thought of it Vile
speak again -he leaked as if ho had been seemed to him the only explanation of this
turned to stone. She was frightened, and, marl iage. He could rot believe that any -
yet the eight did not appeal to hor ; it even thing eine could possibly have robbed him
made her a little angry and itnpatient, for of Francesca's love.
she had not heart enough to understand • (To bo continuer].)
him.
There was a long, burdened silence, • Brown -You don't loot very happy,
broken at length ty Nita. Robinson. What is the matter ? Robin-
" W said, witha bitter tone son -No ; I left off my flannels this morn -
r •latvewave-hat ithretiarrertalsirirTegaTra,flee lea. Robinson Oh, zon't min about
salary. f tweon you and the one you love.' the cold ; but my wife told me I was leav-
He had reached this point- in hia reflec- At that the stony despair suddenly ing them off too soon.
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