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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 1892-05-24, Page 241 MIITONE'S DEVOTION ; • OR A TALE OF BUNNY . • • Bub if all around her believed him to be net only guilty of such a, airs, bet to be such • e a contemptible hypocrite as to have sought Ms own pleasure under the cover of protect- •ing hits *stet' might she not possibly have "a• teen inducedto believe the dander, too ? ' And, once believed, such a story must in- • : evitably kill love. For a while he sat rapt • in the -miserable contemplation. of this thought, then suddenly his mind revolted from the idea of any kind of distruet in Francesca- No, it was not possible ! She would believe in him against the whole world, would love him forever, not for any merit in himself, bat because of the truth and purity and beauty 6f her own nature. She had been coerced into the marriage with Count Carossa. Again he fell back into the weary round of surmises, rejecting each in turn; but always confronted by the terrible realization that, however the marriage had been brought about, it was a fact—a fact which gave the death -blow to his lope, and doomed him to go through life alone. For he must go on'living, and must face. the thought at once. Indeed, into his simple, healthy mind no thought of death had entered, though most truly life looked to him desolate enough ; but it in times of great trouble that a good man's real character is tested, and every dull, monot- onous day of work in Merano% company had added something to his manly stead- fastness, and gave him power now to go straight on and do his duty without flinch- ing. He brought back his thoughts with an effort to the present—" Rigoletto " that evening, the necessity of dining at once, the fear lest his trouble shonld at all mar the happiness of Sardoni and Domenico, his bestiriends, and a resolution to keep the newirfrom them if possible till their wedding" was over. With this thought in his mind he turned to the glass, saw that trouble was very legibly stamped on his face, and re- . • solved to dine alone at some restaurant, that he might escape observation. On the staircase he met Anita; she, looked up at him in a scared way. " Do not speak of this to anyone else," he said, in a low voice ; "above all, not to Sardoni or Domenic% • Let it be only between us two, at any rate, till after the wedding." She promised, although she wag far from understanding the motives (which prompted the request, and Carlo with a heavy heart passed 011 and walked slowly down. Broad • street. • Once more Nita's bitter words rang in his ears "A -legal bar between you and the one you love." "After all," urged the tempter, "are you not aiming at the impossible? Why should yon think of her as his wife when the thought tortures you? What! you mean to allow no thought that yon could not lay bare to her sight;, or the sight of her husband? Fool! Give up! Is such a love as youra to be cramped and fettered and starved; love that has lasted -all these years?" "You'll forgive me making bold to atop you, sir," said a familiar voice. He looked round and saw Adamson, the scene -shifter. " I wanted to catch you alone, air, and at the theatre there be always others within hearing; and I guessed you'd be glad to hear, sir, that it's all come right." The sudden reaction from the terrible temptation to the story of the honest - looking old man, who had been one of his first friends in the troupe, taxed his powers to the utmost. His brain seemed to reel, but With an effort he dragged himself back to the recollection of. Adamson's trouble. His daughter, a pretty American girl, sang soprano, in the chorus, and for some time her father had been very uneasy about -her, and Carlo had watched with a good deal of interest the progress of a small "drama in which his dresser, Sebastiano, played the part of lover. "It's all come right, sir," repeated Adam- son ; " and it's all owing to you.I don't know what you've done to Sebastiano, sir, but he's kind of altered. They're a -going to git married right away." The • need of giving the old man his hearty sympathy restored Carlo to himself. He went into a restaurant and ate hisdinner soberly, but in his dark sky there were two gleams of light ; the first was the recollec- tion that Nita's heart had been at length reached ; the second, that his hopes for Sebastiano had been fulfilled. There came to him, too, the perception that there, was still one way in which he might safely serve Francesaa. He could pray that her mar- riage might be a happy one. There was at least that still to be hoped for. He went back to the Lafayette, found, a letter which he had written earlier in the day to Enrico, and added the following brief natured laughter. postscript : •I " Look, zio caro! oh, do look 1." cried ' " Why did you tell me nothing of Count the child, clapping his hands. Carossa's marriage ? Send me all particn- And Carlo, glancing round, saw, only a lava, if you can, to New York." stone's throw from him, on the bank, a More than that he could not bring him- little group of visitors, and among them self to put even ,to his friend, but to Clare Count Cann= and Francesca. he wrote a long letter and poured out all She did not see him, and after one long look, his trouble, for she was a woman, and he he turned eway with a sick, dizzy feelin,g, knew she would understand. Then,relieved and knew that he was answering the boat - motionless, overwhelnied by a aense of h utter deadatien- • The voice of the call -boy roused him from htoigsetheaodr.thoughts. He wrung his hand " My God, help me 1" he groaned. Then taking up hie jester's cap with its gold. eoxcomb, he made hie, way to the wings and wee soon transformed into the rnalicioue, mocking Rigoletto, playing the part with his customary skill, and receiving with his usual quiet modesty the thunder of applause which rewarded him. CHAPTER XXXIII. 1 is become the wife of Count Carcase." Sardonigave an inarticulate exclamation ef rage anifferegret. a " He mat be told ?" he said. "A sudden shook like that Might makehim break down. X will tell hire myself." Carol hadeast dismissed Sebastian°, and was equipped in the picturesque costume of stiealllin0, the toreador, with its green velvetejecket and knickerbockers 'faced witls gold, brad red-and-gokl sash, tan -colored gaiters, and red flag thrown across the left shoulder. There was no time to be lost, and Sardoni began abruptly. " I have just been talking to your sister, Val. She thought, and I think, too, that you ought to be prepared beforehand. Count Caroasa and his wife are in the 1 theatre." , An exclamation of wonder and dismay escaped Carlo. He began to pace the room in terrible agitation. " Why did you keep your trouble from me, Val ?"' said Sordoni, reproachfully. " And what, in Heaven's name can have made any woman forsake a man like you ?" Carlo turned upoh him with a fierce ges- ture. " Not one wordAgainst her !" he cried. . " She was free—quite free 1 And what am I to deserve her, .indeed ?—a stage -singer with a tarnished: reputation !" "What! You think, then, it was' that slander ?" ejaculated Sordoni, understand- ing better why Carlo had ,kept all from him during this month. e " I don't know !—I can't tell ! For God's nasaakde,I,, Jack, don't talk, or I think I shall go Francesca had married Count Carossa. That being so, he must and could learn to bear the thought. Nothing was impossible 1 The part of Escamillo, though small, suited him admirably; nor could any scene have been better chosen for his reappear- ance in Italy than the picturesque entry of the bull -fighter. . Sardoniyvondered greatly how the Contessa Carossa felt down there in the stalls, as she watched with the rest the, entrance of the torchlight procession, and saw the crowd group itself and look ex- pectantly toward the back of the stage, till, •and his wife, till at length, with a pang of amid a chorus of " Hurrah for brave Esca- . wrath and astonishment, he saw the count millo 1" the slight, graceful figure in toren- - dor costume advanced through a little lane of torches. Carlo's-fame had preceded him, and the Genoese audience greeted him warmly ; he took off his black velvet hat and bowed with the mingled dignity and simplicity of manner -which made him at once revered and loved by so many. Then, quickly. turn- ing from the homage of the audience to the business of his part, and resuming the bold, genial hearing of Escamillo, he drained the wine cup handed to him, tossed , it across the stage to one of the chores, and broke forth' into the well-known toreador song. Hie beautiful voice, the vigor of his act- ing, the imaginative power conveyed by each look and gesture, held the audience spell -bound, and Sardoni marveled how, under the circumstances, he could sing the refrain of Bear thou in mind, when combat thee elates, Two bright eyes fondly regard, For thee a fond heart waits, Toreador." At the close of the first verse the theatre rang with shouts of "Bravo !" And then once again came the graphic description of the bull -fight, till, by mere gesture and ex- pression, he brought the whole scene vividly before the audience. Most of them had heard " Carmen " before, and had seen the baritone more or leas energetically flap his red flsg. But Carlo actually made them feel the a.. 4 ense and excitement of the real conteat. : e surpassed himself, and when once more the refrain had been sung the whole house rose, and with frantic cheering gave the new baritone an ovation. Not one of the applauders guessed that the 'song had been to the singer a torturing effort, a mockery almost intolerable; or dreamed how his heart was aching as he stood there acknowledging their thanks. Not till the end did . he dare look toward the place where they had told him Francesca- was sitting ; but, as he stood close to the foot- lights, bowing his acknowledgments, he ventured one keen, aearching glance • he would, at least, learn if she looked well and happy, would try to gauge the count's character. • . But he had expected too much of him- self ; all was confusion • he could only see that the count was frantically applauding hire, and that Francesca's eyes were shining and her cheeks glowing. After that brief glance, the whole house swam ' before him, and the only thing for him to do was to get through, as quickly as might be, his brief dialogue with Carmen, and march off amid the greetings of his eereridea while the orchestra once 'more played the toreador air. The raoment he was behind the scenes, his briak, bathe step changed; there vias a east of relief fa being able te re- lax the strains he heel pat ea annself, yet never, even in the first ahrinis if the newa of FranceeeA,'s =serfage,. heel he 11.0.17, Muth aa overwlsebe mime ef law anti toneiblo-Aa as aow, when ht: End a.l.nreslID7 eaei her ritriag !seethe. her Laza/beret fa she theaares Has firat impulse was te Penes henuiektinte issefreaaing- roam, beat inentaitang einefe him ito. Ate ; if he isreras trimt, ii.o.. 4.11.-plia think, and if hie Vonnesee., bo eassald be fort • thi.e. 4)1(.7 eft:sleet a hie beam; &hie Irs keeee lief 41.eviseee dear for the reef er seat aestra., lee in, eeoieling thesagfet aa far az -provnMe. 'After a rninnte, he foresail Eitherestf to go to the greenroom and to join in the cY.snownation, anti there he remainsei tEirosigh the interval, till the " I don't understand," sobbed Francesca; call boy eammoned him again, and "but nothing matter a since you love me Sebastiano handed him a striped scarf still—nothing matters now we are together instead of the red one. Flinging it across once more." his shoulder, he stepped on to the stage, He thrust his hand impatiently into the changei himself with an effort into the toreador costume, and, drawing forth an toreador with his careless geniality, re- envelope, held it towards her. ceived with cool indifference Don Jose's " I can't tell you," he said ; " but look indignation, and, when' challenged 'to fight, at these, and yon will, perhaps, forgive me." gave a masterly representation of southern With blank astonishment she looked at passion, springing like a tiger on his foe, the cutting from the Times announcing, her and, with drawn knife, fighting desperately. own marriage to Count Camel. All was speedily over, and again he waited "Ab 1 who could havo done so cruel a behind the scenes to sing the refrain of the thing," she occlaimed. " This never could toreador song in the distance. have been in the Times at all, or, of course, " You look tired, Donati," remarked we should havo heard of it. Who could Caffieri. " Confoundedly hot, isn't it ?" have had it printed like this on purpose ?" He asiented, though all the time ho was " I see it now 1" said Carlo. "It must shivering from head to foot. It was doubly have been Cornerio's vengeance !" hard to sing those words in cold blood off. His wrath was almost swallowed up in the stage. But, he got through them some- the strange perception that began to steal how, end, leaning wearily against the wall over Aim of how completely evil had do - of the passage, waited till the cries of feated its own ends. Comorio's vengeance " Donati ! ' rose to a roar, and then he had actually been the means of winning for pulled himself together, crossed the stage himself Anita's sympathy and love. -mill -stepped out befell) the turteitato accept . The hymn we Rene, at Morass wed theiirrmage which met then meant te 'Mai 1 Th'" (31.3ser:;74 VfetriceeCii,- 11 ,itl.a. her so little. , . monogram ',P. B.,' just like mine—how GENOA. A month passed by. In this outer life Carlo went .through the series of farewel performances at Ne ye York, attended San dears wedding, arid travelled back to Italy. In his inner life he fought a terrible battle and came out conqueror. No further details of Francesca's mar riage had as yet reached him to relieve his misery of ignorance and suspense. Appar- ently both Clare and Enrico shrank from touching on so cliddeult a subject, and all he had received by . way of Answer to his letter was a copy of the Roma. from Enrico, containing the same paragraph which Made moiselle De Caisne had inclosed. The shrewd -looking official who presided at the bureau in the hall of one of the hotels at Genoa sat speculating to himself as he saw the much -talked -of baritone pass into the breakfast -room on • the morning after Merlino's company had, landd'd in Italy. The official was pleased when, on leaving the breakfast -room, Carlo came to the bureau to buy some stamps, and he adroitly seized the opportunity to prefer a request. " Will you write your name in the visit- ors' book, signor ?" he said. " Everyone in the place is looking forward to your appear- ance to -night ; you will see, the theatre will be packed from floor ' to ceilingr! Your full name, it you will favor us, Signor ; the auto- graph will be valuable." Carlo smiled a little at the thought that his very commonplace handwriting should be in demand ; then, happening to glance up -the page at the names of the other vis- itors, his heart suddenly leaped up into his mouth as he read, "11 Conte Carossa, e Contessl. Carossa." The names were both apparently written in the Count'e writing. He turned quickly* to the concierge. "Count Caress°, is still in the hotel ?" " aignor ; that is to say Ise is out just at this moment, but he has taken his rooms for a week. The contessa is in the salotto. I saw her go in jest now." For a moment he hesitated. Francesca Was here under the same roof with him 1 Dared he seek her out ? Dared he hear from her own lips the whole truth! When he had landed on' the previous evening he had sent off another urgent letter imploring Enrico to write, or, if possible, t� . come and see him at Genoa, where they had accepted a brief engagement; but now to be told that Francesca was close to him threw him com- pletely off his balance, and an impulse scarcely resistible drove • him toward the salotto. Snould he not enter that room? Shahid he not see her at least for this once? And yet every throbbing. pulse within him warned him not to do so, proved to him beyond dispute that for Francesca's sake and for his own, he had far better not seek her out. With a struggle that seemed to him bitter as death, he forced himself to pass by that closed door, and to go upstairs •to his room. He was not left long in peace, for Gigi—who had grown into a very manly little fellow of nearly 7 years old, and who had been greatly improved by two years at a good school in New York—came bound- ing in with 841 eager request. " Zio caro, don't you remember you promise.1 to take nie to Villa Pallavioini this morning ? I 'guess we'll never be likely, to get'a finer day, and I do so dreffly want to see the fountains 1" Though sick at heart, Carlo would not refuse the little fellow's petition, and he dragged himself over to Pegli, trying;hard to enter into Gigi's happiness listening to his raptures over the beautifiii gardens, and sniffing politely when their conductor—a wizened, shrewd-lopking little man—made time-honored jokes, and tried to be facetious. Neithor the glorious views of sea and mountain, nor the lovely groves of, ilex, olive, eucalyptus and pine -trees, nor the glowing color of the aloes, and rhododendrons, could rouse in him that day the slightest pleasure. Gigi chattered merrily as they rowed in a little boat, under charge of a , broad -shouldered, kindly old boatman, through the stalactite caves, and gave a shout of delight when, as they passed on, and came in sight of the fountains, they saw one of the gardeners carrying out the usual practical joke of turning the watering -hose in the direction of some visitors, who fled with good- a little by this, he took the letters himself to the post and made hia way to the theatre. In Locust street, close to the stage door, he met Sardoni, who was much - too full of Ins own affairs to be very ob- servant. quite knew, but he had learned the truth " The day is fixed at lest," he said, of the words which he had spoken to Anita cheerfully ; " it is to be at New York next at Philadelphia that "Nothing is impossi- man's remarks at random, and ,s-agaely wondered whether, after the first shock, that sight would grow more hew -able to hirn. How he lived through that day he never Sunday week. Will you .be my best man, old fellow?' " Of course I will, Jack,Iiii wish it," said Carlo. " Does your fat come out for the wedding ?" " No ; but ho has asked us to stay with him in the autumn, and your letter has evi- dently done a good deal toward reconciling him to the notion. We owe everything to you, Val." Carlo turned into his dressing -room, only to be confronted by Sebastiano. He had heard too much of marriages that day, but yet must congratulate his dresser, and, as he put on his jester's costume of red and yellow motley, must listen to the story old Adamson had told, him all over again. " Why signor 1" exclaimed Sebastiano, when he had finished his tale, " see ! You have put thcered stocking on the left legin- stead of the yellow one ! Ono might think that you were in my case ! " Carlo smiled good-naturedly, congratu- lated the dresser agsin and dismissed him • ble " ; and when -the evening came, though Sardoni had dined with him, he stayed afterward talking of Domenica'e perfec- tions, and of his anxiety about his father's first sight of her, Carlo had betrayed noth- ing, but seemed asready as ever to sympa- thize with his friend's affairs. So. engrossed was the tenor with his own happiness that he wfteeenazed svhen,„that evening at the theatre, Anita drew him aside, and, 'with teem in her eyes, begged for his adviee. " You aro Carlo's friend !" she said, in low, hurried tones ; " for God's sake tell me what to de 1 The Contessa Carossa is sitting in the stalls 1 Shall I tell Carlo before he goes 011 ?" Sardoni stared. " Who, in heaven's name, may the Con- tessa Carossa be ?" he asked. " Insomnia ! I forgot you had not been told He kept it from you because he would not have you troubled at the time of your wedding. She in Francesca Brittou, but when he W11,3 111011e•ho-lyempl-bie-leeeeleselseesgialshesseae tehave married., ire heard on his hands* ,and at for a long time when we were at Philadelphia that she had • • " What must be borne can be borne," he said to himself again and again; "and at least Francesca is happy." And now the end of the opera was draw- ing near, and his part was almost over. Nita watched him with mingled wonder and sympathy as they waited aide by side for their last entrance; he was grave and silent, and the chorus from the stage of "Viva Escamillo 1" jarred upen him. she fancied, yet, though the wistful look in his eyes told plainly of his trouble, he was still ready as usual, to think of other people. "There is a horrible draught here ?" he exclaimed—" you will take cold, Nita." And so saying, he wrapped his red scarf round her white shoulders, snatching it off again adroitly' when they advanced on to the stage. Somehow she had never felt so near to him as at that minute. She. knew so well what it was that made him tremble as, with hiS arm round her, he sang the pathetic little farewell of the toreador— knew so well what it cost him to utter the words, "If thou ioveat me, Carmen, thou shalt ofsimm, ilee.,by and by ; thou shalt be proud Together they were just singing their mutual avowal of love, the house was hushed to catch the exquisitely -blended voices in the last soft repetition of " Yee, I love thee !" when from the gallery there rose a hoarse cry—the most terrible cry that can be raised in any great gathering— the cry of "Fire !" With a shriek Nita tore herself away and rushed from the stage, and in one instant it seemed to Carlo that the whole house was ih an uproar. He shouted an assurance that there was no danger; he begged Marioni to go on with the opera; but it was all in vain. Then he steedlike a statute in front of the stage, though .all around him his companions were flying, though women were shrieking, though i Marioni dragged him by the arm,imploring him to save himself while yet there was time. He shook himself free, and remained gazing down at the seething mass of people in the stalls, spite of all the confusion, keeping his eye steadily on Count Caroma force a way -through the crowd for a beauti- ful, fair haired girl beside him, who seemed to be almost fainting with terror, and leave Francesca to take care of herselc. But indignation soon gave place to a thrill of wild exultation. At least it was his part to shield her now—her husband had left her, and that tine which he had thought might possibly come in some dim feture had arrived—he might serve her -st- raight, perhaps, save her from death. He rushed to the side of the stage, leaped down into the deserted orchestra, dashed aside the music -stands which 'impeded his progress, cleared the barrier at a bound, and, with the agility which was natural to him increased by 'the fearful excitement, forced his way to Francesca. " Carlin° 1" she cried—joy, fear and re- lief mingling in her tone as she snatched his bands in hers—" I knew you would come. I couldn't go with Count:Grose& .1' He dropped her hands, perplexed, trou- bled, utterly *surprised. That Francesca, under 'the •circumstances, should have spoken thee, seemed to him wholly unlike her. The marriage had been a forced one, undoubtedly, but yet how doubly atrange of her to come and hear him that night ; how immensely she must have altered to greet him now with such words. Terror must surely have made her forget all else. "Don't be afraid," he said, very gently, yet with a manner so restrained that she instantly noticed it : " even if this is not wholly a false alarm, our beat hope of es- caping unhurt is just to stay here quietly. See, if you don't mind my holding you like tha, I think I can prevent your being pushed' by the crowd." "Carlo,' she said, quickly, relapsing into English, " are you angry with me ? ' "I ? How can you ask such a question? I am not angry at all, not in the least." " I couldn't help it ; I couldn't go with the count, and not know what happened to, you. Are you thinking of what people will say ?" "No, that matters very little. Bat I fear you did wrong to stay." " Wrong, when I love you ?" " For God' e sake be silent 1" he cried, in a voice wrung with pain. " I dare not let you speak such words to me. Let us say no more at all. Perhaps the way will soon be clear, and I can take you back to the count. I don't understand how he could possibly leave you behind ; he is very much to be blamed." Her eyes were full of tears. " Yon must not be vexed with him," she said, falteringly ; " it was my doing. I would not go, and it was right tat he ahotild think first of his wife ; she was almost fainting." " His wife ! gasped Carlo. " His wife ! Francesca ! apeakt speak! tell me what you mean !" His manner terrified her. " Why, he married Flora Britton, that pretty Scotch cousin of mine ; she had been staying with us since her mother's death." For answer, Carlo, regardless of all else, caught her in his arms, and had the panic in the theatre caused their death he would scarcely have murmured, for in that mo- ment of exquisite relief, in that restoration to him of all he thought he had lost, he lived through whole years of rapture. " My own 1 my darling ! Can you ever forgive me ?" he cried. horribly it must all have fitted in ! This letter, too 1—who wrote it ?" " It is from Mademoiselle DeCaisne ; she was engaged at the San 'Carlo, bat I'll never believe that she had anything to do with that false nptice. Comerio was sing- ing at the San Carle, too. He must bave induced her to write the account and send the papera, and himself have inserted that thing. 1 dont like Elise De Wane, bub she would never have lent herself to a fraud like that." " How horribly the people cry out near the doors 1 " exclaimed Francesca, able now for the first time to realize a little what was going on around her. " Oh, Carlo 1 how frightened I should be if you were not here with me 1"t 4 ain Britton in Genoa ? " Captain ed we la",re all here in the yCoa,u,r,,laToyithnegesy.,, w planned it all on purpose that I should ear knowing till we landed that Flora had never likes to say and so I came, not to the yacht thus morning, and begged to have me for the day,,and said they had for mo at the hotel where Renato,. and father likes theatre going. But they came taken places for Carmen,' and father that I came at all, for you know how little you ?" Flora are staying. It was such a 'chance thisrpanic before we get out 1" " Uncle George and father were to call' " VVhere had they arranged to meet Peole George, ad Kate and Clare. Ob, how frightened they will be if they hear of be terribly anxious abut you. Do you think you could be brave enough to walk into this smoke, which is driving everyone dee away I believe we should have a very fair chance of escaping throughLs,yes yotheorchestra. u estracome 1 she cried. " I am not afraid of anything with you." He wrapped her shawl around her, cleared the way for her towards the orchestra, lifted her over the barrier, and quickly fol- lowing himself, advanced cautiously through the, smoke-filled passages. Before long he stumbled up against Sardoni. " You here, Jack 1" he exclaimed. "Can we get out? How did it happen ?" • " You can get out all right," saidSardeni. " The fireis almost got under; they are working away splendidly with the fire engines. I was just coming to look for you. How it started no ono knows, unless it was from one of the matches flung down when they were smoking in the camp scene—and yet I don't see how that can have been. You'll get none of the fun here ; conie , and look at it." • " Not now ; Miss Britton's people will be anxious; we must get out as quickly as may be. There is no crowd at the stage door, I suppose ?" " A fire -engine or two blocking the way, perhaps—nothing worse. But what in Heaven's name has happened, Val ?" i He glanced for an natant at the sweet, girlish face, which, not long before, he had watched with indignant wonder. " Comerio's vengeance 1" said Carlo, in, e low voice; then, turning back, he said, " Francesca this is my friend Sardoni, of whom you have often heard." Francesca shook hands with him warmly. " And how about Madame Merlin° ?" she asked. "Is she quite safe ?" " I took her back to the hotel with my wife," said Sardoni, " and I believe 011 the way back I passed Count Caroasa." " He was obliged to try and get his wife out quickly," explained Francesca. " Oh, I hope- Flora waan't hurt in the crowd! Do let us get back to them !" "Come within', Jaok, if you don't mind," said Cede ; and together they made their way through the crowded streets to the hotel, which was not far off. In the entrance hall they found a number of people clustered round the poor little contessa, who was lying on the floor quite unconacious, while the count, who had had his arm broken in the crush round the door of the theatre, received no sympathy at all from Captain Britton, who had just come ashore from the yacht, and was beside him- self with anger and anx;ety. "'She would not come 1' " he stormed. " Of course not ! An English girl has sense enough not to make for the door in a panic ! And you ought to have stayed with her ! How dare you take my daug ter out, and then forsake her like a—" Mr. Britton hastily interposed.„ " John, don't waste time in talking !" he said. "Let us come round quickly, and see if we can't find her." "Gran Dio !" cried the count, starting forward, " here she is !" Captain Britton turned, and saw that Francesca was just entering the hotel, lean, ing on the arm of an actor gorgeously at- tired in Spanish costume. It flashed upon him, even at that moment, that it was a strange reversal of things which should bring him to scold a count for his desertion and to thank an opera -singer for rescuing his daughter. " My dear, dear child 1" he exclaimed, bending down to kiss - her ; " we have only just heard of the fire—we have been ter- ribly anxious about you 1 You are not hurt ?" " Not a bit !" said Francesca. Carlo made me stay quite still, ane -then helped me out through the orchestra And by the stage door---" " Carlo 1" exclaimed Captain likiNton, in amazement. And glancing rouns17/e saw that the toreador was shaking hands with Mr. Britton, and answering as beet be might the torrent of questions which assailed him on all sides. " It is Signor Donati, the new baritone of whom all the world speaks 1" said one of the little crowd. " net I tell you I should knoyy him anywhere. The shops are full of his photographs." " And he has saved the pretty signorina from the fire ?" exclaimed another. Captain Britton, forgetting for once in Ilia genuine glow of emotion that many oyes were watching him, drew near to the hero of the evening. " Carlo, my dear boy !" he exclaimed, seizing his hand in a hearty grip, " I can never thank you enough—never 1" Something in his throat choked him, and Mr. Britton. having suggested that rumors might possibly havo reached the Pilgrim, and that Clare and Kate might bo anxious, he quickly availed himself of the chance of escaping from so trying a scene, and, with a parting shake of the hand, and a " To-morrdw 1" spoken sows voce, which eonve.yed much to Carlo, hoe drew. be:_._ as daughter's aim atirtlifil 110i and led lieraway • from the hotel. trIV (Tobe continued) --a.aaaa•aa,aa.a,..a.••aaa•