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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 1892-06-03, Page 61 4 e • 7 A BABITONF'S 'DEVOTION ; OR A TALE Of' BUNNY ITALY. The place had been strangely still for eome minutes. Nicole bad left his caldron, and now lay on the floor smoking ; the card -players had finished their game, and seemed oe-thivtk"'itvvas—not worth wbllec to begin another before the event of the evening came 'off ; one swarthy, black - bearded fellow shuffled the cards, the others lounged at ease, watching the prisoner indifferently. When at length a voice in the distance spoke the password, everyone present' started slightly. Carlo drew himself up to his full height and looked steadily toward the dark archway ; Branealeone rose, and, with one hand on his victim and the 'knife in the other, glanced over his shoulder, ready either to strike or to forbear Lionbruno dropped his cross, and glanced in great agitation from the archway to the prisoner, and back again to the archway. The footsteps drew nearer ; the messenger suddenly turned the corner 'and emerged into sight ; the torch -light fell on the token in his hand—was it white or red ? With 'a gasp•of relief, Lionbruno sprung forward and seized thehandkerchief, waving it joyfully in the air ; while the messenger advanced and handed a sealed packet to the chief, who at once sheathed his knife and turned to the prisoner. " You are free, signor," he said, gravely. " Nita is ruined 1 I have failed 1" thought Carlo. The sharpest pang he had ever had to bear !shot through him ; and, without a word, he fell to the ground. " Diavolo !" exclaimed the chief. " I have often seen a prisoner overcome on hearing his death -sentence, but never yet on getting his reprieve !" CHAPTER XXXVII. AT PALAZZO FORTI. On that Monday evening, after- Carlo had. started for Casa Bella, . Nita dined alone, Gigi hovering round, and always ready to accept promiscuous mouthfuls off her plate like a pet dog. When the child had gone to bed she sat down to the piano, her fingers roaming over the keys, and play- ing a sort of subdued accompaniment to her reverie. " I am going to turn over a new leaf," she thought to herself ; " it is, after all, rather pleasant to be good, and not so hard as I thought. I have enjoyed these days on the yacht with the Brittons ; it was not half so dull as I expected. There was something so peaceful and quiet about it. I think I'm tired of being naughty. Now I'll be like Carlo ; that will be a novelty." She was interrupted by the entrance of the servant with a visitor's card. Holding out her hand for it carelessly, she glanced down at the name and saw that it, was Comerio's. A terrible fear seized on her. "Say I do not receive to -night'. I am engaged—not well 1" she exclaimed breath. lessl out in it always one bright light. A hundred little details of Carlo's care for her flashed back into her mind ; scenes rose up before her in the green -room, at rehearsals,- in desolate lodgings, on tedious journeys ; and always he was there as her helper, the one perfectly reliable man in her world. In wild excitement she sprung to her feet. Comerio, in the he't,t of the moment, 'had =•let friething-`fa11Faabout the Pozzuoir road ? Why should she not rush to Casa Bella and prevent her brother's return, and save him from the attack that had been planned ? What gave her strength for this desperate resolution she hardly knew, but the thought itself seemed to lend her wings. She rushed to her bedroom, snatched up a cloak and bonnet, drew a veil over her face, and, without even pausing to close the door of the house behind her, crept down the long stone staircase. The con- cierge was treading La Campana as she glided past his little office ; he was so much absorbed that he never even saw her. .And now she was actually in the • street, and, for the first time since her resolution had been made, a feeling of fear and perplexity overwhelmed her, her brain seemed to reel. " Holy Virgin protect me ! " she sobbed, and walked on blindly, too much terrified to form any clear plan of action. All at once she caught sight of a disengaged carriage, ' and signed to the driver to stop. He looked at her sus- piciously, but she was far too miserable *to resent that. " Drive to Pozzuoli," she said ; " to Casa Bella." The man, however, grumbled. It was late, a long drive, his horse was tired. Nita thrust two gold coins into his hand. "Go ! go i' she Dried. "Another, if you will drive fast !" Then she leaned back in the carriage and covered her face with her hands, trembling in every limb, expecting each minute that Comerio would find out all and pursue her. The drive seemed endless, but at last Casa Bella was reached ; she sprung out and asked eagerly for Signor Donati. " He is not here, signora," said old Dino, looking at her curiously. " He has not been here at all." Nita gave a cry that brought all the household flocking into the hall. They took her' into the Rose room,and there gradually drew from her the whole piteous story: Francesca, as she listened, turned pale as death, but to endure a moment's discussion or delay was to her impassible. Before the captain or Mr. Britton! could even recover enough from the shock to frame a clear idea, she had left the room, had run bareheaded out into the summer night, and- was flying to ..the.. telegraph office. Panting, breathless, with `a weight of torturing fear at her heart, she , yet ran like the•wrnd. Carlo was in terrible danger, but she might yet save him. The office was still open ; she wrote without a moment's delay the following words to the chief of the police : " Signor Carlo Donati was waylaid on the road to Pozzuoli this after- noon, and has not been heard of since. The r s co or carne an, wen , �u ore use now seemed to her impossible, and the next • minute she was alone with'her lover. Yet, after all, did she love him or hate him ? Of one thing only she was conscious—that with all her heart she feared him, and that over her he had some strange deadly influence. " How can you dare to come here ?" she cried passionately. " Did I not tell you I would never speak to you again" Comerio smiled. " I come because I love you," he replied ; " because I knew you would not keep to your threat ; because, happen what may, I will never give you up. I have waited for you all these years, Nita, but now y:ou will be mine." " Never f" she cried vehemently ; and, ' with a glowing sense of terror, she tried to pass him and reach the door. Do not speak too hastily," he said, in- tercepting her ; " you are altogether in my power. Your brother has thwarted me for long ; now it is my .turn. If you wish him to die, to be murdered for your sake, you will refuse to come with me. If you wish to save him you will leave Naples with me to -night ; we will fly to Australia and begin our new life there 1'' " Oh, it isn't true !" sobbed Nita ; " it can't be true ! Carlo could never be in your power !" "Not true ?" said Comerio, with a mock- ing laugh. ," It is as:true as the gospel. Do you think the Pozzuoli road is so much frequented that'I couldn't have him way- laid ? I tell you his fate rests in your hands. Now choose 1" • " You must be a fiend !" sobbed Nita. " Only a fiend 'could make such a plan !" " A fiend or a lover," said Comerio. " All is fair in love and. war, Nita, and I love you—I love you—and I will have you. You shall not deny me !" Again the old subtle influence crept over pool Nita's tempest -tossed heart ; it needed t only half an hour of Comerio's impassioned t plEading to break down all her resolutions. 8 After all, her life was hard and weary, , and S husband rough and overbearing, , and good - nese was dull, and this scheme /was excit- q ing ; besides, it would save Carlo—Carlo, Whom she really loved. Yes, she would o save him at all costs ; she, too, would: be t •self.sacrificing—she would give up every- a thing to save him from death. It was all over very quickly—the dispt t I, 1p the struggle, the promise—then once rrore C she was atone, with but a few 'hours to make all her arrangements for her ,flight, i for Comerio had promised that a carriage s should he in waiting for her at 12 o'clock, m and had hastened off to . see that all, his plans were irl working or ler. He had absolute confidence in his own power over c her, which was indeed great ; but there was another Power which ho had forgotten to p take into account—a Power which, could a no more be laid hold of, and shut up with ; to Carlo in the brigteds' retreat, than the a wind. 1 of " He shall not die for my sake !" sol)bed d Nita to, herself ; ". 1 will save him by 1 yielding. And yet—yet, it is what he would ' cl say Will wrong ; he would call it doing evil ro t h tt inn -1 might. come. Oh ! what stn I tot h rl°,? \\'ily slid I Ever ace Comerio s,; Snn \vas like a poor, terrified bird in 'a ,u r:1re, tI' ing now to this Ride, now to +-that, fo inl', meeting always frith !mid, i ohtsslhlc •!,ars, tithe 1 eropui( inn to rise tii., f, nm her `o diat%stefltl 1ifeintn a life that was now •alel w• untried was tcrril,lc. Anil -yet, as in sick` hr recoil elle looked at her past, there shone an , a• e i , era ion ' irs o a , e . wen to Brancaleone's agent, .who lived in one of the worst quarters of Naples. Here he de- posited the white handkerchief, which had been the token decided on, and the little packet of notes for the payment of the brigand chief. Then he gave his final•orders about the carriage which was to take them out of Naples;. and afterward, finding that he had yet some time to spare on his hands, he went into a cafe, where, to fortify him- self for the excitement of the evening, he called for a . bottle of champagne. Sauntering out of, the cafe, and still mus- ing over his good fortune, he was a little startled when a passer-by thrust a note into his hand and walked rapidly on. He paused to read it under, a street -lamp. It ran as follows : " Signor Comerio, be warned by a friend, and fly from Naples at once. You are in xlangor of being arrested." Though capable, in order to gratify him- self, of a certain amount of rash daring, Comerio was at heart a coward. He had. a friend connected with the police force, and did not doubt for a moment that the warn- ing came from him. He knew that he had not a moment to lose. Still the mere hatred of being baffled in his plans induced him to risk a call at Palazzo Forti. There was yet a, chance that they might be able to fly together ; and now that all was known, he risked little more by making his final attempt. Breathlessly he made his way through the dusky courtyard and up the long stone staircase. To his surprise the door at the top was open. He stole in and opened the door to the ante -room, calling Anita in a low voice. He went into the sala, but that, too was empty and deserted. He knocked at the door of the bedroom ; that, also, was tenantless. Then, with a faint suspicion dawning in his mind that Nita had played him false,, he ground his r eeth together, .and flung open the wo remaining doors in the c uite. Possibly she was with the child. natching up a lamp from a table in the r passage, he went into the room to make g uite sure that she was not there—looked f with, a sort of dumb rage, at Donati's vari- p us ossessions which were strewn about— hen walked up to the bed where Gigi lay n leeping, with both arms flung up on the illow above his head, and his ruddy -brown p ittle face the picture of sturdy peacefulness. y omerio shook him by the shoulder. " Where is your mother, child ? " he said, o n a voice that terrified Gigi. " Can't'you t peak ?" he reiterated. " Where is your other ? " C " I don't know 1" sobbed the child. s " Arcente ! she has played me false 1 " t ried Cottterre. 'then, suddenly holding, his breath, he y aused to listen. Undoubtedly menta voices 0 nd footsteps were approaching. Darting a the door he drew the bolt, then. rushed s cross to the window, flung it open, i leaped it on the balcony, and disappeared in the si arkness. O'igi's first impulse was to draw the bed- ' h o�hes over his heal and sob for very ter- w r, but snrne recollection of Carlo checked st lin, and summoning up all his courage, he g (ami)led out of bed, unbolted the door, ac ran ont•into 11-«.3 passage, calling . now lel r Carlo, now kr his mother. h;; Strange nen wham he had never seen be- of re, were in trching in Rod mit of the rooms; fr he' her to run to thein or from them he re belly know." here is a child !"exclaimed one of the do detectives, pioking him up in hie arms. " Tell us, little one, who is in the house ?" " Signor Comerio I" sobbed Gigi. '`Santo diavolo ! where !" exclaimed the man. pointed in the direction of the room. " Through the window," he said, with a rush of tears. For all answer, the man tossed him on to -thenbed--asthough-=hehad—been-an—India rubber ball, and leaped out on the balcony, while the rest rushed down -stairs to cut of the retreat below. But their efforts were useless ; Comerio had got the start of them, and, with dark- ness to favor him, found little difficulty in making his escape from Naples. While the Neapolitan police were still searching high and low for him, he was steaming down the Mediterranean, knowing that never again could he dare to set fo9t in Italy, and baffled both in his love and m his revenge. " If only I had had time to go again to Brancaleone's agent, and change the white token .for the red, I could bear all else !" he reflected. But the white handkerchief remained just as he had left it with the sealed packet of notes, and the true love had triumpned over the false. f ri ..04 At Casa Bella all was confusion, and afterward, those fearful hours seemed to Francesca like a long, hideous nightmare. She had vague recollections of returning from the telegraph office, and seeing Clare and Kate bending over Nita's prosteate figure ; of a discussion with her father and Uncle George as to whether she should drive in to Naples with them or not ; of reaching Palazzo Forti in the dead of night, and find- ing poor little Gigi sobbing and shivering ; of driving home with him on 'her knee, and feeling a 'sort of comfort in folding her arms round him and letting him talk on in his happy ignorance; then, of two fearful nights and days, while all Naples was searched, and not the slightest clew' as to Carlo's whereabouts .could be discovered. In the meantime Nita lay in the guest -chamber,. and many times each day both priest and doctor passed in and out. - " Why do those men come so clreffiy often ?" asked Gigi, one day, turning to his friend and playfellow, Sibyl, and forgetting for a minute -the sham -fight, which was going on between his two boxes of tin soldiers. " Why, Dino says your mother is dying," said Sibyl, her eyes dilating. " But, oh, Gigi, perhaps I oughtn't to have said any- thing ! Don't tell the others I told you ! " " But she can't," said Gigi, emphatically, " not until Uncle Carlo comes back." And so, while the fielders of the household lived through their 'terrible agony of sus- pense, the two children, who were much thrown together, and .left to their own devices in those days, kept their own coun- sel as children do, and waited gravely for Carlo's return. CHAPTER XXXVIII. AT CASA BELLA. Earl yy on ,the Thursday morning Captain en�iise L'Iarenion� place in `tile eic[f room, and that he had promised to be at hand in case anything was needed. " How is Madame Merlino ?" he asked, going out into the hall, where Franzoni, the doctor, was just taking up his hat and cloak, "Better for the time," replied the doc- tor, " but I doubt if she will last much longer the shock has been too much for her, and this suspense is the 'very worst thing. She. has inherited her mother's con- stitution, you see, and when the heart is in question such a strain is killing work." Francesco moved away from the speakers that she might hide .her tears. .A lamp which had burned for many hours stood on the table, gleaming faintly in the early morning light. She turned it out, glad to have some little trivial household matter to attend to, and findingit, as most women do, a relief in trouble. Captain Britton went out with thedoctor, not sorry to escape for a few minutes from the burdened atmosphere of his own house ; and Francesca, knowing that Father Cristo- fore was . with . Nita, lingered beside the open door,' glad for• a few minutes to be alone with her grief. The sun had not risen, but rosy clouds floated in the softs Sheeny sky, and a delicious fragrance carne from the . garden, which was all wet with dew. Everything was still and peaceful, with the restful calmness of dawn ;' per- haps' it unconsciously influenced Francesca, or perhaps it was mere exhaustion which quieted' her. throbbing pulses. Certainly the sound of footsteps on the' road from Naples, which yesterday would have made. her heart leap into her mouth, scarcely roused her now. She just looked up wearily, too heavyhearted to hope any longer. But suddenly the blood surged through her veins, and with a low cry, she, ushed forward. "Carlo ! Carlo 1" she sobbed ; you have ome at last 1" Clinging to him, in that first minute of apture she forgot all else ; but a second, lance at his face reminded her of Nita, or he bore the look of a man who has cased through terrible suffering, and how much he knew of Comerio'a plot she could of tell. " Carlow," she said, tenderly, " try and repare yourself for what I have to to ou." " I am prepared," he said, in the voice of ne whose work is over—one who knows hat he has failed. " Who can have met you so early ? Oh, arlo, we havntried to take care of her, but he is dying. She has been ill ever since hat Monday night." " .Do you- mean that Nita is here with h ou ,? that she is safe ?'' he cried, eager hope awning in his eyes. Then, as she told him , 11, .a light, such as she had never before 1 een, shone in his face. 1 T " God has been very good Co us," ho said in mpnl Ia very few words he toll her what F ad happened to him ; and then, while she i h ent to prepare Nita for his corning, he 1 aycd hc-low, receiving the warm-hearted I reetings of the tlaptain, giving him a brief is count of his irit'prisoument and release, ' w td thanking him with tears in his eyes for t.1 tying sheltercd his sister, -Somehow the T d fiatlnair.ing tone disappeared altogether C om the captain's''voiee as he struggled to k ►,ty. " 1)o you thank lis for what we have 1,1 ne ?" he exclaimed, with a chocking sen- to sation in his throat, and forgetting alto- She came back to the present, and grew gether to fear what people would eay, for- calmer. getting even to regret the connection with " You see I never understood till you the stage. " I wish sit could have been showed me," she whispered. "Oh, Carlo, more. I wish I had stood by you in the how much you have borne for me ?" past, Carlo." He held her more closely. " Don't you As he thought of the insults he had understand that I love you ?" he said. heaped on the Italian years ago, the color " Yet I wish that—I too—had loved !" mounted to his temples, and he would have she gasped, in a voice so sad that Fran - given -all in his—power to-haxe_-,had,cssca,'s beart-auhe. ser er - again the opportunity which he had wasted. After that she never spoke clearly again, But before anything had passed between only, as Carlo listened intently to the last them Francesca came to summon Carlo to long -drawn sighs, he caught one more faint the sick -room, and not sorry to be free from whisper. the captain's questions and congratulations, " Cesu !" he followed her upstairs into a bed -room Then he laid her down tenderly on the which he knew must be her own. It pillow, and closed her eyes, and folded her touched him to think that Nita should be in hands over the crucifix on her breast. The this place, of all others, with its indescriba- sun had fully risen, and golden rays , played ble air of purity and peace and safety, with about him as he moved. Francesca noticed. its English comforts, with its girlish orna- it, and would not draw down the blind. ments and pictures. The bed stood facing CHAPTER XXXIX. the window, with its white mosquito- curtans drawn back, but he could not see Anita, for Father Cristoforo was bending over her. " My daughter," the old man was saying, in his gentle, soothing voice, " be comforted. Our prayers are heard. Try to take this joy calmly, and as a pledge of your for- giveness." Then he quietly drew back, and .looking with loving reverence at his old pupil, signed to him to take his place. One glance at Anita's worn,'weary face showed Carlo that she was dying. He took both her outstretched hands in his, and bending down, kissed her again and again. She was dying, but yet it was the sense that she was safe which outweighed all else. For a long time perfect silence reigned in the room, then Nita spoke faintly. - " Why I liked the yacht," she said, half- dreamilty, " was because you were all so good—there was no temptation. I wanted to be good—only it was always too hard." Worn out, exhausted and fearful, she had none of that natural clinging to life which Carlo had so lately felt. • " I never understood that till now," she said, glancing at the crucifix which Father eristo£oro held on the other side of the bed. " But now I see it all ; it is you that have made me see it, Cailino. Hie eyes filled with glad tears, and again he kissed her reverently. " You will keep to the stage still," she said, after a time. " Let me at least feel that I have done that much for the profes- sion. I've been no credit to it myself, but you, Carlin, you went into it for my sake, and they will respect you. You will not leave thetstage?" " No," he said, . turning his thoughts to the future with an effort ; " I shall not leave it." " I should have liked' to sing with you once more," she' murmured, dreamily. " When you hold me like that, it makes me feel like Gilds. I tried to put you out the 'last time we sang that scene—it was at New York, don't you remember ; the night of Sardoni's benefit, and I was cross' be- cause my white satin had got some paint on it." s, L. ,v...t.., r.: i .,»., impatient motion of• the •}rand. �`` am d3 ing—I shall die as I. please. - Where is Gigi ? Let me say good-bye to Gigi." Francesca slipped out of the room and went" to find the child, bringing him in just as he was, in his little night-shirt, and with his hair all rough and disordered. She had told him that his mother was very ill, and that he must be quiet ; but in the glad sur- prise of seeing Carlo he forgot all else, and with a rapturous shout of " zio • caro 1 " sprung toward the bed. Carlo took him in his arms, trying to quiet him with kisses, and Nita watched them sadly. " Well, it is natural enough he . should care for you and not for me," she said . wist- fully. " I never liked to be troubled with him." " No, - no," said Carlo, quickly ; " he loves you, it is only that he does not•under- stand illness." . And putting the child on the bed, he. laid the little, fat, brown hands in between the cold, white ones. Gigi looked ' at his mother with wandering eyes. " Do you think he will have a voice ?" she asked. " He surely will sing—I hope he will. But don't let Merlin be unkind to him, promise to care for him always." "Always," said Carlo.' "For your sake." And Francesca bent down and kissed her, while the child, aware now that something was wrong, listened wistfully. " I have been a bad wife," moaned Nita, " and a bad sister, and a bad mother. Oh, Gigi—my Gigi—you trust not grow like me 1 Be good, carino�be good 1" " Yes, mamma," said Gigi, simply; With a sob she raised herself and caught him in her arms, but 'once more deadly faintness crept over her, and she fell back unconscious. Francesca L took Gigi away to Sibyl, and by the time site was, able to return Anita had When they revived. Father Cristoforo had thrown the over. Do window wide open ; Francesca stole quietly about thoseycia s on ou em yacht s ema e id across the room and stood beside it, listen- Ythe ing now to the old priest's hushed voice me cry, for I never saw till thou how fearful now to the birds in the garden below ; the temptation must be." sun had risen, and sea, and trees, and.houses She conquered and is at rest 1" said glowed in the roseate light, contrasting Carlo, steadying his voice with an effort. strangely with the scene within. When "Father Cristoforo told me he never knew the last offices were ended there was a Jong one so young who has so little clinging to pause, broken at length by Anita's faint + Itfe. Itis as she would have wished." voice. For some time he was grave and silent ;. " Why are the footlights out ? ' she +his mind was full of Nita's cad story. asked, impatiently. " Does it not seem to "you more than "Because the sun has risen," replied three years," he said, at length, " since we Carlo, smoothing back the fringe ofdarlc !last eat here together like'this ? o nt© it hair from her cold forehead seems like a lifetime." " I can't see," she said, with a little " And, oh, Carlo," said France , cling - shudder. 1 ing to him, I don't know }tow it is—but 'Chen after a minute, losing consciousness I though eo many sad things have come bee f the present, she sang lust above her tweed, I cah't help feeling happier even reach a little snatch from " Faust : " i than long ago ! I thought I. couldn't be 1 happier than I was when you first told me "0 del ic1 anon inimortn,l! l)eh ntift,•uidate con voi lasso," !you loved me, here in this summer -house— but now; Carlo !—now----" here was something inexpressibly touch- * * g in the faint yet still beautiful voice ; So, one day in the following week, Fran- arlo s breast heaved and hiseyes grew dim. 1 eeaea put on the old white dress and her E she was wandering—fancying confirmation veil, and Kate twined orange erself back once more in the old life. ; idosson': anri m}Tris into a wreath,. and " «'ell ! itoils.' is over," she murmured, "and Sibyl and (ligi gathered the prettiest white 'm tired—its a long opera ! How cold it flowers thew contd. -find in the garden, and lying on tide draughty stage ! But Carlo with infinite pains made thein ',p into a very ill be dobe cortiwaiting withI v `oak, he always ;n1il.,ai?ia1 �ridal 1>ourinet. '!'hen every one at thoughn cross to hirn. Gana Lula rlruve mto Naples, where C,trlo . . hen, her voice rising to a cry, "(.'zrlino! awaited then t\ith Enrico Ritter at his arlino ! corse back ! 0 (god ! 1 have side ; and Present!, , with l'iale, Alt rioni•, i11s,d him—mysin has killed him."old I']rrestano, and Sardoni acrd his wife for " 1 a;n here, Nita, c.li;se to 2, all," be re- spectators, the two lovers we re quietly icd, bcmd;ug over her, whi1e•l'ather Cris- luarriorl. J faro held t lie c eoitix to her lips. , " :\fic:r all," said C,ptain 1Zri1.ton, when AFTERWARD. For the next two or three weeks the story of Carlo and Anita was in every one's mouth ; the account of Comerio's vengeance, and the alarming news of brigandage in the very environs of Naples, created something like a panic, while, as to Donati's share in the matter, opinions were divided. Some called him a hero, some a fool, others remarked cynically that in any case the affair would be a good advertisement for him, and that now, at any rate, he might be expected to draw large houses. Merlino, when he earned all, made scarcely any comment on what had hap- pened. He merely wound up the affairs of his company, and announced his retiren; t from the position of impreaairo. Only in r gard to Gigi did he show any sign of fe " You'll be kind to the child, Val?" he said, as he bade his brother-in-law good- bye. " I shall stay in America for a few years till this scandal has had tune to fade in people's minds. But you'll go to .school and see that Gigi is all right, now and then; won't you ?" " He shall be like my own child 1" said Carlo, warmly. His holidays shall always be spent with us." People were surprised that the new bary- tone fulfilled his engagement at the San Carlo that summer. Some called' him cold- blooded, others called him brave and honor- able, and both those who praised and those who blamed flocked to hear him, He went his way,as ever, with straightforward. sim- plicity, thinking of the past with thankful- ness and, of the future with eager hope. " Carina," he said, one afternoon, as he sat beside Francesca in the familiar old belvedere which had sweet memories for them both—" Carina, here is work enough for me for months to come—offers of engage- ments all over Europe. Piale wishes to know which of them 'we are pleased to accept." `` We ? she said, and blushing. • " You do not think I could go without you ? " ho exclaimed. " You will not send me away alone ? " " No," she said, with deepening color ; " 1 don't think you would take enough care to voursels " are are still here." " But they are only here for another week," said Francesca. " Ebbene ? " - said Carlo, with a world of e pression in hie tone. " How could 1 be ready ?" she faltered. " A wedding takes a great deal of prepara- tion—certainly Flora's did. I must at least have a dress that is fit for your eyes to look. on: '"If. •you want to dress to please me, -I will tell you what to wear," he said, smil- ing. " Wear that white dress like a baby's —the one you wore on the night of oar betrothal." " That old nainsook 1" she cried. " Why, Carlo,. it is more fit for the rag -bag than for a -wedding 1" He made one of his expressive Neapolitan gestures. " I should like • nothing else so' well, and you will see it will wash and get. up in two days' time, and look as good as new. Oh, I am very learned in such , matters now,I assure you." - She smiled and nestled close to him. •" I will • wear 'anything to please you, mio caro ! And, after ally we'don't want to be thinking of new dresses just now. All I want is to go away from everything else for a little while—away with you. Let us go somewhere among the mountains, where there are no people and no news- papers—nothing hut. just we twopy our- selves !" He kissed her white forehead. Carina," he said, thoughtfully, " if one did not believe success to be a sort of sacra- ment it would frighten one." bhe mused over the old definition in the prayer -book, and caught his meaning. " They said at Meerlebank it was useless knight-errantry," she replied ; " but 1 think they changed their minds h saw the smile on Nita's face after' all was 1 9