Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-08

coNsrANCE." : .
A Tnle af Eiafence.


perament, he seemed especially fitted for the
desperate part in which his evil stars had
placed him. We say his evil stars, for Saliva
tor was the pride Of noble family, OF which
honorable mention is made in the archives OF
Florence. He was man OF cultivated intel
Ject and high aspirations; one who had never
been destined to tread the obscure path Of me-
g diocrity. The miseries Of Salvador would have
made maniacs of less desperate natures; they
made him arobber. His name was by-word
of terror TO travellers and merchants. Mean
while, Salvador never knew happiness on earth,
save in q consciousness that his name could
strike terror to the hearts of all. He had bssn
injured, deeply injured and he vowed ver-
geance-nor was he one TO breathe such vow
lightly. -..5-. o+.9.'i.1.
not a wording love, but with deep devoted
ness, By day he walked through the marble
hslls Of bis palace, using on the idol of his
soul; by night he closed his eyes only to dream
of her - '.-l -. % : 80
Constance Marco was Florentine, with eyes
like midnight when it is bright with stars, and
q veiee like the strain of the bird which Low ss
the darkness; the brow of a Madonna, high,
calm, and pale, looking as though earthly pas
sion would never overshadoN il; and a smile
which shed sunshine wherever it rested. She
was 20 young and gentle that she seemed scarce
fs TO contend with the cares Of life; and 50
hght-aearted that she never appeared to have
had one dream of sorrow. Such was she when
she listened to Salvator's tale of love, as they
sat together meath the branches of q pome-
granate tree, from which he pilferea the red
blossoms to twine in her hair, while the sounds
of minstrelsy came family from the palace,
swelling and dying as the wind rose and fell
among the orange trees.
What recks it what be said or how he said ii,
beneath the mosn-lighted sky, amid breeze aud
blossoms? Enough, she heard il without a
frown-that she answered with smile; and
that Salvador pressed her to his heart and
called her his own his love-his world
Twas a sweet dream, and they walked hand
in hand, his arm around her, and her rich
warm cheek pressing upon his shoulder; slow
ly, pansing under the delicious night-wind,
they told each other the secret Of their affec-
tion-how it had grown and strengthened since
they first met; and il Constance kinded at the
confession, he kissed away her bushes, and she
did not repent her confidence. Raphael told
a less embarrassed tale, and she pressed her
small hand on his lips to stay their uttersnce,
but the lover needed not this gentle hindrance,
and he showed her how long and ardently he
had loved her-for days and centuries are in
lovers cslendar-and the moon had risen high
in the heavens, and orange-buds were shedding
their perfumed dew from their snowy cups, ere
they remembered that the world was peepled
by others beside themselves and prepared
again to mingle with its denilens-
AfsarfuI year followed that blissful evening
a
tor; but the stab was deeper at his own hearts
core; could it be that Constance loved the
snooth-lipped stranger? bis own Constance,
He could not think it was thus; and yet she
wept over the corpse such tears as only women
weep for those whom they have snshrinsd in
their hearts. But Constance, the beautiful,
the fond, the timid Constance; no, no; it could
notbe; and Salvador held her to his heart, and
loathsd himself that he had dared to doubt
her. He became q husband. Not a word, not
look Of his young bride but was to him as
light as music All that tenderness that wo-
man loves 80 we'll, be lavished upon her with
prodigality which proved that his whole heart
was in homage; and yet she was not happy.
The smile fed from her lip, her step became
less buoyant, and her voics more sad. .Raphael
mourned, wondered, but never yet doubted;
and when Constance placed in his arms her
infant child, be forgot all sorrow in contem-
plation Of its cherub face. One day he led his
fair wife forth into the sunshine, with the child
slumbering upon his bosom. He talked to Con-
stance of all VI hich that child might be to them
gifted, as she seemed, with her mothers beau
ty-that mother who was to him fairer than
aught else on earth. Suddenly messenger
approached them, the bearer of strange tidings
He was the kinsmsn Of Salvador, and he came
with Joy in his heart, to tell him that the rival
he had smitten had nevertheless not been
slain; that he yet lived, though his friends had
borne him across the sea, when they rescued
him from death; there was no blood upon The
soul Of the young husband. -
Raphael scornfully smiled in doubt, but the
doubt Was vain. The stranger had been seen
since his return to Florence; he still bore marks
Of Salvatore blade, but lived exc
Then, indeed, light returned to the eyes of
Constance, though she uttered not word as
Raphael gloomiIy led the way back 10 their
splendid home. One more short month and
the infant Of Count Salvador was motherless
Constance had fed The father and child
were alike deserted. The vretched and be-
resyed man caught up the weeping child
weeping, il knew not wherefore-and, in turn
abandoned the home which to him was now
desOlate. He wandered, he cared not whither
for many days. The peasants whom be met in
his wandering, shared with him and with his
motherless infant, their simple and often scan
ty meal. And he slept with his child closely
nestled TO his bosom, under the clear bright
sky or under some open-hearted PEASANTS roof.
All knew who he was, but none dared to ques-
tion him. -.-. =, 80
One day he and the child were walking IN.
der the cooling shades Of the trees when he
was beset by half dozen bandits Salvador
drew his own trusty blade, and IN Q few mo-
msnts half their number lay motionless ut his
feet. Thsir leader, seeing that Salvador vas
/, no common man, cried cut to him: t g..
- " Hold, good sir: If you viii join our band, no
harm shall befall you or your child" -
Salvador instantly accepted his terms, and
soon sitter, their leader being killed, he vas
elected to ill his place. Now he was chief, he
could have reysngs! The thoughts Of it vas
enough. He told his band all his wrongs; and
they talked of vengeance! Hewss henceforth
their's-bOdy and soul. He girded the pistol
and dsggers to his belt, he pressed bis little
Constance in the arms Of the gentlest of the
bandits wife. 1t is true he shuddered when
he gave her into such rude keeping; but he
"a was anticipating vengeance, and he turned
: away with . smile on his ips. ..g fs-l,7 :
- He watched and watched for years, and his
longing was unappeased; and, meanwhile, his
child grew heslIhfafiy among the noun tain
brsezss, and with all the grace and ioysliiess
Of her mother foating about her like IN atnos-
phere Of light, and all the hardihood Of a yoang
msuntainser. .... 4s go -
! Ssiyater's revenge had been 50 long delayed
that the thirst for its indulgence became de-
nseniaeal when he heard that the enemy was
st last in his grasp-and Constance, too, she
who hsd Won his heart only to break it's
who was once the wife of his bosom the mother
Of his infant girl-she was with the man upon
whom his curse rested-to whom il had cling
for yesrs-apon whom it was to fsiL The Sc.
dscsr and seducsd were there, within arrow