The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-22

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face as the sleeve Of his coat touched
her dress as she sat; but the smile was
back again next moment, and her
voice took an accent rs low and
tender as that of any love-lorn Juliet
when she next spoke to him.
"lou naughty, naughty boyl" she
So d, and she pinched his ear play
fully as she spoke; 81 vow. You nearly
frightened me to death, creeping
! into the room in that stealthv wav.
for all the world like the villain in !,
melo-drama. How was I TO know it
was you that w;s behind the curtain ::
And then. when I did see YOU, I
declare You gave my nerves quite .
shock. I had heard such strange
stories about your being mad, and all
that, you know, SO that my fright
! can hardly be wondered at. Ny poor
Pietro, whatyou must have suffered"
Every nerve and fibre IL the
Italian S body seemed to thrill under
the influence of those loving words
and that angelic smile, but his ewes
were still full of bewildermcnt. and
his lips moved inaudibly for several
moments before he spoke. s'Whv
do you pity me?" he said at last.
How can you be glad to sec me,
when you know that 1 am here to
take your iife?:'
Cyrilla sighed s'Can you not
understand, my Pietro," she said,
that when life has become burden,
1t does not seem such very difficult
, thing to quit it?''
>'Your life burden!" he said in
credulouslv I'm this pretty nest.
and mated with the husband of
your choice, your life ought to be
very precious to you, Cyrilla.
The opinion of the worla!' said
Cyrilla. with q mournful ring in her
voice. ''ls there not such q thing.
Pietro, rs being welded to a man
with whom you have nothing in con
fidence. You have read sLockslev
Hall, and you know what I mean,
without my saying more. Once [
had treasure within my grasp. but
not knowing its value, 1 threw it
carelcssly away. Do you think that
hfe to such q one can be of much
valued"
She turned away her face. and
buried it in her handkerchief. las
TIM fell on lis knees before her.
"Cy'!!la, Cyrilla. say that you love
me, he cried. One Of her hands
was lying carelesslv on her lap: ho
slezed it, and covered it with pas
sionate kisses. She did not repulsc
him: She only said gently: :.You
must not do that; You know that voi,
have vowed to Kill me.
NO, no. lie cried passionatelv.
starting TO his feet. you Shall not
die / will interccdc for You with
the mandarin. The dog star himself
shall hear your story, and pity YOU.
Some other life shall be sacrificed in
place of yours: You shall live. To
gether, We will quit this hateful Eng
land; together, in my own sunny
cline, in Italy the beautiful, we
will
The clock on the mantcl-piece
chimed midnight.
"There sounds the knell OF nv
DOOM said Cvrilla, with a mournful
smile
1T is the signal that summons YOU
to new life-to a life of love, and
freedom, and happiness!'' said the
Italian. ''It tells me too," he added, |
that l have other work left to ac-
complish. - He laid finger lightly
on her shoulder. ''The man who
calls you wife, the child who calls
you mother, they must die!''
Cyrllla's eyes confronted those Of
the madman steadily; not the CULVER
of nerve betrayed the feelings at
work within her.
Fastini began to move towards the
door Of the dressing room; Cvrilla
caught him by the button and held
him. He turned Oh her in an in
stant, wild devil Of fury glaring out
of his eyes. ''Do you-dare-to say
that you care the least in the world
about either Of those two?" he
snarled out He had grasped her
firmly by the shoulder with one
hand; his other hand was behind
her, and she felt the sharp point Of
the poignard prick through her
dressing robe into her flesh, RS lie
asked the question.
Care for either OF them" OK
claimed Cyrilla, with a contemptaous
laugh. "Why should [ care for
them, Piet'o mio.' 1t is not that. 1t
is this, as regards the child, + do
not think-nay, [ am sure-rhat