The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-22
The child truly is beneath my notice.
Let him live"

spoken like my own PlctrO,
said Cyrilla, thawing suddenly into
very May-day of love and sun
shine. You were only testing with
me, L know"
''But he-the man who has caused
you so much misery-vour husband;
you will not intercede for him, said
Pietro, gloomily. "He-he above all
men-must die"
$50 be it, . said Cyrilla, with lit
tie shrug of supreme Indifference.
Ten minutes past twelve! Theodore
could not be long now How her
ears strained, how her heart beat, ut
the slightest sound from without. IF
he were to come now, he could hardly
escape with life, unless she, Cvmlla,
were to sacrifice her own life in the
endeavor to save his She was quite
prepared 20 do that, she said to her
self
But pray tell me- she resumed
aloud, what plan YOU intend to
adopt for carrying out your scheme
Of vengeance.
CAS- soon as [ hear bis footsteps, |
shall hide behind those curtains. "
said the madman. ''As he steps
across the threshold, I shall rush
forth, and strike him dead with my
poignard."
"a pretty scheme-a very pretty
scheme.'' said Cyrilla, encouragingly.
''But [ think know one still better
one that will avoid all bloodshcd,
which is Objectionable in lady's
room"
''Tell it me-, said the Italian, ca
gerly
"Whcn he comes in," said Cyrilla,
she will ask for 4 cup Of colIee-he
always does. Into his coffee | will
put a few drops out of certain vial
which l have in my dressing room.
He drinks the coffee, and, five mi
nutcs later, he is dead man"
"Good! goodw said the madman,
rubbing his hands glcefully. And
then, when he is dead, L will cut oft
his head and carry it to my friend,
the mandarin, and he will give me
his magic ring-his cat 's-cyc ring
that is worth a kings ransom: and We
Will sail across the seas. yo1 and / .
together; and you will be mine, my
own, forever, Say, shall it not be
so?"
II siall. my pietro,'' answered
Cyrilla, boldly. ''Ah! You don't
know how much I shall love YOU.
But we have no time to lose: Thorn
hurst will be here presently. and [
must hide You at once.
"lcS, yes. beh.4G the c;!rtains.."
said Iastini, eagerly.
NO, not behind Ike curtains. "
said Cyri!la, s'because the first thing
Thornhurst Will do after coming in
Will be to draw back the curtains and .
fastcn the windows Let me consi-'
der; where will be the best place to
hide yoU?" She paused, and. with
her finger on her lips, looked round
the room. as il in search of a hiding
place. Fastini was holding her other
hand, and pressing il now and again
to his lips.
81 have it, she said, at last. No
thing could be better. You shall
hide yourself in this old chcst;' and
she ran across the room, laughing
gaily, and dragging the Italian after
her, and flung open the lid of the old
carved chest. ut might have been
put here on purpose, she said, still
laughing. "See-you will have plenty
Of room; and there will be this adj
vantage in hiding here-you will be
able, yourself unseen, to witness the
whole of my little drama, from be-
ginning to end-from your private
box, you know. q little pun that,
is it not? I really won't let you kiss
my hand any more,) You must Just
keep The lid open about d s2;:;:;;a:sSttcc1:- OF
an lnch-net more; and presently
yon Will see Thornhurst come step |
ping in through one of these win
dows. You will see him kiss me-for
the last time, you know, and so You
will not be angry. Then he will go
round and fastcn the windows; then !
he VIII yawn and stretch himself; and /.
then he will seat himself in his easy
chair, and ask for his meerschaum
and cup Of coffee. But vou must /
not str till you see his eyes close and
his head droop back on the chair.
And now. Sir, to your hiling-place.
ii You luge me, don't delay for
Ihornhurst Llay be here any mo-
ment. No, not single kiss now,
but rs many us you like afterwards.
Why can't you tie those lanky limbs
of yours into knot? y little lower,
please. So-that is better.