The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-09
Written for the woRkNGNAS's ADVOCATE.
UNDER A SPELL!
CLOSE PLAY FOR A FORTUNE!
CHAPTER IN.
THE MEETING.
EY WELDON J. CoEB. ~.

The resumption II their tourney TO-
wards Rome seemed To- he undertaken
under circumstances Inust unfavurahle to
the existence uf social cheerfuluess and
pleasant conversation. ClarIbel, slow tu
receive, but luick t. act upon an impress
SION. bestowed only ordinary civilIty on
Burdois, who ielt that he had, III a meas
ure, lost ms control over her mind aud her
confidence She was strangely silent,
meditatIng over the events of the past few
days and seeking t. tathom the mind Of
the man opposite her. Bernard Burdois,
who never lost his suavIty Of manner
under the most depressing circumstances.
MIR Markham had divulged to no one
the startling episode of the evening before
lii fact, il seemed like some dream, so
unreal Mas 1t ia It's incidents, unnatural
was II for hun to act on Impnlse as he had
done Surely the woman must have
eXerted a magnetism most powerful to
bring under her control 50 perfectly the
mind and will Uf this stern, disappointed
man. In some natures romance ever
fingers, and the day-dre-'ps of his early
youth, combined with many sweet and
bitter memories, came back to him as he
thought of the woman whom he had made
his wife. Who was she What was there
il her face that made him 81 start and
thrill Her presence gone he could not
tell He only knew that he wished he had
detained her
They stopped towards the close Of the
afternoon at a little resting place far up on
the mountains for refreshments and rest
The hight repast was partaken Of IN silence,
and a deep gloom seemed to settle down
upon all. turbodIng Of some impending
evil
DO you think we shall reach Rome to-
night q" asked Mr. Markham of the
driver
Yes. MILFORD -r everybody was Milford
to him who paid his way i'll a generous
manner the storm does not overtake
us
(Which it will, croaked an old man
standing at the door Of the inn aud looking,
with shaded eye. far over the valleys and
hills. "A terrible storm, too, he added,
Milford would be wise to defer his jour
ney, he said deferentlally, hoping to pre-
vail upon the party to honor the inn with
their presence and patronage for a longer
period Of time.
1--WE will 20 on, was Mr. Markhams
reply. You are sure you understand the
road 1t is very rocky and dangerous I"
Perfectly" responded the driver, 81
could drive over it blindfolded.
Like all Italian drivers, however, he
lied most unconsciousiy, for, when the
rain began to pour down, and the thunder
and tightening alarmed the horses, he
proved his utter ignorance Of the road,
and genera! locality, by turning into by
path, breaking wheel off the diligence,
and leaving the travellers in a most un-
pleasant predIcament
There was no help for it, however, but
to start out on foot either back to the inn,
or onward to a monastery, which Burdols
affirmed was but short distance on. The
walking was most dangerous and unpleas-
ant, and despite her newly found aversion
to the man, she was Obliged to allow him
to place his arm about her to prevent, with
his experienced foot and practiced eye, a
sudden fall over some deep ravine, or
stumble upon pile Of rocks Mr. Mark
ham, a short distance behind, was conducted
by the driver, who was sorely lamenting
the necessity which compelled him to
abandon his vehicle until morning.
Suddenly terrific crash of thunder
reverberated through the hills, followed by
fash Of tightening which revealed far
and wide the country surrounding them,
and faithfully portrayed, far down in the
valley, the outlines of the convent of
Saint Ursula. At this moment, startled
and terrified by the vivid electric light,
Claribel unconsciOusiy clung to her com
panion, giving utteTance to low cry of
terror.
Fear not, )" he said, forgetting himself,
in the excitement Of the occasion. 81
would die rather than harm should come
to YOU"
She tore herself from his grasp with a
sudden movement. He caught her by the
waist, his soul alive with the passion her
sudden and unintentional embrace had
awakened in him.
You shall hear me-" he said, 81 would
fling myself and you, too, down yonder
precipice if thought you could never re-
turn the love feel have felt for you
since first ! saw you"
In the presence Of danger the strongest
heart submits, to tighten peril. Thus il
was with Claribel.
You seek a strange place for youI
avowal, Mr.. Burdois, she said coldly.
Twill you give me an opportunity here
after to press my claim, and listen to me 7
he asked eagerly, tracing some fancied en-
couragement In her tones.