The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-10

The next day we saw nothing of tho
count, but early Thursday morning
Vincenzo knocked at my door with .
note. in which Count Alvala informed
me that he was my son and begged
earnestly to see the beautiful Miss St
Clair once more: he would never
trouble me again, 1t was the only
day on which we could see the palace
of the Caesars, and would l bo so good
rs to permit him to meet us there
l hastily pencilcd q few words IL am
waiting for DR.. Valery. shall prob
ably stay with my sick friend to-day
and Miss St. Clair will not 20 withou,
me-" and sent the line by Vincenzo
happy to be rid of the importunate
boy tor this time.
Two hours later, when the doctor
had pronounced my friend better, and
| had promised Helen a walk amidst
the ruins of the Palatinc, which did
not like to leave Rome without seeing
| went down to the roll, coffee and
eggs which constitute an Italian
breakfast, and there sat the count as
vigilant as sentinel. 'Nou. will 90 2''
said he with smile.
II think we may" curtly.
II shall perhaps meet You there"
When we reached the Fa"nesc gate
he was waiting there, which made
the perhaps supcrfuous. We had a
long ramble over the lonely hill
stretching out like green New Eng.
land pasture, but where from time to
time we came unexpectedly upon
! flights Of steps which led to massive
subslructures Of stone, foundations, OF
ancient palaces, and to excavated
balls paved with mosaics and lined
with rrescocs moro beautiful than those
Of Pompcii. There were many stat
ucs: more or less nlutilated, and state
y brick arches laden with u wealth
Of Towering shrubs, and here and there
thickets of tall dark cypress trees,
harmonious with ruins. My young
companions were rather silent, hut /
fancy their thoughts were not en-
crossed with old historic lore. l made
u conscientious effort to force mine
into the ruts Of association which ]
had supposed to be inevitable IN such
. spot, but the bright sunshine
the delicate blue Of the distant Cam
pagna, the living gladness of earth
and air were too strong for me, and |
iuwardly applauded q lively American
girl who interrupted her droning
guide with the incisive II doft care
i snap for Cesar" :, & f..
On reaching the gate after our three
hours ramble | consigned Miss ST..
Clair to some friends who were wait
ing for her, and stepped into the
counts carriage. He seemed to feel
bound in honor not TO speak of love
to Miss st. Clair since the revelation
of the Sistinc Chapel, but he must
have little so!ace in talking to me
about it. cit would be easy" said he,
"if she wero not fancee, but that
makes it dificult-very difficult in
deed. am glad it is not going to be
for three years: that is Il long time,
very long time" Then, with very
sudden illumination of face and de-
licious intonation of the musical voice
"Perhaps they will never marry:
perhaps it will be another maui"
blessed infatuation of youth, with its
wonderful perhopses, which never come
to maturer years j
"One of these years I shall hope to
hear that you are married to beau
tiful lady, of your own country and
your owi. fs& gion.'
"You never WILL"
ooh yes, you will be astonished to
find how easy it is to forget"
Il, come of u constant race" said he
proudly. "My father loved my moth
er, and they sent him all over the
world to forget her, but he came
home in five years and married her"
Even if it were otherwise possible
(Which it is no), the difference in re-
ligion ought to prevent it. How
could a Catholic as you distress your
family by marrying hereto ?"
"Perhaps she would be II Catholic. :"
Il noticed that he did not say, "Por-
laps | shall hccome Protestant
"Don't YOU think her father would let
her marry Catholic?'
No." l replied stoically.
He was silent and detected.
"You must forget her." said | kind
ly. at is only 4 little while since
you first saw her"
a little while! 1t is my whole
lifc!"
"Only few weeks" I continued.
awe shall soon be across the ocean,
and you will see other ladies'"
"Thorc is only one Miss St. Clair"
81 beg your pardon-there arc three
of them" But the boy was too mis-
cradle to notice this poor little sally.
We were approaching the hotel:
II shall not see you again atprcsent,"
said he. "Monsignore will arrive this
evening, and | must be at home to re-
ceive him. But | shall be in Paris by
the middle of May, and | shall see You
there: farewell till then"
The next morning Miss St. Clair
and | were on our way to Florence
A week later, on our return from the
convent of San Marco, where we had
seen the cell of Savonarola and many
lovely but faded frescoes Of Fra An
gclico and Fra Bartolommco, whom
should we find waiting for us in our
temporary home on the Via Pandol
fni but Count Alvala? | felt annoyed
and my face must have revealed it, fol
he said dcprecatingly, "You ought te
be glad to sccyour boy, Madame Elem
ing, for | have come this long journey
only for 4 day. expressly to see you.
THAT is why am here. | shaI