Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-12-27

ne retained il, and endeavored by chat.
ing to impart to it some OF his own
warmth. His mother continued az
though she had not heard him:
4 4 I shall leave this world tonight, my
SOU; but see thee, Antonio see thee
famous, world renowned /; I see admiring
crowds surround thee; / see gold
pouring in upon thee; ! see thee stand
ing proud, triumphant
And happy, with Gigia by my side,
mother?" interposed Antonio, plead
ingly.
The dying woman turned upon him
her eyes, flied with an .unuttersble
sadness, though the light Of prophecy
still shone in them, and said, more
family even than before:
9 Nay, Antonio lsee thee famous,
indeed, but alone"
Antonio covered his eyes with his
hands, shuddering. When be locked
up, his mother had fallen back upon
tho pillow, and was dead. A week
from that time, in Florence, he walked
up the Viadella Scala, where was his
studio. His step was slow; his face
was sad and downcast, and told, even
palmer than did the mourning band
upon his hat, the bereavement he had
just suffered. In the same detected
manner he entered the house and
assembled the stairs; his eye lighted
with sudden joy. it is true, as he neared
the floor on which he lived, and thought
that he might find Gigia in his studio;
but his brow grew gloomy again, and
he mnttered to himself, "Alone !! What
did it mean /? Can it be that she fancied
Gigia? But no, the thought is un-
worthy Of me. Gigia is my faithful
betrothed, and she--yes, she and Ce-
sare-will help, console me for the loss
I have just sustained"
His face grew again more cheerful,
and with o lighter step he climbed the
remaining flight of stairs. His studio
door was open; he entered and heard
voices in the room, though he could see
no one, on account of the folding-screen,
"Gigia and Cesare are taking care Of
the atelier for me, J" was his first thought,
and he was about to 60 on, whena word
fell on bis ear that arrested him, turned
bis blood cold, and made his heart al
most stop beating. It was Gigia who
spoke.
Cesare," she said, "ah, how I love
thee p .,... ~. -. -. - ~
Antonio could neither move no,
speak, from horror; he thought his ears
must have deceived him, and listened
more intently than before. It was
Cesare's voice this time.
Angela, thou artreally mine now, is
it not SO? Antonio can have no more
power over thee ?"
None, answered Gigia; and ther
followed kiss. This was too much
for the unhappy artist. With one
bound he sprang from behind the
screen and confronted the two wretched
beings. If spectre had suddenly
arisen before them, the lovers coulc
not have been more startled. White
with terror and conscious wrong, they
stood speechless and trembling before
Antonio, who was by this time in q
passion too strong to be controlled.
"Speak!" he said, in q voice full OF
anger and emotion. "Canst thou not
find words, thou traitor, thou vile de-
ceiver? Nay, thou shalt never speak
more!" Selling the cowardly Cesare by
the throat; "thou shalt suffer for thy
perfdy;" and he drew forth sharp
stiletto, and held it aloof. Gigia fell
upon her knees, and, clasping her hands
in agony, said: ..-.> ~
Antonio, spare him spare him
He is my husband; no was once thy
friend r. =
The stiletto fell to the floor with a
crash. In dazed manner Antonio re.
peated, "Thy husband-mar |! .
and sank into a seat, leaning upon q
table and burying his face in his arms.
A deep silence followed. Cesare and
Gigia were afraid to move, dreadine
lest a violent mood might once more
come upon him. What was passing
through the unfortunate Antonio's mind
during those still, awful moments :?
His memory went back ten years o,
more, to the time when he was but 6
youth, looking forward to his artistic
career with naught but hope and pleas
ure. He saw, as distinctly as if the
scene were before him, walk over
Swallowed by tall, gracefully bending
trees. through which shone rays of de-
parting sunshine, which were caugh
and imprisoned by every nodding leaf
He saw two youths strolling along arm
in arm, obli7ious of every surrounding
intent alone upon their conversation.
Antonio" spoke one, "thy FRIEND
will | be forever. I would that I coulc
die for thee, to prove the strength O
my friendship"
"And l." said the other youth 81
will lve for thee, Cesare. # by saori
fcing my most cherished hopes I car
ever make thee happy, thou shalt Del
that my love for thee is no idle tale.''
The past vanished; the present re-
turned. Slowly the artist raised his
head. Gigia and Cesare were more
astonishe5 by the expression on his face
than they had by his sudden appear.
ance. 1t was no longer wrathful.
They saw there sorrow deep and true
nay, more, there was an anguish in his
eyes as he turned them, frst on his for.
mer betrothed and then on his false
friend, that showed how bitter had been
his disappointment, and how deep the
wound he had received. Moreover