The Morning herald., 1877-02-23
CORD AND CREBsB.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
"pICKED UP ADRIFT."

- ~ = small sn inn which lay on the oad.side,
lev Ihout ten miles north of Brandon. Tt was
sSo sIout eight o'clock when they took their
asOarture, as driving their own carriage at a
u'p mapSerate pace along the road.
n'e ~ Tnok. Langhetti," said the one who
v,s driving, pointing with his whip to an
Jss 'h;ect in the road directly in front Of them.
0Dts Dsnohetti raised his head, which had
,.sn bowed down in deep abstraction, to
1s"L WI in the direction indicated. A figure
w.s wss approaching them. 1t looked like a
s'nap. s% an. She walked very slowly, and ap.
ns.red " rather to stagger then to walk.
"She appears to be drunk, Despard,"
,.;1 Ianphetti. "Poor wretch. and on this
M nssk March morning too Let US stop
snd s zee if we can do any thing for her."
II Thew drove on, and as they met the wo-
man Despard stopped.
Shel was young and extraordinarily
BEAUTIFUL. Her face was thin and white.
Her clothing was of fine materials but
s',ntv , and torn to shreds. As she stopped
hst1rned her large eyes up despairingly
nistood still, with a face which seemed
n express every conceivable emotion Of
anguish and of hope. Yet as her eyes
rested rested on Langhetti a change came over
her, The deep and unutterable sadness Of
he, face passed away, and was succeeded
BY radiant flash ofjoy. She threw out
her arms toward him with cry Of wild
eutreaty.
The moment that Langhetti saw her he
started up and stood for an instant as if
prayzed. Her cry came to his ears. He
lsaped from the carriage toward her, and
caught her in his arms.
"0h, Bice Alas, my Bicina p he cried,
and thousand fond words came to his
lips
Beatrice looked up with eyes filled with
grateful tears; her lips murmured some
inaudibIe sentences and then, in this full
assurance of safety, the resolution that had
sustained her so long gave way altogether.
Her eyes closed, she gave low moan, and
sank senseless upon his breast.
Langhetti supported her for moment,
then gently laid her down to try and re-
storeher He chafed her hands, and did
all that is usually done in such emergencies.
But here the case was dif1erent-it was
more than common faint, and the ami
nation now suspended was not to be re-
stored by ordinary efforts,
Langhetti bowed over her as he chafed
her hands. "Ah, my Bieina," he cried !;
lis it thus l find you All, poor thin hand
Alas, white wan face What suffering has
been yours, pure angel, among those fends
ofhell |"
He paused, and turned face of agony
toward Despard. But as he looked at him
he saw grief in his countenance that was
only second to his own. Something in
Beatrice's appearance had struck him with
adeeper feeling than that merely human
interest which the generous heart feels in
the sufferings of others.
"Langhetti," said he, "let us not leave
this sweet angel exposed to this bleak
wind. We must take her back to the inn.
We have gained our object. Alas the
gain is worse than failure"
What can we do ?"
Vet US put her in the carriage between
us, and drive back instantly"
Despard stopped as he spoke, raised her
r,e7erently in his arms, and lifted her upon
the seat: He sprang in and put his arms
around her senseless form, SO as to support
her against himself. Langhetti looked on
with eyes that were moist with sad yet
mysterious feeling.
linen he resumed his place in the carri-
age.
"Oh, Langhetti p said Despard, "what
sllat | saw in the face of this poor child
lhst 20 wrings my heart What is this
mystery of yours that you will not tell|
:, l cannot solve it," said Langhetti, 'and
there will not tell it."
"Iell it whatever it is"
." No. it is only conjecture as yet, and I
vii not utter it,"
And it affects me ?"
Deeply"
Therefore tell it."
Therefore l must not tell it for if it
rove baseless l shall only excite your
'elng in vain"
AT any rate let me know if it is possi-
le that they are like your own"
mo, Despard," said Langhetti. "Not
ow; The time may come, but it has not
Beatrice's head leaned against Despard's
louder as she reclined against him, sus-
lned by his arm. Her face was upturn.
J; a face as white as marble, her pure
recian features showing now their fault
s. lines like the sculptured face of some
'ddess. Her beauty was perfect in its
aSsIc outline. But her eyes were closed,
NJ her wan, white lips parted and there