The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-01
DESM0ND'S MODEL.

her to pass. She preceded them out of
the house and across the courtyard to
the entrance of the tower; there she
paused, and stood in the arch, with her
hand on projecting fragment, where
Morelli and the artist entered.
Thorburn looked round. The place
was like and unlike the scene of his
vision. The general features were the
same, but the details differed. The tower
was roofes; overhead was space of
cloudless sky, where flock Of pigeons
6uttered, white against the blue. Heaps
of debris incumbered the floor, and were
piled against the walls. No door was
visible. As he looked around in per-
plexity his eyes lighted ON Bjanca's face.
With one lightning glance, unobserved
by her husband, she indicated point in
The wall opposite to the entrance. He
took but one stride toward it, and began
, to tear away the rubbish, finging the
stones behind him, regardless where they
fell. Behind, deep-set in the massive
masonry, was a low, nail-studded door.
He looked round at Morelli, pointing
10 it without a word. The latter ap-
preached. There was an ill-omened smile
on his lips, but his face was white and
his eyes had look of menace not to be
mistaken,
'The Signor is magician truly. Such
knowledge is wonderful-and a little
dangerous. It is always dangerous to
know too much"
Then, with a gesture Of mock courtesy,
be added:
s'Excellenza! I follow you."
Thorburn had his hand on the bolt,
but before he could draw it voice be.
hind him cried:
"Stay, stayl" and hand grasped his
arm. 'Yreror. s..s-.I-F
It. was Blanca. Hanca---so transformed
by excitement that she looked like an.
other woman. The stony, apathetic ex-
preston had fallen from her face like a
mask; her eyes were dilated, and scar
Let spot burned in her cheeks.
"You must not pass that door until
you have heard what have to tell you,'
she painted. CAY! / will speak now
though you kill me the next moment
she added, turning to her husband with
gesture OF defiance. "The Signor shall
know all--and so shall you. 1 have
something to tell that YOU do not dream
Jof."
Morelli looked at her stupidity; hi
seemed too amazed at the change in he,
to take in the sense of her words.
"I know or guess the worst already.
Thorburn sai3, solemnly. 81 know Cha
my friend lies in the vault under ou
feet. I believe that he has been FOUL,
murdered" 0..
''No, mop she answered, triumphant
ly;"not murdered he is aliven'
The two men uttered a simultaneou
Observation-Disclosures for joy, the Ital
ian of rage and incredulity.
at is falsel" he shouted, furiously
threatening her with his hand; "clevel
as you are, you could not bring you
lover to life again"
She hooked at him with smile o
scorn.l 81 z.
"My lover? I never saw him till yes
terday, when he came to the door to as
for a drink of water. He begged me--s
courteOusly as If | had been Qneen-
let him draw my face, to put in pictur
he was painting. i consented; whore wa
the harm? But he had hardly begun
when you burst into the place-you ha
been watching me, / suppose, as usual
insnlted him, struck me, aud when h
interpesed to save nae from your vic
leace--O Die! shall ever forget seein
him fall at my feetT
She shuadered, and hid her fsce in he
hands ~ u Ft
tBut listcn," she went On, breathiess
ly 'sNhen l was ffiding in this Plac
last night--for I could not breathe unde
the roof that sheltered yeu-I heard
sound in the vanlt below. 1t was a voic
the. voice OF the msn yeu had ieft ther
for dead crying for help. I hurrie,
back to the house, got lantern, fas
Of wine. and same either things, and wen
down into the vault. There be Law. o
the damp stones, bleeding 10 death i
the dark. Hs was c0nscieuA> but hi
mind wandered. He took me for an an
gel, and said such Wild, beautiful things
I bound up has wound and sat with hir
all night, putting wine to his lips to kee
the lite in him. Toward morninghe fel
into stupor, and then 1 left him, pilin
up the stones outside the door, as / ha
found them. You kept close wstc
upon me, but if You had tied me ban
and foot | would have found a way, Be
fore the sun was high, to escape and de
nounce you." I'LL
With 4 hoarse cry of rage he rnshe
upon her, knife in hand. Thorburn i'm
terposed just in time; and, placing him
self before her, drew out bis revolver
Savage and desperate, the man made
snatch at it, wrenched it from his grasE
and pointed IL full at his face. Quic
as Thought, the artist struck up his arm
There was = fash, a sharp report, an
Morelli staggered backward, and. fel
headlong, shot through the brain.
The FIRST moment OF stupefaetion pas
Therburn bent'oyer the body, and tnrns
tie face upward. After one glance, h
nose. q ~ " L az "a 49,