The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-02

motto! she asked, as MI. Nane AlmOst
lifted her into the gondola. Fortune,
infortune, fortune! 1t belonged to Mar
garet OF Navarro
"a very reckless person and one who
brought no end of scandal upon herself"
said Vane, with smile that did not con-
ceal his admiration of this resolute young
person. Men admire pluck in women,
but they discriminate very keenly be-
tween the deliberate determination that
braves danger from conviction and the
fighty bravado Of excitement which acts
the towards part when the moment of
disgrace arrives. Vane knew that Miss
Nevil would never finch under the con.
sequences of her actions.
II wish life were all one long gondola
trip" said Miss Nevil. II wish one
were not obliged to go home to the prose
of life. l hope you understand the cost
of the pleasure 1 am giving myself. I
shall not hear the last of it for months.
Being man, and free, you cannot un-
derstand that. You could take your hat
and leave"
'Then l may accept it as proof that
you think few hours spent with me
worth months of unpleasantness? This
is tiattering."
cit is true nevertheless" said Miss
Nevil, in low voice which died in
whisper as strong hand grasped hers
for one short moment and was then with
drawn.
"But what risks you are taking" said
Eliot. "You know nothing about me.
am strolling Bohemian. My reputa'
ton is very bad, according to the various
Parca of the tea-6ghts. I might run
away with you now and every one would
believe that You had gone of your own
accord"
Miss Nevil looked at him with smile
on her pretty mouth.
"But then, you know, trust you"
1t was woman's logic; but it was irresist-
ible. A warm glow overspread the
mans brow as he looked upon the little
fair face with its sensitive changes of ex-
preston.
Take care, young woman, you are on
dangerous ground-don't tempt fate too
far" he said with laugh. II should
like to take you away with me though,
take you away from the dowagers and the
gossips and all the disagreeables of life,
and discover some nook where we could
be together all our lives with nothing to
do but love each other
It was Miss Nevils turn to color. Her
heart throbbed wildly as a mortal
might who caught sight Of Paradise be-
fore he knew the doors were closed
against him.
In the distance the islands lay low
along the skyline, white and vaporous.
The breeze wore a thought of earthly
growth-of flowers and budding leaves.
The mountains of the Tyrol rose purple
in the background. The Paduan hills
lifted their low heads behind the poplars
of a deserted monastery.
1T will rain before night, said one OF
the gondoliers.
Here we are at the convent and here
comes Pere Gabriel to meet U.S."
The gondola swung around to the
landing-a row of boari fences covered
with slime and crawling sea-insects. A
middle-aged man with black beard and
spectacles, in black gown and broad
black hat, came forward.
"Ah, Mr.. Vane, I am glad to see
youw he said cordially, with the slight
trace of foreign accent.
Miss Nevil-Pere Gabriel, l have
brought Miss Nevil over here to show her
the convent"
"Any friend of Mr. Vane is welcome"
said the monk. "By the way, that book
you sent for, for me, came yesterday.
Many thanks"
Over the door of the convent was the
Turkish hieroglyphic-the Sultan's
name. Through an echoing vestibule
the three emerged upon the cloister-a
quadrangle surrounded by low white
arches, with the pillars darkening the
clouded sunlight OF the walk; garden
in full flower occupying the center with
four dark expresses rising one at each
corner; a fountain in the middle bor-
dered with rockwork and gay shrubs,
and gay seats placed under the Expresses
for the repose OF the monks.
IF YOU will come up to'the library"
said Pere Gabriel, Il will show you
Byron's table and his autograph"
They followed him up to the little
room hung with cases Of medals and por-
traits, which served as the ante-chamber
to the great hall filed with books and
manuscripts. On the wall hung a
highly -colored portrait Of Byron. The
monk brought out the autograph-book
and laid it before them, and they sat
there while he occupied himself at desk
in the library with some manuscripts he
was Illuminating. doubt il Miss Nevil
saw much of the manuscripts she scanned
SO closely, with now and then word OF
oo,c~oct GLo fa1t un<btue h,t Flint