The Osceola times., 1881-04-23

princes dinner party, this evening, mas
not vet arrived Perhaps your hlghness
would not object 10 walking towards the
gate for moment, as, If no one Is yet III
sight. | must send another messenger
exclaimed the duenna, suddenly, after
consulting her watch; and the princess
mechanically followed her 10 where the
sentry, motionless as statue, was guard
ing the entrance.
Up and down the quiet and empty
street the duenna gazed in digniiied
displeasure, listening for the footsteps
that came not, while the princess, wait
ing lstlessly inside, was watching, curl
ously. the sentry, who, behind the elder
lady's back, was anxiously trying to call
the attention of some one-surely there
was no one in sight but herself-to a slip
of white paper he held in his hand.
Suddenly, after hasty glance in every
direction, he stopped, wrapped the paper
around pebble and the next instant 1t
fell in a bed of geraniums beside the
princess. Just as the irate duenna turned
TO reioin her charge. The princess first
emotion was amazement and indignation
at this apparent impertinence, but crest
emblazoned on the paper caught her eye,
and quietly, while listening to her un-
suspecting guardians animadyersons
upon the offending dressmaker she
stopped to gather pink geranium, and
something else. But now We will return
to Harold, and the plans he was base
enough to concoct, having for an object
the total discontinue of the most noble
prince and marquis, and the furtherance
of his own selfish designs.
This is the carnival week in Rome
when the mirth is at its height, and the
inhabitants. rich and poor, gentle and
simple alike, are, for few short days,
meeting on common ground in the
mad revel of buiioonery and burlesque;
but our hero has turned his back upon
the merriment and excitement surging
through the streets, to again hold coun-
ell with his faithful ally, Francesca.
Francesca, my boy" he was saying,
after the man had, with much persua-
sion, been induced to seat himself in
Harolds presence; you have often con-
fessed to sort of hankering for a sight
of polite society, as you call it. How
would you like going to the masquerade
ball, Monday evening, at the Palazzo
Ponti, in my placer"
surely Milford is iokingw began Fran
cesco, aghast; but was interrupted.
"Francesco, YOU mean well, / know;
but how often must ! tell you that the
title You insist upon giving me is only an
unkind reminder of what nature has de-
MED me? Now listen
Then followed an audacious PROPOSE
ton, which caused the Italian to reco'l
in dismay, exclaiming. Does MILFORD re-
member that such thing would pro-
badly cost me my position, without
which | am a beggar?'
"Of course il would"' responded the
tempter rheerfully. Francesca, my boy,
old England is the finest country the
sun shines on, and the desire you have
so often expressed to go there does you
credit. How would you like the position
OF lodge-tender at fine old place in
Devonshirc, with good wages, little work,
and one Of the prettiest little lodges in
England for home, for so long time
as YOU choose TO occupy it,"
is MILFORD really serious?' cried the
man, with face fairly shining with de-
light: for the human heart is but weak
at the b st and the thought Of this bril-
liant prospect compared with the miser-
able pay and wearisome life of privation
which he now lived, silenced away
scrupcs in Francesco's mind; and which
of us can say that he would have chosen
otherwise? Suddenly mixture of an.
xiety and sheepishness clouded his face,
MS he stammered, But there is a-that
isl
Well, man, out with it! Are you going
to object to the climate, or the journey.
What is wrong?'
"I-I-wouldn't exactly like to %
alone, MILFORD, for there is IA young per.
son who attached to me"
"All right, Francesca laughed Ilar.
old, heartily. Il am the last man in the
world to interfere with an attachment
just now. So bring along the young per.
son, by all means. The lodge is quite
large enough for two"
1t il the night Of the grand masquerade
ball at the Palazzo Ponti, and all the elite
Of Roman society is present, bidding
farewell to pleasure for awhile, as il
were; for this is the last private ball OF
the season, and in two days these smiling
patrician brows will be strewn with pen
itential Lenten ashes. Among the fan
tastic crowd paying court to Prince
Carnival, one of the most conspicuously
elegant costumes.is worn by a gentleman
dressed as Sir Walter Raleigh, who,
either for love of fresh air or because his
handsome face is so much worthier OF
being seen than the black silk covering
intended to hide it, seems TO care very
little for preserving his incognito, and
his mask il as often resting on the vel.
low curls on the top Of his head as on the
face beneath.
For some time he thus stands unmask.
ed, joking with pair Of Tyrolese peas.
ant girls, near a group of noblemen, from
which the dark faces OF the Prince Pal.
layicini and the March Sc do Cataldi
scowl angrly at him. Then Sir Walter
Raleigh, or Harold Lenox, strolls into
the next room, and for half an hour dis
appears. Leaving the ballroom, he
throws over his shoulders one of pile
of dominos lying in an anti-room, walks
quietly down the broad staircase into the
street, where he finds cab standing, and
is driven Immediately to a small restau-
rant close to the Palazzo Pallayincini
where a private room is placed at his
disposal for the evening. Here he is
joined, almost Immediately, by Francesca
Nalsachi, eager and elated, yet wthal
somewhat pale and nervous at the
importance Of the work to be done that
night.
Francesca, the decisive moment has
come at last, ant, so far, everything
favors us. What blessing; that this
street is so desertedito-night that prob
ably no one will notice your sentry box
being for a quarter of an hour emptyp'
cried Harold his eyes blazing with ex-
citemcnt as he throws Off his domino and