The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-08-22


/ den TO ioin the carriages waiting in she
shade at the entrance gates, and they sll
| drove back TO Florence. And the solemn,
silenee-bound monks, unmindful Of the
/ worlds love stories, came ont at sunset
/ to draw water az the old well, which to
them was nothing but source OF com
mon usefulness.
! A few DAYS afterwards, in the early
morning, the artists were left standing
on the platform, from whence pile Of
! luggage from the Hotel IEurope had
| Just been cleared, waving adieux to the
/ express train going north. Both were
sorry for the departure of their mutual
/ friends; both also had special cause in
their regret. Iilias would have liked
to have met Eustaee Calvon again; she
would have described him as .an old
friend-nothing morei' and so when he
| did not come she was not oken-hearted
but bore the disappointment very philo-
sophically. Had they met that Summer
the old friendship might have ripened
| into something stronger, but business
claims detained young Calvon for three
days longer than the patience OF his re-
lations could endure, and when he was
free it was in the Engardine-not In
Florence-that he joined them.
Mr.. Alverton soon made the discovery
! that the old ladies-the chief occupants
of the pension where Lilias was living
were most charming and delightful pso-
pie. And so it happened that at last
his evening visits became scarcely less
regular custom than the appearance OF
the s o'clock tea tray with its two large
teapots of waterv tea. 1t was never
dingy, never poky place, that salon, to
Ralph, for the girl with the golden glory
hair of the angel was there, and her
presence made it seem to him an earthly
| paradise. And somehow, even though
| the surroundings were a crowd OF old
maids in smart evening caps, bad tea,
and a cracked old piano, l.ilias learned
better every evening what the wish was
that Ralph had at heart; and her own
wish faded out of memory. Eustace
was far away, and had never been more
than "an old FRIEND" Ralph Alverton
was close, and made her understand
| that he would not be content until be
reached higher standing than mere
friendship.
I.ilias surrendered. They settled it
in so many words one day at the far end
of the Cascine where Lilias had been
left TO wait for friend. The friend was
late in keeping her appointment, and
Mr.. Alverton happened TO arrive instead
There, on a stone seat Just beyond the
monument to the India Prince, Lillas
promised everything required OF her,
while some light fluffy seeds from tree
overhead fell, scattering at her feet, and
eddied lightly around-north, south,
east, west, like emblems of uncertainty
but words were said which sealed two
fates, aad close beside them flowed the
! yellow Arno, which soon should separate
them no longer.
Happy DAYS were those which followed
happier day was that to which they
looked forward in the following June
But before that day which was TO give
them to one another, came Eustace Cal
von to Florence. And with him came
discord between the lovers. How it be-
gan. how it continued, who was most to
| be blamed, none but themselves could
ever guess; but Eustace Calvon was
| somehow (unintentionally) the center.
| chord which caused the jar. Ralph grew
Jealous, suspicious; showed heat and
| hastiness. Lilias was proud, resentiul.
and turned cold as ice. The whole Cal
Won party had returned to Florence, and
Ralph chose to disapprOve of them all.
| He complained that Ililias let herself be
monopolized by them, that Eustace
| talked too much to her; that he would
not endure it; he would not stand 1t
| Lilias conscious that no cause for wrath
existed, and finding Eustace simply
| friendly and civil, resented such inJus-
tice, and affirmed, impatiently that mo
one should make her cast otfold friends"
Circumstances and misunderstanding
helped to widen the breach, until the
climax was reached one day in high
words on the Ponte di Carraja, where,
without farewell, they parted-she across
the bridge to one side, he across the
bridge to the other side. Divided! yes,
they had chosen division.
n
| A great crowd blocked the bridgeway
and lines on either side the rivers EN-
bankments-a black, silent crowd, which
all the day long hangs over the parapets,
watching the water below.
"a boat upset-two men drowned
the bodies are being searched for" So
passes the news through Florence.
| Lilias learned it on her way homeward
at midday. There-passing along the
Lung Arno-she learns, too, the added
rumor, zone is an English artist"
"Let me take you home, " says Eustaee
! Calvon, finding her with blanched lips
adrift in the crowd. He leads her fur
ther up the river side, and guides her
faltering steps across one of the higher
bridges which is deserted. Neither
speak their fears in words, but before
many hours have passed all Florence
nrociaims it for them "Mr. Ralph Al
verton is the name of the missing Eng
Iishman." Eustace hastens to his room
only to find the report confirmed: Mr..
4 Alverton went out with a friend in an
open boat; it was thought they intend
\ ed to sketch on the country banks"
All day the search is made; all the
dav, from early morning TO late night,
the blacknese of on-lookers is there.
Night comes, and still they hang over
the bridges parapet-a mOtionless, sad
deped mass, spell-bound to the spot.
But the pleasure and the business
continue; strangers come and go from
palace to church to see the sights; car
riages drive ont to the Casino to listen
to the band; pleasant impromptu par
ties make the evening round of the cafes
and afterward walk back to their hotels
or apartments by the side of the river
beneath whose moonlit waters the dead
lie.
Lilias stands on her balcony alone II
!, the moonlight. Two days have passed
the second days search has been as fruit
less as the first; the crowds have dis
persed-the people have gone ava,
! soberly to their homes. She looks ou
upon the cold, silyer-radianced waite
flowing ever onward; the line of brigh
! lights fling their reflection across th'
: river on other nights, but one window
on the other side is darkened-ther
:. shines no good night signal there.
Across the bridge come hurrying witt
: swift, noiseless steps, weird procession
5 of those whose Office il is TO carry tn
: dead-the secret confraternity of th
!. Observation-Disclosures figures, robed il
: black from head TO foot, only tn
:, eyes visible. Two and two they &c
carrying lighted torches before and sfte
!, the corpse Some among them,i may
: noble or citizen-haye just been calle'
s from the dance or feast to serve, as the
+ have bound themselves to serve, at a.
!. times of necessity. Another minut
) they have FASTENED away on their mid
night mission; the flare Of their torche