Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-01
distant town to dispose of the rest Of the


had undertaken her defence, 10 it was not
to her interest to make any owkword revc-
lations.
Count Silvcstrclli had not gone away to
interview the cmissary leaving his wife
In the drawing-room with Sastri for
quite n week before the Prince came,
Lucia had formed the habit of retiring to
her own apartments to lilo down between
dinner and tea, ms she was really too feeble
to sit up through long, wearisome eve
ming, The same physical weakness had
forced her to relinquish the horss exer-
else, because 1t was unehared by the
Count, which was her chief and only diver.
sion buttha morning respite Of two hours
away from the incubus Of her busband'G
society was too precious to be given up ;
SO when sho could no longer mount her
horse, she went for long, lonely sounterB
in the Park.
Jose accompanied her OF course bnt
he followed SO fur behind that his attend
ance formed no intrusion on her politary
musings.
Moreover Jose had his own private
affairs to attend to, which gave those
walks an interest for him quite distinct
from his mis-, IS.
He had thrown out hint to Piero,
which he thought that gentleman might
avail himself of any at any time and no
place could be more convenient than
these leafy avenues w,ere his mistress
chose to stroll, aud in which she was as
little likely to heed what he was doing ms
n newt or a mole.
They call her eyes stars, thought
Jose, scornfully. "By San Bartimeus !
if the stars understand nothing Of all
they see, then the resemblance between
them must be great She notices nc
moro than the glass-eyed Befana that the
boys carry round at the nativity"
The only wonder wns that Piero did
not avail himself OF the convenient obliv-
iousness on the part Of Jose's lady and
that trusty gervitor was scanning the
paths right and left. in tho hope of catch
ing glimpse of his countryman's figure,
when Lucia, strolliug far ahead of him,
was accosted by little flower-girl who
frequentcd that part Of the Park, and
reckoned the Countess among her most
constant customers.
She held out bunch OF variegated tu-
lips, and, as she offered thom, she said,
in whisper. They're paid for, lady.
They're present but he told me to tell
you to be sure not to open them till you
are all alone.
"Who told you p exclaimed Lucia.
And her startled tone and strange in
tent gaze SO frightened the child, who
thought she was going to give the lady q
pretty surprise, that she looked ready to
cry ns she said, deprecstingly, "Oh,
please, don't be angry but don't know,
please. He only said he was n gentle
man and do, kind lady, take the flowers,
because he paid for them, and-and there
he is, watching behind them trees -
Scarcely aware of what she said, Lucia
clutched tho flowers that were thrust
upon her, whilst her startled glance dart
ell from tree to tree, in search Of the Judi
Gated gentleman.
But the only person she saw was II big,
dark man, who, rs her eyes lighted on
him, slipped behind a beech trunk. but
who did not stir in her the faintest CLEAN
of recognition.
He, at any rate. was no gentleman, and
his flowers did not look like gentleman s
gift ; they were too commonplace and toe
clumsily arranged.
Lucia was accustomed to the refined
insults of loye-notes hidden in in hot.
house flowers. Dining her five Yeas OF
miserable wifehood she had burned many
d;onotion scorclin~ Lor chaeI,s fIa wbiIe
Rrt tbot 1orl, Lrovo1 ,,,o,, ,r,s NJ, r.,
n;jnn nnJ tLnaa so.ntIss, oo,,Jv tn,ins
tied roughly together with string, were
no harbingers OF proAignte's passion.
Lucia grew sick with apprehension as
| the sudden thought occurred to her thai
thoy nioht ha .rnt tc taIi he, ~ a now,
tnr,t IL, 1a,,,1,. ~. non CIV,
IoreJ
Thoro o,,,.t va so,,, e-;I ;,,.o,,r,eo.;,,
IS ~ H. H.,
| tbo Tndian oId ,,o,lars C,basta a.1,, In,
~ NO., t,is Nv r,.,,, w.
81 u.hat o,1i5 it H. 1,, -,
~ W. r,,a' - ''' -1' '''' IL ''' -
,nJt,- hoovt ..r;.,.,. ,...,. o...,ood =
foa nN -'' -''''i 81 '--''' ''-' "'''---> u
r. tt,o e.s4 tive l,o T4,lo obil1,s de
.,u -'a, ea ,ti; 10y; ot ~ ~
f por In;o 80 -; l ra,ro,sI,, -,
THi Vbhn baeJimc Lor te, rscoIleotio,
lonly taking the form Of alarm lest Jose
behind, should have seen anything sus
lpicious
But that assiduous creature had sec
nothing, aud wac soon lost III wonder q
what could possess his mistress to wal
home at pace that bathed his face /
perspiration though hers looked as col
as n stone
"And Rosetts calls her n saint " h
muttored, hog and angry. "Ecco to IN
thinking she resembles more those mel
as she looks. and, psr Bacco' de'