Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-01-14

CHAPTER Continued.

ing OF lAc uItdIg uoIlLLi saw lho dbtO;
in the gorgeous salons of the Urbino
Palace as the two young Englishmen
entered there the night Of the ball.
Flashing lights, CLEANS Of jewels and
satin, richperfumes Of eXOtics that laded
the warm air, and a glorious moonlight
outside the window, flooding themarble
terrace that looked towards the la
goons.
The fair hostess received the two
Englishmen with enthusiasm, st. Maur
presenting his friend, for she had met
the young peer in London society only
last season and now asked after his
noble mother
"She is well, thank you, Marchesa,
and babe me, if l had the happiness to
meet you, to carry you her kindest re-.
membranes" answered the young
man, as Frank passed ON.
"Ahl she is kind to remember me,
my lord; ! shall hope to see her again.
AND archly-"are not you married
yeti"
"Not yet, Madame, f" said helaughing-
", and with a slight significance il the
"yet," that made the lady look up
sharply.
"Ahl but you then viii soon take a
bride perhaps. Have you heard that
we are to have, on dit, q grand wedding
here before long?"
no, dear Marchesa, l only dropped
anchor two days before the theatre was
burned.p but he knew quite well what
she meant.
"Why, the beautiful Casamina-there
she is over there, surrounded Of course
lis to wed this strange Count Gerald;
which is a shame" she added in wills
per, "for lie is a man to dread and make
ones blood run cold, and poor Leonora
hates him, / know. There he is, talking
TO her,-that handsome black-browed
man. See" she shuddered.
or course he did, he had seen Leono-
IA at once, and those about her in the
distance.
Eyes" he said, and | see he is no
favorite Of yours, dear Marchesa"
"Cielo, no. l call Leonora my friend,
but what can / do-how can / save her2
BY the way, it is useless | suppose to
warn you, not to be too attentive to that
fair but unwilling bride elect?" this
with an arch laugh; because Gerald
VOL d pick quarrel and call you out,
or kill you with his glance"
81 could wish nothing better, Mar
Chesa, am dead shot"
She touched his arm significantly,
and as he stopped his head, whispered
in very different tone
"Yet take care, q shot will not kill
him, and it is not the open challenge he
would give a rival, but the treacherous
stab of the assassin; you may be even
now watched by a hired llnaye of his,
he knows that you saved Leonora from
the flames. She told me, my lordl she
is as noble-hearted as she is beautiful"
81 know it, Inv fair friendl" answered
Guy, "and she shall never be sacrificed
to that fellow, believe me-"
She looked in his flashing eyes and
smiled
Command my secret aidp She said,
and turned away whilst st. Maur made
his way to Leonora Casamina. The girl
turned to him with q glad smile and
outstreched hand that had in it moro
than welcome intense relief though
she almost instantly presented the dark
colorless man besides her as Count
Geraldi;" the latter bowed and offered
his hand, but as st. Maur's eyes met
the cleaning black eyes of the other;
as his warm hand touched the other
ice cold, he felt chill run through his
very nerve and understood what Leo
nora had meant, The Count was, how
ever, all airability and thanked him
for the services he had DONE" he might
say to himself.
1T is not worth mentioning, Count"
st. Maur answered, in no way deceived
by the others suavities, which were a
trine oyerdone-.
"SignOrina, hayeyou one dance free"
"The third from this, my lord, is free,
/ think" giving him her card, with a
deiantly naughty glance at Gerald, as
see saw him frown You may put
your name to it.'
This one is mine, / believe said the
Count, as the band struck up again.
mo, indeed, it is Captain d'Alaeri's"
said she, with pretty unconcern; the
next is your dance, Count
And just then a young officer came
mp to claim her, whilst ST. Maur turned
coolly to seek a partner among the fair
beings.
Later ON, when he went to claim the
Venetian hand for his waltz, he took
notice that the MaUchesa was Geraldi' S
partner, and a shrewd suspicion flashed
across him as she gave him a little nod
in passing him in the dance that she
would not readily let him off. tits not
easy for n man To politely free himself
of a pretty hostess, who is determined
to Aatter and hirt, and who does this
better than such an accomplished Vo-
man of the world as the Mmchesa
d'Urbino?
81. Maur was quite as accomplished a
cavalier, and presently passing across q
window, he adroitly drew his beautiful
companion out into the terrace, Mt the
end of which was an arbor built like a
miniature Greek temple, To this classic
bouSp GuV led her.