The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-07

| Happily none was needed, for at that mo-
ment she happened to look up and her
| eyes following mine, she said:
/ mo need to sit here all the time with me,
dear child. Go down and see the newly
| discovered Roman Baths. have seen them
once; for me that was enough. In half an
hour you can rejoin me here.n
| thanked her with a somewhat guilty
conscience and left her lingeringly On
| passing out of the pump-room found my
| self in narrow passage with doors on
either side. Presently l came to a small
| spiral staircase which brought me to a
vaulted corridor hot with the fumes of
| baths; then, descending a steep wooden
ladder ! emerged suddenly into the open
| air on to the scene of the recent excava-
tions. The hot August sun poured down
his intensest rays from heaven unlocked
| by cloud. Around lay heaped in pictur-
1 esque confusion, frieze and capital and
| column. glanced momentarily at the few
| persons inspecting the ruins, but all we're
| strangers to he. | paused on the broad
| stone steps laid there by our mighty con-
| qperorT sixteen centuries before, and gazed
| down into the dark waters of the bath.
| Presently alittle pebble, so spcail it scarcely
causedaripp was fun g into the waterclose
| to me. Guessing it to be a signal turned
| instantly in the direction whence the pebble
came and stepped out of the sunshine into
| the shadow of some vaulted masonry.
| There before an easel stood the lone
man in the world to me-" He drew
me to him in the shade the large canvas
on the easel forming friendly screen be-
| fore US. He looked into my eyes, and
| kissed my lips; and What wonder that
| IMPULSES throbbed, and that my heart beat
| high with happiness' Ny short life, hith-
| erto so weighted with care, seemed bathed
| in sunshine now.
| Il may tell Mrs. Dalyel our secret!" l
| asked Horace as we were about to part to
| meet again ON the same spot next day.
mo, Lucy" he said, mot yet; but soon"
| And as his will was mine agreed to keep
the secret Of my engagement yet little
| longer.
| Three days went by, three happy days;
for each morning met my lover at our
| chosen and apparently safe trysting place.
| But on the fourth, as we sat in our cool
| retreat, saw to my inexpressible dismay
| the tall and graceful figure of Mrs. Dalyel
| crossing leSurely the open space before us.
| Horace, whispering me to sit still, rose,
| altered quickly and dexterously the posi-
| ton of his easel-so that while it still served
as screen to me, he himself stood out in
| the sunshine-then took up his brush and
| palette and began to paint. Mrs, Dalyel
| saw him instantly, and l was struck with
| the look that came into her face on doing
| so. 1t was Enthusiastically one of recogni-
| ton and of startled, glad surprise.
MIR. Lorenzoln she exclaimed, when she
| had come quite close to him. Horace
the outstretched hand.
| mo doubt you are surprised to find me
here, Mrs. Dalyel, he said. Il left Rome
| about a month since and came to Lon
don, / ran down here because" The
pause he made appeared significant.
You knew that | was in Bath? You
came to seek mei"
Her voice was so soft and low, it thrilled
me. What a revelation it contained.
| Scarcely breathing awaited his reply.
| Here is my excuse" he answered, eva
sively. calling attention to his work. You
see am painting picture of this place 1
| am building up these ruins as they may
| have been in the golden days of their glory,
and peopling them with figures of the past
1.-THE pastl'' she echoed 80, at seeing
| you again can think but of one past. The
| time, five years ago. The scene, Rome.
| The actors, you and myself. Have you quite
| forgotten, LorenZo!n
| Il have forgotten nothing" he answered,
in the hardest bitterest tones ever heard;
| and he continued to paint vigorously, while
| Mrs. Dalyel from beneath the shadow of
| her deep lace-bordered parasol, watched
him with a feverish look in hec fine dark
| eyes.
| "Since we parted, Mr.. Lorenzo, - she said
| gently, Il have seen your name rise grad
ually to fame. Fortune has been kind to
! you. whilst u
| whilst you are as handsome as ever: as
| rich, and trust as happy" She laughed,
! little disdainfully, it seemed.
You judge by appearances, she said.
| ITO tell you the truth, | am most greatly
changed"
| Not in my eyes, at least Ire answered,
| in deep, concentrated tones that made me
shiver and turn cold. Then she bent her
proud head close to his-so close-and
spoke rapidly few words that l could not
| hear. But he drew back, and to all appear
ance irrevalently asked: You are not
| alone here. Mrs. Dalyel!'
| mo. | have with me little protegee; q
young girl whom l have taken up"
| Another .whim of the moments" he
asked, bitterly.
| What would you?" she returned. with a
slight shrug and her most pronounced
| French manner. 1--WE idle women who
have no ties-we take what you English
call a craze for this or that
when this or that means man or
woman, then | say the play is sometimes
| dangerous for the victim, - he interrupted.
| Perhaps | speak too feelingly. This is
| scarcely the place, nor is it yet time to
! enter on"
Come to the hotel" she said not allow
ing him to finish his sentence. when
| may | expect you.'
For moment he seemed to hesitate,
| then said in a firm, low voice: st was
my intention to call on you this evening.
| l will do So"
| he went on painting. | saw flash of
| triumph leap into her eyes. Then she
bowed and turned away. l rose from my
dark corner thinking to pass Horace I'M
perceived. He had dropped his brush and
| stood gazing after Mrs. Dalyel, seemingly
| lost in thought-thought that was pleasuI-
able, for he smiled.
| Don't run away like that, Lucy" he
cried, hurriedly catching at my dress as
| brushed by. dared not trust myself to
| speak, much less to remain, but shaking
myself free from his OBTAINING hand, ] fled
across the open space and up the wooden
| ladder, scared and breathless There
turned, and looking down on the scene had
| quilted, saw the sunshine gliding the
/ broken columns, glistening in the waters
| of the bath, and Horace standing where |
| had left him with bright smile on his lips.
| pressed my hands before my eyes to shut
out the sight, and, shivering made my way
back to the hotel.
| Too miserable, too mystifed, to dare to
meet Mrs. Dalyel at lunch, made an eX-
| cuse to remain in my own room, but on
| joining her later, was struck with the
/, change i'll her. Her cheeks were flushed,
her beautiful eyes beamsd with new light
| in them She looked handsomer than had
| ever seen her. And II watched her with
a pain at my heart that was new and
strange to me. When the wretched dinner
| was over-which one of us could not touch
for happiness, the other for very misery
| / was about to leave the room, but Mrs.
| Nal, 1I,sl, -, 10, a L..