The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-20
CHAPTER VII.
PLOTTING.

The distance from the studio of our
painter to the Royal Palace was but short,
and through one of the broadcast and pleasant
est thoroughfares at that, and when the
weather was pleasant, and the sun not too
warm, the Princess preferred to walk, as
she and her aged companion had now
started to do. They had taken but few
steps, and Isabel was thinking how she
should introduce the subject she wished to
speak upon, when she saw the Marquis
Steffano on the opposite side of the way,
where he appeared to have been standing,
and now just starting to cross over and
join them. She saw, and caught the
duenna's wrist with a quick, strong grip,
her whole frame quivering with excite
mont.
"Madelonl Do you see who is coming"
"Steffano; yes"
''Do you love meW
Mercy! What "a"
"Hushl If you love me speak not word
to him-breathe not a syllable-of any
thing YOU saw or heard this afternoon in the
painters studiOl | will explain everything
everything. You shall know the reason
of whatever may have appeared strange to
you. | know-I know that Steffano has
asked you to watch me. Now, dear old
mamma ANSWER me-will you serve me, or
himP
"Hush! He is herel Remembrance
a word until we have had opportunity for
explanation"
Scarcely had the words been spoken when
the Marquis stepped upon the sidewalk by
Isabels side.
"Well upon my world" he burst forth,
peering into her face with an evil CLEAN in
his wicked, cruel eyes. You have made
royal visit to the handsome painterln
cla roNlia6 lnplyinor hi odilu
in the eye, though it cost her desperate eff
fort, lam | responsible to you for the man.
ner or the place in which pass my times"
ITO a certain extent, yes" hesald. quick
ly. "As your cousin and member of the
family, whose reputation is at stake, have
a right to speak"
Reputation" replied the Princess, with
a force and power of bitterness that made
him start. ''If you will look to your own
reputation will look to mine. And now,
Marquis, will you leave meg
My company isn't agreeable, ehW
ut is not"
''Since when, may asks"
'Since you have taken it upon yourself to
wantonly offend and insult me-"
"Madelon, does she treat the handsome
painter in that cool and comtemptuous
mannerF'
Il shall not answer you, Marquis" re-
turned the old woman with a burst of in
dignation. you have no right to ask me
such a question"
''Ohoi You are going over to the enemy,
are you! Well we'll" turning again to the
Princess, Ego on, my beautiful cousin We
shall discover by and by how much is COM
pretended in the painting of the Saint Cecil
liza. Per Bacco! Such model must be an in
SEPARATION in more ways than oneW
Something that has flashed In the face OF
the Princess as he thus spoke-sometling
that famed out and burned in her golden
eyes-startled and impressed him. What
possessed him-what should have turned
his thoughts in that direction may
not. be told; but moment later, with an
other wicked cleaning of the Jet-black
ewes. he looked over to the duenna, and
squarely, plumply asked:
-"Good Madelon did you see the picture
of the Saint Cecilia before you left the
painters room|
'Yesl l didl"
30! you did And how much had he
painted this afternoonp
81 shall not tell you"
"Why notp
because, it is none of your business"
"That means-he had not touched it
Comet Come! Acknowledge the truth.
He had not touched a brush TO the canvas
Good heavens What are we coming to-
Madelonl Madelonl | am astonlshed at
youl A woman of your age--set by your
trusting, contiding master, to watch over
the welfare of tho most precious treasure
he possesses-for you TO thus wink at such
duplicity and fraudi o. Madelon! am
ashamed of your
"You are great, good-for-nothing, ugly
beast. Marquis Steffano! l winked at moth
ing. don't know anything about the
painting, only that it is beautiful, even
now, with tne face not at all hnished-onIy
just begun"
The Marquis, whohad drank wine enough
to make hun reckless and oblivious TO all
social and moral propriety, laughed aloud
Laughed until he saw that he was attract
ing the attention Of others, when he re-
strained himself; and shortly thereafter,
without further remark, he bowed TO the
Princess with mock humility, though seem
ingly polite, and turned on his heel and left
them.
AS soon as he had gone beyond hearing,