The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-06

broad balconies, as did ali the other win
dows on that floor.
Stetfano was well acquainted with the ar
ranSement of these balconies, and, most
likely, well versed in the use of them for
clandestlne purposes.
"Madelonr' he said, when he had recog-
nlzed the voice of the Princess, and had be-
come assured that she was in search of her
OLD duenna- "She must not see me here!
care not for myself, but only for you. She
might blame you for addressing tme; and
she might report you to the Duke! Mercy 1!
would not have that to happen for the
worldw
The supplemented old domestic did not
suspect the lie. She believed fully IN her
own danger, and was troubled accordingly;
hence, when the Marquis proposed a way
of saving her, she embraced it eagerly
"Madelon! Not word to the Princess of
my having been herei Not a lisp. If she
should suspect or imagine such thing,
deny 1T fatty and vehemently. Will you
do thisw
She gave her promise.
"Remember-you have something to tell
me. l shall see you again. Ahn
The sweet warbler was very near, and in
few moments more the door would be
opened. With quick, cat-like movement,
Stetfano slipped out upon one of the bal
comics; then stepping upon the rail Of the
balustrade, he leaped lightly to the balcony
OF an adjoining apartment; then to another,
where stout grapevine afforded him easy
descent to the earth
Meantime, our fair heroine had entered
her duenna's chamber, bright and blithe-
some. She had come to tell her old friend
and companion that she would visit the
studio of the painter when the sun had
reached its meridian height. This she had
told, and had then gone to look out into the
garden. Something was on her mind, of
which she would speak, yet difficult of ap-
pPoach. BY and by she turned back into
the room and laid her hand on the woman's
arm.
''Sit down, mamma. l have something
to say to you"
Madelon did as she was hidden, and the
Princess sat close in front of her, holding
one of her wrinkled hands in both of her
own.
'Dear old mamma" the girl said. with
look full of earnest, prayerful entreaty
yet full of honest love. 81 have wondered
what you thought when you came into the
painGing-room yesterday. Did you notice
my face! Tell me the truth. If YOU love
me-if you care for me the least bit in the
world-do not, beseech you, conceal the
least of your thoughts from me. Did you
particularly notice my facew
BE sure | did, my lady. How could l
help it! You were as pale as pale could be,
and your cheeks were wet with tears. Obi
my precious child, what was the matter?
What had Signor Zanoni been saying to
youg"
'Ah! Did you see his face, .Madelon9"
"Of course did,"
"How did it impress your
81 cannot tell you. 1t was weird and
strange; and his great, staring eyes had a
burning in their far-away depths that was
terrible to seeh
ingly, "what did you think of it? Tell me,
truly. l know you must have thought
something"
Isabel, thought. at first that you two
must have had a quarrel. Perhaps you had
said something, then he had replied, then
you had grown impatient and he had scolded
YOU, for have been told he is very particu-
lar-some say notional-with those who sit
to him. But-but, dear lady"
well, mamma, but whatp
when l saw how you spoke to him be-
YOU, l knew there had been no such thing
as had thought"
How did speak, and how did he"
why" replied the truthful old duenna,
hesitating few seconds for want of fitting
simile, "why-just for all the world like a
couple of turtle dovesi"
The Princess broke into merry, ripping
laugh, not more at Madelon's speech than at
the sober sincerity of her look
"Ohl you dear old darlingl What put
such an idea into your headl 1t is too funny
for your sober tongue. But let it pass.
When you had seen and heard us speak, as
you have said, what did you think then?'
Truly, my child, | didn't know what to
think But-perhaps-n
"Yesl Butt Perhaps! Go on with the
rest. Perhaps what?
"Why,n with a desperate effort; 81
thought of what Count Denaro said to me /;
and that"
"Madelonn
90! Holy Motherl What have done9
1t is nothing, Isabel, nothing at all only
my foolish tongue running wild"
But the keen-witted Princess was not to
besput off thus. The poor old duenna had
exposed so much that she could not escape
the telling of the whole, and, finally, by
dint of close questioning, and putting lead
ing questions at that-the eager girl drew
the truth from her. Count Denaro had
sought her privately and asked her to be
very watchful while in the painters studio,
and, if she possibly could, she SHOULD not
suffer the Princess to go from her sight.
And when the indignant girl demanded
to know the Counts reason for this, the poor
old creature. now driven from her last
refuge of subterfuge, biurted out:
HE was afraid the handsome painter
might steal your heart away from yourself,
so that he could never, never, never have
any more hope of winning your love. OH
Isabel, my sweet, beautiful child You will
never give up the noble Count, SO wealthy
and honored, for the sake of poor painter,
plebeian and insignificantW
"Oho! Did the noble and wealthy Count
hire you to say that to mep
mo, no, Isabel; indeed, he did not All
he said was that should-should-"
"Go on Madelon. That youlshould whatF
80, Isabel you are cruel to make me re-
peat that. And yet it was nothing Really
and truly it was nothing at all.
But the Princess thought she might her
self be the best Judge of that, and, finally,
she succeeded in dra wing forth the last item
she sought The Count had besOught Made.
lon that she should exercise all the influence
she could in his behalf and, further, in a
quiet way, she was to point out all the de-
fects she could poSiLly discover in the
painters character and enlarge upon them.
Poor foolw said the sorely wounded
girl-not in anger, but more in pity and
contempt.
40! isabell You will not tell him what
l have"
"Hush! / shall tell him nothing. He is
nothing to me; he has never been anything
more than one among hundreds of friends
all held equal in my regard. Madelon, do you
be true TO me and / will be true to you.
And now will tell you what had moved