The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-08

away the tray, he asked permission-or,
rather asked if he might ask permission to
look at the painting on the easel
Zanoni uncovered it without hesitation,
at the same time remarking, with smile
a smile that always warmed the heutenant's
heart.
''If so slights thing as that can give you
pleasure, should be niggard, indeed, to
refuse it."
The assistant was a lover of good pict-
ures, and possessed a correct Judgment. He
gazed long and earnestly. At length he
said, with a deeply drawn breath, as he
moved back, with his eyes still fixed upon
the picture, seeming to take in all its parts
Perhaps my judgment is at fault. Very
likely it is. But, let others say what they
will, will say, if our Italian masters-or
any one of them-ever painted picture
more worthy the name of masterpiece
than is this now before me, l have not seen
it'll"
"Your praise is pleasing to me, Signor,
for know you possess true taste and feel
Ing. l only hope you may think as we'll of
it when it Is finished"
mo fear of that, Signor Zanoni."
He paused q moment and glanced again at
the painting. Presently he added:
May ask question:"
Certainly"
"Whar 1 would ask is this: Are you in
tending that this face shall represent the
features of Princess Isabel di VaronaF'
"Why do you ask?' returned the artist,
with marked interest.
Because" replied the other, 81 heard it
said. not long since, that you were to paint
for the Duke Saint Cecilia which should
be at the same time a portrait Of the Prin-
cess; and, because, further, can trace in
this face a striking resemblance to the beau
tiful lady l have named"
''Still,n suggested Zanoni, smiling, "you
would not call it a correct ukeneSsp
''No, I should not"
''Well, my friend, tell you frankly do
not mean it to be portrait of the Princess,
though she sat to me in the beginning, and
the outlines of the face were drawn from
her model; yet, even before she had made
her last visit to me had resolved to make
a change. l can truthfully say what Of
likeness there may be, at the present time.
in this face to the face of the Princess Isa
bel, Is purely accidental l am painting
from another memory entirely. At some
future time you may know the secret, but
not now"
Pandolfo's looks, as we'll as his words, told
his deep and heartfelt thankfulness. He
was thankful that he had seen the picture,
and he was more thankful for the kindly
information that had been vouchsafed.
his work and laid aside his implements. His
supper had been brought and eaten, and the
lieutenant had come to carry away the
tray.
'iSignor Zanonil what more can do for
you"
Nothing, except to receive and accept
my gratitude for all your kindness"
at is a pleasure to me to serve you, Slgnor.
1 pray to the blessed Virgin that she will
~
And with this the man left the cell, clos
ing and securing the door behind him. The
prisoner remembered afterward that he had
heard the strong bar swing into place,
but that the KEY mad not been turned in the
lock.
For time after he had been left alone he
thought of the parting words of Pandolfo
and of the peculiar manner in which they
had been spoken, but the man was strongly
sympathetic, and he had spoken on the inn
pulse of the moment. That was ALL Then,
as was his won't i'll that calm and tranquil
hour of closing day, he gave his thoughts to
the darling of his heart-his Isabel.
Where was she at that moment? He felt
sure that she was thinking of him. OF
what must she endure of suspense For
him, death promised release from agony
but she must live on: and he knew she would
live to suffer. He was thinking thus, with
the twilight fast deepening toward evening,
when he was aroused from his reverie by
the sound of. the bar outside his door. 1t
was being moved.
Ave, and presently the door was slowly,
noiselesslv opened, and a human figure
emerged from the gloom without into his
cell, came in, closing the way carefully and
then advanced a few PAGES, and stopped. A
Benedictine monk! the capacious robe,
black as night, sweeping the stone floor; the
rosary and the ivory cross; the hempen Cir
die; with the deep, hood like cowl complete
ly enveoping the head and the upper part
of the face, and even the lower part was
in such utter shadow as to be entirely
hidden.
Glow now, good father" said the pris.
oner. always kindly disposed toward those
whom he believed TO be humble followers of
the Iowly Nazarene, hast come to shrive
me?"
A few seconds longer the dark-robed
figure stood, and then, with low, wailing
cry, sprang forward, and in a moment
more two white, soft arms were around his
neck, and the cowled head was pillowed on
his bosom.
Juan! My lovel My ownl o. have
found you at lengthW
Zanoni knew not what he saidEknew
scarcely, for the time, what he did. In
warm, passionate embrace he held her-his
own beloved-his Isabel and covered her
beautiful face with kisS-s-each kiss a
prayer and blessing, holy and pure. And
then, when the first wild paroxysm of emo
ton had passed. he held her sweet face away
the cowl thrown back, and gazed upon it
in his unutterabe rapture.
Juan Did you think you had forgotten
your
Isabel! Ny love- Nx life! 1 cannot
realize it. cannot undNstand it. 1t is
yourself!-but-how OF my darling tell
me what it means. How did you comes
For what-for what"
Juan! | came as l could. | found my
self in possession of two strong forces.
First, the love and esteem you have won
from those on duty here. Next, had gold.
Those who have helped me will serve no
longer here. They will have no need. |
have provided for that 50. dear love, you
will wrong nobody; you will do harm to
none
"And now, :" she added, stepping back
pace. "You must be expeditions. You
will put on this robe-this cowl-which will
pass you by the guards outside without
question. / shall be permitted to depart a,
soon as Won are gone. Once | am outside
this cell, no one will trouble me. You
know where the dwelling Of Cola Pandolfo
isw
Eyes"
go there quickly and there will meet
you"
"Do you mean--to escape"
"Ol Yesl yes! The way is open. Fleel
flee, sweet love, while there is time and OPP