The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-10

| glance fell upon the picture change came
over him-a new direction to his thoughts.
'Ol l shall go mad or bring myself into
fever if go on in this wayl / am as
helpless at this moment as an infant l
must leave my love TO the care of her kind
hearted guardian, and patiently wait for a
sign. 1t will come, | know, when there
shall be great need. She can fEd means of
communication. Should Madelon fail her
there are others who would gladly serve her.
She has told me that"
He turned his face heavenward and
breathed fervent prayer to the Good
| Father, and then he took up his palette, to-
gether with two or three light, delicate
brushes. Ere long the marks of pain and
| suspense left his face the healthful color re-
turned to his checks, and a wondrous light
"a light almost divine-had chased the
agony from his eyes. An inspiration had
come to him, and while it endured all other
things would be forgotten. a
| He was at work upon the face Of his st.
Cecilia. Minutes passed; aud hours and
with each passing period a new beauty
sprang to life beneath the magic of his
brush He counted not the lapse of time;
he Thought not Of fatigue. At noon he sus
pended work long enough to partake of the
simple refreshment he had brought with
him to the studio-wine, and bread, and
| fruit-for he well knew-nature told him
that, if he would draw heavily upon tie
mental powers, he must keep the body in
healthful tune.
He disposed of the frugal repast; then
gave a brief space to such rest as he could
| find; and then, refreshed and invlgorated,
he resumed his work and worked until he
was weary. He could paint no more after
| that
And while her dear lover is thus busily
employed, his agony held in check by the
| inspiration that has possessed him. turn we
to the Princess
1t was near the middle of the forenoon,
and Madelon had just returned from her
mission to the painters studio.
| "Madelon Madelonl" she cried with a
sudden burst of strong emotion; IF |
would have you serve me to the best of your
ability, must trust you fully and com
pletey; and l know you will give me your
sympathy-that you will be true and faith
full. Dear old mamma, | love Zanoni, love
him with all my heart and all my strength;
and he loves me the same. ! have never in
tended to practice deceit, but you yourself
know how hard, how trying it is to show
ones innermost heart to the world. Are you
surprised mammaw
so, my dear mistressr' the duenna ex-
claimed, seeming not to have heard the
question, chow l wish you had told me be-
fore. The Signor had something to say tc
me which he could not say, because he dared
not reveal to me his love-"
''Never mind, Madelon. You will know
next time. But you saw him, and you gave
| him my message just as | sent itP'
Eyes, dear lady," And thereupon the
good old woman went on and gave a full
and very fair account of her late inter
view. HE said | was to bear to you a
blessing from him; and to tell you that
he should suffer until he heard from you
again"
"Ol he shall hear. You will go, Made
long,
Eyes, will go. But, dear lady have
not told you all. The Signor sent some
thing more. He asked me-Ol so beseech-
lngly!-would / give to you three words
from himself; and was to tell you that he
sent them from his heart. hesitated just
a moment. All! didn't know then what |
knownow. But told him / would do it. u
well, Madelon! You have not forgot
ten theml"
Goodness mercyi / should think not.
They were only these Don't feel too hope
full, dear child, for they may disappoint
you. What he said-his lips quivered, and
saw the CLEAN of moisture in his eyes
what he said was only this, nothing more
Faithful unto deathr l promised him ]
would give them to you, and then l came
| away"
Thanks, dear old mammal You don't
know how much good those three little
words will do men
The Princess bent her head for a little
time after she had thus spoken, heI
thoughts busy. By and by she looked up
and laid her hand upon her duenna's arm.
"Madelon," she said, with an earnest,
trusting look into the aged face, II have a
question to ask you, and | know you will
answer me frankly and truthfully. You
once had a daughter?"
"Ol darling, dear lady My little Nan
nettel | can see her now as ] saw her in the
long, long years ago when she was laugh
ing, loving, happy child. She was only 10
when she died"
"Madelon, suppose Nannette had lived to
grow up, suppose she were now just as
am, and you loved her with all your heart,
and soul, and strength; and suppose you
should be told that she had lover who
wished to make her his wife; and, further,
you should find that her own love was
equal to his, and, in the end, suppose you
should find that Juan Zanoni was the man
of her choice-tell me, what would you do?
What would you say when they came
and asked for your blessings on their
union"
The old woman thought seriously, pro-
foundry, for several seconds. 1t was to her
subject of wondrous moment. and she
considered it as such. At length she looked
up, with a rich moisture in her eyes, and a
deep pathos In her voice, and made an
swer:
"As true as heavens dear mistress, of all
the men / ever knew / would choose Signor
Zanoni for my daughters husband; and |
should feel it in my heart to praise God for
his wonderful mercyl"
BLESS you, Madeoni Bless you! You have
made me very happy
"But, Princess" said the duenna, after a
short pause, with look of trouble in her
honest face, you must remember, Nan
nette would not have been a patrician. |
don't know, my dear child, that | do right
in speaking to you in such manner respect
ing the painter, who is only plebeian, and
poor at that / am afraid the Duke, if he
knew, would blame me very much, and he
mignt-ah, bark 1t is the step of the Duke
himself
A moment later gentle rap sounded out
side, and Madelon went to answer it. It
was the Duke, as she had thought. She
moved back and allowed him TO pass in, and
would then have followed and provided him
with a seat, but he touched her gently on
the arm and pointed toward the door. She
took the hint and left.
The Princess knew not what she had to
meet, but she was prepared Ever since she
arose from her bed she had been thinking of
the ordeal now at hand, and had been mus
tering strength to bear it patiently and
bravely. A firm resolve to lie entirely
frank and truthful-to keep nothing back
that her guardian had right, or could