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

and Signor Zanoni were; and | told her.
And then the Marquis went on; nor did
he give up until he had gained from the
utterly bewildered and denoralized woman
the whole story. She told him about the
pallor and the tears; and she even told that
the girl had been evidently startled at the
interruption, and had tried to hide her
face; but be sure she did not know that she
was telling it. Also she let out the condi-
ton in which she had found the artist; and,
in her endeavor to picture his kindness and
solicltude and his anxiety in the Princess
behalf, she so far overdid it as to betrsy
more to her eager listener than she had ever
thought or conceived of.
but, Signor Marquis" she cried, in the
end, laying her hand upon his arm, ire
member this, she explained it all. There
was no harm-no thought of evil; all was
clear and simple, and only a man whose
own heart was bad could see anything
wrong in it.n
You dear old saintm said Steffano, with
light, coarse laugh, cit is all right.
Bless you l see nothing out of the way
in any of it-nothing at ALL l am glad
you have told me; for now my mind
is easy. All! you are in a hurry. Well,
L have but one more word to say Don't
you borrow any trouble, and don't you in
terfere. Be sure the dear Princess is able
to take care of herself OF course, you
may see what they do-the very nature of
your Office requires you to do that, but you
will not interfere Should you do so il
could only irritate Isabel; and would do no
good Do you understand meY'
Eyes, Marquis think do"
Then / will leave you 60 go your way.
And, once more, my good Madelon, think
you will find it for your interest to keep the
knowledge, of our conference to yourself"
She signified that she should do so; and
upon that he left her, and made his way TO
to his own apartments, where, if we follow
him, we may discover what he meant by
the strange course he appears to have en-
tered upon.
His apartments were on the second floor
of wing of the ducal palace, overlooking
the river. They had been furnished by the
Duke, expressly for his brothers use. No
pains-no expense of labor or money-had
been spared. They were, in fact, more
sumptuous, more tastefully arranged more
beautifully decorated, and more comfort
ably furnished than were those of the Duke
himself Antonio had been content to take
the quarters of his father and of his fathers
father; to take them as they had taken
them; and he deemed them good enough.
During the few brief years of his married
life he had thought of building an entirely
new section for his dearly beloved wife and
himself, but her early death had put an end
to the dream.
In introducing the Duke to the reader we
made no mention of his having been mar
ried. He took TO himself a wife, young
and beautiful girl, whom he loved dearly,
and who had loved him equally as well, two
years before he assumed the ducal sceptre
One short year she lived tolighten the cares
of Office, and to brighten and bless his life,
and then death took her from him. He had
never thought of marriage again.
Stefano reached the apartment which he
made his common reception and longing
room and there threw himself into chair
"Now, my dear Count, think have you
on the hip!' he exclaimed aloud, at the
same time shifting his hand on his knee.
''As sure as fate the Princess has fallen in
love with the painter. l knew she would.
BOUNDS! think of the offers of marriage that
have been ade her the wealthiest mobiles
of Italy, and the handsomest; and many of
them young, at that Why has she refused
them, turning from them as though they
were obnoxious? 1t was not because she had
not the heart for love. No; for / can swear
her heart is a very magazine of innammable
material, wanting only the spark to fire it,
At first l was surprised. puzzled; / could
not understand, but | can see now. She was
waiting for her ideal for the man who
combined with manly beauty the gift of
intellect; who could soar with her into the
mystic realms of art and literature and
science.
"Ha! and she has found himi Perdition
seize the fellowl hate him and l owe him
deadly vengeance; aye, and | mean to pay
him, tool Yet must admit he is the hand
soonest man l ever saw, and L doubt not he
is wonderfully well educated. Z faith, l
kno him to be finished swordsman; and
| am willing to believe he is brave and gal
liant. Yet, o! how l hate himl Let him
serve my purpose with Isabel, and we will
make an end of him.. must bring about a
meeting between him and Denaro. II can
only stir the Count up to making an attack,
the painter may fight. Per BdccOi he must
be a different man from what take him to
be if he will not fight. Aye-I have it. He
disarmed me because much wine mad shaken
my nerves. Giuseppe will he steady and
cool; and the man who meets him at sword
play must look to himself. think if the
painter were pushed hard-if a man like
Giuseppe Denaro were to opsnly insult him,
and attack him; or even, were he to grossly
insult aud challenge him, the fellow would
fight, Notwithstanding the terrible penalty
the law would infiict upon him in case he
should kill his antagonist. And if they
should fight, though the Count would give
his opponent warm work, yet, in the end,
l am very sure the painter would kill him
San Marcel" he exclaimed, with start,
that shook his frame at every joint, what
a consummation that would be! Zanoni
shall kill the Count Denaro, and then the
headsman will kill Zanonil And then, ah /!
and then"
He arose from his seat at this point and
paced to and fro for a time in silence. At
length he stopped near the center of the
room and finished the sentence which he had
broken off so abruptly.
And then, my charming cousin
cousinl Hol hol that is 90 d / wonder,
if our genealogical line could be traced how
far we should be found removed. Oh but
she is beautiful, and she is wealthy, and her
wealth / sorely need. All let the Duke
but know that she has really and truly given
her love to the painter, and let that painter
kill our gallant Count; then the executioner
removes the painter; and behold, she is
mi:e! Mine, as sure as fate! With those
two removed, let me convince Antonio that
the girl had really loved the plebeian-that
she had been ready and willing to flee with
him TO foreign land-and he will give me
her hand, am sure.
YES, | want her money / doubt If there
is an helress in the dukedom so wealthy.
Her estate at Varona is worth more than a
million crowns. 1 heard the Duke speaking
of the income of that estate; he set IL at more
than fifty thousand scudi. Mercy ON us!
What lift for mel And, by heaven! |
can bring it to pass! Let me but catch the
fair Princess in the trap aud will venture
the rest. And now, TO prove it, there must
be away. Aye, and / will find it.