The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-04

of dismay. What should he do 1t
was as though the dead ghost of his
youth had suddenly risen up before
him; he was utterly unnerved. Then
il became clear to him that he must
send someone to fetch her. Whom
could he send He could not go him
self-he was not strong enough to
travel; nor did he care to see again the
place where he had suffered so much.
He decided that the best person to send
would be his agent, John Segrave, a
sensible, experienced man OF the world.
He wrote at once TO summon Mr..
grave; and, when he had reached
Queens Chace, he told him exactly the
same story that he had told his wife
81 want you to go to Italy," he said,
"to bring back with you a young lady,
my ward, who is for the future TO make
her home with Lady Brandon"
The agent set out amply provided
with funds and then Sir Jasper spent
day and night in a state OF terrible sus-
pense. What would she be like, this
daughter of his lost Giulia? Would she
torture him with her mothers face
with her mothers eyes If so, he could
not bear it-he should go mad. BY
night and by day he asked himself that
question-what would she be like?
December came with its frost and
cold, its biting wind and snow-bound
earth, before that question was answer
ed. 1t was on the second OF December
that he received a letter from Mr..
Segrave, saying that he hoped to reach
the Chace with his charge on the follow
ing day. Sir Jasper was greatly agitat-
ed, although ne beat down his emotion
with an iron hand.
She was coming-Giulia's little child,
who had nestled for one brief moment
in her mothers dying arms-Giulia's
little daughter-the babe from whom
he had turned with something like bit
ter hate in his heart. What would she
be like? He asked about her rooms
and Katherine took him to see them-a
pretty suite of rooms in the western
wing; they looked very bright in the
winter sunlight, with their cheerful
fires and choice flowers.
''She viii like these rooms, papa"
said katherine. "See what have put
here-all the italian views and photo
graphs that l can find. See-here is
the Arno, here is the Riolto in Venice"
She stopped suddenly. Why did be
pause and turn from her with a sharp,
sudden cry? There was the very spot
on which he had stood when Giulia's
fair face first shone down upon him!
at is nothing. child" he said. in
answer to her anxious inquiries-'less
than nothing-a sharp sudden pain that
hurts but viii never kill me"
"How do you know that it viii never
kill you, papa?' she asked.
Because, my darling if it could have
shortened my life, it would have done
so long ago." he replied. "Now show
me all the arrangements you have made
for my ward"
"Papa," cried generous, beautiful
Katherine, 'she will be very dull, she
will be very lonely. Do you suppose
that she is alone in the world-that she
has no other friends but US ? Ii she had
but one, it would be something"
81 cannot tell you, Katherine" he
replied. "You must ask her when she
comes"
He was pleased to see the arrange
ments his wife and daughter had made
for her, yet, as the time for her arrival
Jraxr paar he traD,hIad o,I sb,lJo-oJ
like one seized with sudden cold. He
had to meet the child he had literally
given away-Giulia's daughter.
CHAPTER III.
Veronica stood before her father-a
tall, beautiful woman, with a noble
Venetian face. She was quite unlike
anything he had pictured. He had
fancied a girl with Giulia's sweet
face, with her golden hair and sensl-
tive lips The girl beforehim looked
like a Roman Empress butthat she
had Giulia's eyes-her DARK, tender,
passionate eyes-the eyes that had
made for him the only light that he
had ever known-with hair as black
as night, and worn after the old Grecian
fashion. She was more beautiful than
her young mother had ever been, but
it was a different type of loveliness.
AS he gazed upon her, Sir Jasper
Brandon owned to himself that it was
the most beautiful and the saddest face
that he had ever seen. The dark ewes
had story in their depths, the prou |
lips trembled even as she smiled
"Where have / seen face something
like it ?'' he asked himself. Then he
remembered that it was in one OF his
iavorite pictures hanging in the Louvre.
He had gone himself to the station to
meet her. Lady Brandon was very
shrewd, and Katherine was shrewder
still. He felt that he might betray him.
self. So he had decided on meeting
Veronica, that the first shock might
pass Impoverished And a shock it was
when she looked up at him with
Giulia's eyes. He stood still for few
moments, beating back the anguish
that almost mastered him; then he
held out his hands in greeting to her.
"Veronica," he said, gently, welcome
to Englandw He did not kiss the
beautiful face-he dared not trust him
self "Welcome," he repeated, adding:
ado you speak English ?"
To his surprise she answered him in
Engdsh; she spoke ttIe language ex-
ceedingly well, but with slight foreign
accent that was very musical and
charming.
ayes, / speak English; it was my
own wish. learned by my own de-
sire; my aunt was very unwilling"
"Why dill you wish to learn ?" he
said. 1T is harsh after your beautiful
liquid Italian"
Il cannot tell; but something sem