The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-17
TIE PAINTER OF PARHA
OR.
The Magic Of a Masterpiece.
An italian Story Of Love, Mys-
terry and Adventure.
BY sYLvANUS COBB, JR.
Copyright 1855 by Mary j. Cobb. ]
CHAPTER XII.-CoNrINUED.

And she saw, too that his great love for
herself-hs fondness and his sympathy
tied his tongue. Seeing this, she felt that
she owed it to him to break the ice If
there had been otfense she had boon the
offender, and he only sufferer She would
help him if she could.
Dear glD rdia p she said, laying a hand
on his arm &, 10 king up into his face with
a depth of att,c,lon not to be mistaken,
''you have come to speak with me about the
confession | made you last night. | asked
YOU TO giyeme time in which to rest and
think, and you kindly did it. l thank you
for it"
"My dear child, " returned the Duke, with
a faint smile creeping about the corners of
his mouth, 81 mustn't let you give me more
credit than deserve. In putting the sub
iect off last evening l pleased myself fully
as much as pleased you, if not more But
we will speak now"
He took one of her hands and gazad upon
her lovingly. A little while so, and he
spoke. His lips Quivered perceptibly in the
beginning, and his voice threatened to break
more than once, but he gained strength and
self-cOntrol as he went on, though at no
time did his speech become else than kindly
and sympathetic
Isabel, my beloved child, you must listen
to me willingly and patiently, for you
should known that can speak only for your
good You will first let me say, if | could
have know what Steffano had planned to do
| should not have suffered it. No, not ON any
account nor on any preteXt whatever would
have allowed it to be done. But it is done,
and"
Zone moment" broke in the Princess at
this point. "Wlll you tell me If Count De-
marc had any part in it?'
If tie Duke would have shielded the
Count, which he was evidently inclined to
do, not being positive one way or the other
have answered promptly and without re-
serve, but instead he hesitated and took
time to think, and when he would have
spoken the keen-sghted girl stopped him
"Never mind, dear guardian. You can
answer me no further. You are not
sure, but you have your doubts"
II am sure of one thing, Isabel If the
Count gave his consent, he had no hand in
originating it,"
well, well; it does not matter. Go on.
l will listen patiently, for know you love
me, and wish me well"
90 my blessed child cannot tell you
how much love you. | can only say this:
You are to me as my own flesh and blood
We're l your father-in fact, as in heart-I
could not love you more truly, nor more
deeply But enough of that. You know
II
you and Zanoni gomez
sit has gone into our hearts, and into our
lives. Woman love can go no further. If
you ask, When will it end? | answer, If
there may be love of earth continued be-
yonl the grave-never. If that is not to be,
then our love will end when life or reason
failsn
Isabel! Are you serious? Do you mean
all that your words would seem to imply!n
Dear guardian she answered, looking
up into his face with the light of her great
love filling her golden eyes, 81 wish l could
tell you how much | love my hero. May /
ask you question:
Certainly. Ask anything you please"
"You married young You have told me
about your wife. Do you remember how
you loved herr"
The Duke started, and a deep, soulsent
sigh burst from his lips.
You have told me that she was beauti-
ful," the Princess went on, after little
pause; land | know she must have been
pure and good or you would not have taken
her for the partner of your life. Was she
very noble?"
Isabel cried the Duke, quickly and
with strong feeling; ''she was one of the no.
best, truest women ever knew"
'"You did not quite understand me, sire
meant, was she of very exalted rank by
birthF'
Antonio caught his breath, and changed
color. The Princess had, asked more than
she dreamed of. She had touched something
of which she had never held a suspicion.
The father of the girl he had married had
been one of the foremost men of his time
brave and gallant soldier, and an expert
enced military commander-but he had
been born under a cloud-illegitimate and
though his patrician father had recognized
him after he had won fame and station, the
stain was upon him, and many knew it.
Dear guardian, have | Internationally
wounded youl o! if l have / know you
will"
"Hushl Il is nothing, my child. My
wife was of patrician birth-of ancient
lineage. Her father | knew well. There
was a misfortune in his life; but he was one
of the best men that ever lived, and one of
the bravest."
Guardian, do you think your wife's acct
dent of birth had anything to do with your
love for herg'
"Ah Isabel! Isabel! thatsVil not do. You
must not beg the question III that manner.
can tell you this: Had the lady whom l
made my wife been of plebeian origin l
should not have been permitted to marry
her. 1t would have caused a social and
civil revolution. No. You must not appeal
to my affection. This is a case where calm
reason and PLAIN, practical-common sense
AuuoO uOll sway. OO JOu HOO soo-lOoo lOb
your own better judgment tell you-that you
cannot marry with Zanoni? Stop Here
me through, l implore you. will not tire
you. if / can help it.
Think, my child, Of the position you oc-
cupy. Not only are you one of the most
noble ladies in ltaly-sole representative of
one of the Oldest and wealthest families,
yourself possessing great wealth and influ-
ence. Not only are you all this. but you
are, furthermore, a representative OF the
reigning family of the realm. Do you
know if | should BIO taken away and any
thing should happen to prevent Steffano
from following me- your husband, if you
were worthily welded, might be called to
the throne Of Parma. Think of this,
Isabel, and tell me will you persist in the
wild, tanclful scheme of love you have so
unfortunately entered uponl OIL l know
you will not. You will pluck it out or
you will be brave and true and live it
down.
Sire" she replied, with sharp pain
In her voice and the shallow of deep suf-
fering on her lovely face, "the good Father
In heaven has given me life, and the capa-
city to love, and he has so constituted me
that my love is my life. When | love |
love with all my heart, and that love is no
more the creature of my heart, and that
love is no more the creature Of
my will than is the breath |
breathe, which l could not stop if
l would. My love for Zanoni is more