Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-15

| me, you faithful old granny. Our rooms
must have been entered earlier in the
evening. The window was open, and
the ladder conveniently near. Many
rough men were abroad tonight, owing
to the fiesta at Cajano. No, you need
not lose faith in San Michele. as you
call him. Something impels me to trust
to the honesty of that young stranger
who helped US, as | would trust my
brother Ugo in Heaven"
The Madonna herself put that trust
in your pure heart, bambina mia, and
/, too. have faith in the young signo-
rino; but, ali. me! it's hard losing all
that money!
THE worst will be telling Uncle Gino.
He will be furious. What a night of
misfortune this has been"
And yet, in spite OF the great mis-
fortune she had sustained, Countess
Natalia Roselli, as she drifted into
dreamland for few hours, felt that
this special night had been fraught
with a new, rare happiness for her.
She awakened to stormy, painful
scene. III news travels quickly. Geriuo
Roselli, Natalia's uncle, had heard of
the robbery, and had come for full par
ticulars.
What is this wild story of Gia-
cinta's?" he began, angrily. You
have had the colossal folly to let a
street-vagrant loose in your rooms. OF
course he improved his opportunity
and took your money"
Uncle, I'm fully convinced the
money was stolen before this gentle
man came to our assistance. The
window was open; the ladder carelessly
left near by the workmen. Paolo saw
me put the money in the desk; possibly
he succumbed to the temptation"
What preposterOus nOnsensei You
would. throw suspicion on an honest
contGdino, who grew old in your fathers
service, to screen a well-dressed, soft
spoken blackleg! Who is this fine
gentleman, pray? Where does he live?
Of course, if he is honorable he has
told you all this?"
He wished to give his card, but
had none with him; he is coming this
afternoon to present himself in due
form.
"a likely story! And you. you con-
tiding innocent, do you realize that the
loss of this money leaves you with next
to nothing to live upon till the ROvez-
zano rents are due? What do you
mean to do?n
Certainly not ask charity from you,
Uncle Gino. Giacinta and | have
already learned what sharp poverty
means, and we can bear this misfor-
tune as we have borne Others" A
proud fire burned in the young con-
tessa's eyes as she spoke.
Whats this?" said Roselli. as he
turned on his heel to leave the room.
His foot had struck against small OBJ
ject lying on the floor in the shadow of
a table. 1t was Philips card-case.
Roselli opened it and read on the first
card, MIR. Philip Leighton, Via Pa
lestro. No. % This is probably the
name of your gallant rescuer," Ro-
SELF added, sarcastically. Rather a
suspicious circumstance to find his
card-case lying so near the plundered
desk"
Il will keep It'll for him till he comes"
said Natalia, holding out her hand in
quiet dignity.
by all means, my dear, keep it till
he comes. l hope your confding
patience will not be put to too severe a
strain"
Roselli took one long, searching look
at the card, and resigned the pretty
leather toy to his niece's keeping.
For Philip, also, there was rude
awakening that morning. A furious
Italian gentleman demanded to see
him; asked an account of the last
nights proceedings, and accused him
of stealing fifteen hundred francs from
the Countess Roselli. A policeman
and cab were at the door, and before
he fairly realized what was occurring,
the bewildered Philip found himself
lodged in a cell at the Bargello. A
sad contrast to his dreams of imbibing
draughts of tea and enchantment with
his fair inGm0rdtG. He had no friends
in Florence of whom he cared to Dor
row money, and he was not in funds to
bail himself out to keep his appoint
ment for four o'clock.
Count Roselli kept his own counsel
as to the summary measures he had
taken. and withdrew for few days to
his podere at Feltro.
As the day wore away with no signs
of Philip, Natalia said to her hand
maiden:
''Giacinta, I'm haunted with the fear
that Uncle Gino has done something
desperate about this miserable money.
1 wish you would go to the Via Pales-
tro and ask for Mr.. Leighton"
Giacinta went, and returned in floods
of tears. Mr.. Leighton had been ar
rested that morning. The padrona
said he was such nice, open-handed
gentlemen; there must be some mon
strous mistake about it all.
Natalia seized pen and paper, and
sent Giacinta to the Bargello with a
tear-stained note declaring her belief
in his, Philips, entire innocence, and
her shame at her uncle's conduct.
Philip,in durance vile, poured out as
much of his soul as the back of an old
play-bill would hold. IN reply.
Thus these two lovers-for the cruel
ty of the tyrant uncle had reused in
both Young hearts this consuming pas