The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-08-17

my life gladly"
''May the Holy Madonna and all tn,
saints protect the noble signorino!'
Giacinta exclaimed. as she steadied tn,
ladder with her sturdy shoulder. TIL,
ladder was little short, and where /
stopped there was need for cleal
head and iron wrist to avoid accident
Inspired by those caressing eyes fol
lowing him so intently, Philip mastered
the difficulties and gained the ledge o
the window without more serious mis-
haps than cut on his wrist.
What will Uncle Gino think of this
adventure, GiacintaP' said the young
lady. as their knight-errant disap.
peared within the window.
"He ought to be thankful we were
not obliged to finish the night in the
street."
at is indiscreet and imprudent,
doubtless, to allow perfect stranger
to enter our rooms alone. but I'm sure
he is Il gentleman whom we can trust.
Do you not agree with me, Giacintap'
"There couldn't be dishonest soul
Trust an old woman's eyes for telling
good from bad. He looks like the
blessed San Michele mt Santa Maria
Novella."
Giacinta's rhapsody was interrupted
by burst of drunken laughter coming
round near corner. To escape a
band of midnight revelers, the two
women shrank into the shelter of
gateway.
"a queerish sort of an errand for
fellow to be bound on, )" thought Philip,
as he scrambled over the balcony,
dropping himself through the dark
nav of window into what may be
the bottomless pit, or den of thieves,
for aught he knows. More likely to
be stronghold of spooks, from the
general aspect of things. My stars
what's that?"
Swinging himself cautiously into the
room, he had lit upon sleeping cat,
which promptly punished his intrusion
by plunging a vigorous set of claws
through the young mans silk stocking.
Her pet, suppose And instead
of giving the cat the vicious kick his
evil nature dictated, Philip stroked it's
silken coat till cozy purring re-
sponded to his touch. By the light of
his wax matches he saw that his wrist
was bleeding from the cut, and he
pulled out his handkerchief and hastily
bound up the wound before proceeding
further. His card-case slipped out of
his pocket with the handkerchief and |
rell tlnnoticed to the floor.
Philip found himself in very large
ind handsome room with the rich
painting and gliding of the De Medicis
period. All was furnished and worn
now; the once elegant furniture was
dropping to pieces, and the hangings
were faded and torn. A chair lay
overturned, and the drawers of tor
toiSe-shell cabinet were pulled out and
their contents strewn carelessly about,
as If one had made rapid search for
regardless of order.
Philip would have gladly taken a
more lingering look at the old portraits
peering down at him from the walls,
some of them with dark, searching
eyes so like those of his lovely protegc.
but feeling of delicacy prompted him
to make his way through her rooms as
quickly as possible.
He hnstened down the stairs, lifted
the la ch, and admitted the two wo-
men, more ugitated than ever owing
to the disturbance caused by the
drunken men.
Il can never sufficiently express my
thanks, signore,' said the young girl,
spared us more annoyance than you
can realize.
Giacinta covered Philips hand with
kisses, and swore she would burn
thick taper for him the next day at
Santa Maria Novella.
'May | not know the name of our
oenefactor?' the lady continued.
Philip, overjoyed at what seemed
,he overture to IL more intimate ac-
luaintance, searched in his pocket for
lis card-case. but. to his perplexity
Ind annoyance, failed to find it,
"i Nv l. nave lllc JleuSlTc Ol CALL |
ng tomorrow to bring the card | seem
stupidity to have mislaid?n he asked,
with some hesitation.
~ certainly wish to know to whom
We are indebted for so great service.
Wy friend, Madame de Carolat, is
'oming to tea tomorrow at four Will
'ou come then? ButI must introduce
myself. l am the Contessa Roselli.
Now. as it is so shockingly late. must
lid you goodnight. Thank you a
thousand times. and do not disappoint I
Is tomorrow.
Not for ANY thing under heaven"
'hilip murmured half audibly. as the I
leavy door SHUT away from him the
,aze of the girls star-like eyes. {
There was now no more perplexity l
n the young mans mind US to whether s
le preferred Jack Templeton's sister {
o Faye Norton. He had forgotten S
hem both, and had no thought in his
leart save for the lovely Italian. 6
Like culprlts the two belated women t
tole up the stairs to their rooms i
iiacinta lighted the old Roman lamp, b
nd by its soft, steady flame OF olive
il the familiar old portraits looked II
own AS If welcoming them home. p
"Why. Giacinta! what does this
iean? My desk wide open, and all t.
nj l.