The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-17
CONTESSA ROSELLI.
The Adventures of Modern
Romeo in Romantic Venice.

The ball at the Villa Borghese was
over, and Philip Leighton, one of the
guests who felt the evening we'll spent,
was going leisurely homeward on
foot. 1t was a clear, moonlight night
in the bonny month of May, and such
a night in Florence with its violet sky
sown with golden stars, is a blessing
not to be wasted under the roof of Il
caD
Jack Templeton's sister dances like
fairy. and keeps fellow amused;
Faye Norton is so deucedly pretty one
forgets and forgives her silly speeches.
What hair she has! Upon my soul, /
believe I'm in love with them both!''
Thus musing, the young man crossed
the Piazza del Duomo and turned into
the sleepy Via Ricasoli, which seemed
quiet as the aisle of an empty church.
Presently, out of the shadow, Philip
saw two women approaching, both
evidently frightened at finding them
selves alone in the street at so late an
hour. At seeing the young man they
stopped, hesitated, and then advanced
again, apparently treasured by a
glimpse of his honest, comely face,
revealed in the moonlight.
"a thousand pardons, signore," be-
gan sweet voice in Italian, "but l
and my maid are not able to open our
door; possibly your stronger hand
might make it yield"
The house indicated was grim old
palace, many stories high, built of
heavy blocks of stone, like a prison.
Statues looked down from many a
niche, and the lower windows were
guarded with the ''kneeling' grating
invented by Michael Angelo.
Philip threw himself upon the heavy
wrought-iron fastenings of the door,
but they refused to give way even
under his vigorous shaking.
THE door closes with latch in
side; a sharp blow will sometimes
open it without the key, which Gia-
cinta has unluckily lost There is no
one inside the house to come to our
rescue; we are really in a very awk-
ward plight"
The white-Iace fcha had fallen back
over the shoulders of the gentle-voiced
stranger, and Philip saw that she was
exquisitely pretty, with the pensive,
dark eyes of her race, and tender,
sensitive mouth. Her lips quivered,
and there was a hint of tears in the
liquid eyes.
This was too much for Philip, who,
instead of acknowledging himself baf-
fed by the door and resuming his
hOmeward route, vowed within him
self to see these fair danes safe under
the shelter of their own roof, or perish
in the attempt. Poor old Giacinta was
not, strictly speaking, fair, but the
GureolG of beauty emanating from her
young mistress seemed, to Philip, to
encompass the faithful attendant with
its benign influence.
Across the street was a ladder lean
ing against house in process of repair,
at sight of which Philips look of per-
plexity vanished.
"Does the open window in the second
story lead to the sigrora's rooms?" he
asked, eagerly.
Eyes; those are our rooms. The rest
of the house is unoccupied, or we could
hope to wake up somebody to let us in"
''If it is not too audacious PROPOSE
tion.'' continued Philip, Il will climb
up to your balcony, Romeo fashion,
with that ladder, descend the stairs,
and open your refractory door from the
inside"
THE same thought had occurred to
me, but did not like to express it. 1t
is a dangerous height, you might fall,
and it is an unreasonable service to
ask OF stranger"
pray do not think OF any inconven-
fence it might be to me; your confidence
is quite reward enough. May l make
the attempt"