The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-12

Of the nights through which he had sighed
before her window, when her brothers had
locked her in and they could only exchange
greetings across tbs street; of Der beau
", which had been his for so short time,
before the signoria intrusted him with a
mission to France.
Come to me-to my home, he said, in
a tender voice; your own Is desolate and
bare; mine, also, is empty; no household
fire burns there; I am all alone Blanca,
come with me-Bianca, l have never for
gotten you-it was higher force that tore
US apart. How often / have thought of
you through all the long years. Your
picture was woven into every thought OF
my native city. And now, Blanca, we
may, perhaps, be dying; shall we not make
this last hour joyous one"
Yes, she answered quickly, and pressed
his arm; 81 will go with you"
An evil smile crossed his face; but to
hide it, he leaned down to her and kissed
her quickly.
She tore herself from his arms and
| pointed, with averted face, toward the
altar. The motion revealed white cloth,
! which she had fastened TO her belt like a
scarf.
His face blanched and he shrank back,
as he asked, anxiously: what does that
cloth mean?'
She laughed aloud and the sound rang
| dismally through the vaulted space.
Does this symbol brighten you" she
said; and then continued: Il put it on SO
as to come here unhindered. As you your
| self said, the streets are Swarmlng with
! suspicious characters. With this token one
can pass as safely as if in An angels garb.
He felt his warm blood grow cold, a shud-
| der ran through him, while her actions
seemed to him strange and peculiarly agi-
| tated; still he was ashamed to give way to
| the feeling, and, in sort Of frenzy, he tore
! the white cloth from her. Il will protect
! you" he said.
The sharp jerk with which he had torn
away the cloth had also caused her belt to
come off in his hand. Her wide black over
dress fell apart and showed beneath misty
| linen undergarment, EN- broidered with gold
on the bosom and falling TO the ankles. He
clasped her again in his arms while she
submitted, and laid her face on his shoulder
so that her long, loosened hair fell over his
arm, to which she held tightly with both
! hands, as if in fear that he might again
leave her.
Come let US leave this place." she
whispered in his ear.
He lifted her in his arms as he would
child and carried her out of the church
| This time he forgot to dip his hand in the
holy water and almost stumbled over the
blind beggar, who had fallen asleep in the
doorway. When they reached the open
air it was she who hurried him on, as if she
feared that with every minute they would
lose some happiness. The sky had grown
dark and threatening, the wind swept
down to Via Calzajouli and whirled cloud
Of dust into their faces. Madonna Blanca
suddenly stood still, laid her hand on her
heart, and sighed deeply and painfully.
"Shut your eyes," he said; 81 will lead
you"
He wrapped half his cloak about her,
placed his arm around her waist, and sup
ported her in such manner that he seem
ed to be carrying some burden. On the
Ponte Vecchio they stopped awhile to catch
their breath. The heavy clouds were sud
denly torn apart, showing for a moment
an immense mass of yellow, sulphurous
fire. The valley of the Arno seemed for
an instant to stand in flames; then all was
darker than before
"Is this the end Of the world. which Fra
Ambrogio breaches of every day." whis-
pered Blanca, covering in the young mans
arms.
They passed on, grazing the railing, when
suddenly Alessandro struck a lump of
something soft and drew back his foot in
horror. He knew at once that he had
stepped upon corpse, for the human body
impresses one with an instructive dread,
even in the darkest nights; and dead bodies
were only too plentiful in the streets of
Florence in those days.
AN astrologer told me, not long ago,
that on my way to love l would find DEATH"
said the young man, with forced laugh;
Il am now on the road TO love and here lies
death"
As they approached the Via di Bardi
where AlessandrO's house was, Blanca
asked, suddenly: Where is the Madonna
Claricel"
Alessandro was embarrassed. do not
speak Of her; DO not think of her." was his
answer; "she is far away"
Then she does not love you, since she
refuses to share danger with you?"
lit is not necessary for her to love, she
has only TO obey" he answered, shortly.
From that time on, Madonna Blanca did
not say another word.
When morning dawned, Messer Alessan-
dro awoke from restless sleep; his temples
throbbed. his lips were psrched, and he
felt an intolerable burning and tearing in
his armpits
Il shall send for the doctor" he said,
anxiously, and raised up his head.
You would do better 70 call the priest"
said Madonna Blanca coldiy, without NOV
ing from the seat where she had been for
hours, pals ana rotionless, gazing at the
sleeper.
He stared at her with wide opened eyes.
She threw back her white linen gown and,
oy the pale morning light, he saw, above
her marble bosom, three fiery red spots sur
rounded by small blush circle.
Look" she cried. Il forgot to show
you this last night"
Al ice cold hand seemed laid upon his
heart. Before him he saw the dresd
specter Of destruction. The next moment
he felt as if On fire, and, tearing off his
shirt, he saw on his own breast the same
fiery red symbols, the most severe form Of
the pest then known and & sign Of certain
death
He spranC from the bed as II he meant
to strange the woman, but remained
standing before her with clinched fists,
and said, in a hollow voice: "fou-you
have done this 70 me-"
Yes, she said quietly. with a smile like
the smile Of mad Woman; Il. the unhRp- /
Ply Blanca, whose youthful bloom you stole, /
and whom you then turned over to the |
scorn Of her relatives and drove into the I