New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-18

are doing well. NV house and all il contains arc
at your disposal. 1t was O fortunate thing tba,
they found you!" '
Yes, indeed. Had IL not been for tbs I'm.
fellow here" with a motion Of his head toyyarS
Alberto. who bushed like girl, II should
Don't think of it, interrupted the old lady:
think rather, Of getting strong once more H.
was bad fracture, the doctor SAYS
Yes. | stumbled into hole covered with
moss. had taken the short cut across from the
town and" VIC
He stopped. The Marchioness looked at hin
curiously. She was too hlgh-pred to ask VIVA,
had induced him TO take short cut that led no.
where but 70 her house. Yet she would verv
much have liked 20 know.
d" | was my way 10 friends" he added
All, you have friends in the neighborhood -
YES, madam. One, ut least. One whom I
have not seen for long, long years. Almost the
only relation have in the world"
The Marchioness continued TO gaze at him
Something in his tone seemed TO strike her. There
were tears in il, as the French say.
r. Would You IKE your relative to be informed
There is no need, thank you She will know
all in good time"
"Sho? Your mother, perhaps?'
mo. sigro1. my aunt"
Rapidly the old lady passed in mental review
al the families around None sritpd the cir.
cumstances. Yet her unknown guest was evi.
IDENTIFY n gentleman. Language and voice shovel
the highest breeding; ears and hands the bluest
blood.
7he was unpleasanty puzzlel. He must
have some reason for not giving his name Well
the incognito shall be respected thought the
old lady.
d" How glad your aunt will be when she hears
Of your escape
took Albcr,o's hand as he spoke.
"Of course Yes; she ought 10 be grateful in.
deed" "
She sighed for the thought of how boundlesslv
grateful she would have shown r.elf TO any one
That could have saved her poor nephew from his
cruel death She had scared y oyer seen him since
hia b9yhood, his mania for travelling and expora-
| had, nevertheless, been sad trial 70 her
"N"s. indeed: She ought 10 10 grateful, he
repeated Not exactly on my own personal ac-
count. be laughed. for have been careless,
undutifuI dog Of nephew, but because am the
last of my race, AMI
sudden trembling seized upon the old lady.
Sh" looked pteously into the strangers face
" The last of your race. signOrc? The last OF
your race? Oh. then all of us-mu-i he loubly
careful OF you. for your own salle-for your aunts
for the name yon LEAP
She paused. Then continued in a lower tone as
if 30 Herself. but with an accent that went s,ralgh,
| 10 the hearts of her he'rorS-
All. !. TOO. had n n"phew-the last Of my race
and name: he was hardly ever out Of my
thoughts, for in him were centred all my hopes.
! Lands hOnOrs, all were 10 have been hk:
and | was ever picturng 20 myself this Old
place Gladdcned by tie prattlc Of his children
] who would carry on the unbroken line Of our
ancestors. But 1t was not 10 be-lt was not
10 be: and now"
Her voice failed her.
And now p" repeated the stranger in low
husky tone, taking the oil lady's passive hand
| in both his own: and now"
! 4 shrek from old Hrgitt1 made every one start
| There She stood. cnging convusivcly 10 the back
! Of her MISTRESS chair, and staring wildly at the
| stranger
\ stronger breath Of the summer breeze had
swcll"d the swaying curtains wider apart. and
| caused the mellow. golden sunshine 10 food the
! hith' rio ddrlionod room.
II i,-it s-oh. my mistress, my darling mis-.
re sit is vour neohew himsclf-your nephew him
Orsola della Rocca sprang TO her feet. pale as
n sheet and with hands casped in an agony Of
doubr and snpplicatiCn.
Speak mercyis sake. speak. Who are
| you
",Amt-my poor, dear aunt. am your trrans
nephew, Guido della Rocca
! She f" on her knees beside rho bed. God
| he praise l-oh. ,ol he pra>cl," she criod. Her
| head sank upon her n"phews arm. and her whole
frame wa, shaken by conclusive sobs.
| Aunt. my dear aunt
There was not dry eye in the room Alberto
fairly wept. lie was learning at his exp nse
! that one does not always need a /" deuce of an
accident" TO make one weak As girl
Comparative compOsurc being rpstosel, all was
| Simply and briefly cleared mp. After IN crgoing
"A long and terrible captivity To one OF the hostils
tribes in Central Africa, Guido della Rocca had at
last found means Of escape, but only long after
false report of his massacre had been spread
After incredible hardship he had reached the
coast and procured passage for Genoa. lie
| ma come on thence without DELAY had rot ont
NJ small station. intending 10 take a short cut
| 10 the castle had fallen, and been found by
! Albcrto-all as simple extraordinary things
generally turn ont in the end Brigitta had
| rec gnZ"d HIM from having seen him once or
! twlc" AZ his mothers house during her last long
| illness. and whittier she had been sent by the
NlarchioneSS. \ romance woven Of the most
commonplace. everyday facts. Orsola della
| Iiocca sat holding one Of her nephews hands
in hers. almost if she feared size might lose
! him once more
\ sudden remembrance strikes her She rises,
makes the tour of the huge bed % where Alberto
| Is standinE takes his strong. brown hands IN her
slim, delicate ones, aud SAYS: " IL is thanks 10
You, under Gods viii. that | am today the
| in retnrn-ask without loar-lt shall not be re-
| fused You.
10 this day Alberto Feliciani cannot tel how
! he ever managed 10 do and say H. He declares
that the words passed his lips without any efroro
Of his own. IL is easy 10 guess what he did ask
| for. but impossible 10 describe the tone in which
| his Grant me- the hand of your grandnlece q era
cious lady was uttered. or picture the surprise
| OF all present on seeing the handsome young glanb
| kncelmg at the feet Of the frall, high-born old
| Marchioness.
| The struggle violent but short
"Marchcac Guido della Rocca@ turning 10 her
| nephew" from the moment You entered this houss
Won became tn" head of the family. IL is for You
| 10 decide
You gave your word. aunt: and della Rocca
cannot retract But. all things considered |
| fhltik N best 70 let Anna Herself u'tlue.
| With cry of JOY Alberto spranG 10 his feet lie
| knew that at last the victory was his.
lo'-cly September night; the full moon smtl.
| ing softly down upon shimmerng and olive
| clad height the mir full of balmy Odor: flowers
sleeping with gently dropping heads: leaves folded
| in slumbcr like hands in prayer; the idle swish
Of waters upon the beach: ri" occasional iuttcr
of fird among the lex and magnolia. Such
| lls -
! IN front of Countess Atamont"s modest home.
Orsoa della Rocca lying back in a low GARDEN
chair Brigitta Il stool ~ her feet the Countess
AT her uuntS side: Anna and Corlrlia. Alberto
and Guido grouped few PAGES OF Battista and
Erminia in the BACKGROUND, seated upon the
| doorstep Of the dwelling.
And You really think your stay hero ha'
done You good dear aunt ?"
1t has indeed. And | feel SO happy, TOO,
cannot toll yon how happy This last event
has crowned oil my wishes.