The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-07

church be accosted her.
de began by a ammering appeal for par
don for his bolduess; but surveyin! him
with look OF naughty surprise, she would
have passed out Of the church without a
word had he not placed himself before her
You shall listen to me" he said hotly.
81 love you. l am dying for you. God
did not give you such beauty that you
might destroy those who adore you with
cruelty. Have you no word of kindness
for me, no pityP
ALLOW me to pass" was her reply "or 1
will call the sacristan.n
Have you no hearth he cried vio-
lently.
Am to listen to the rawlings OF every
adventurer who crosses my pathr she said,
10 the same cold tone.
Adventurerl" he gasped, his face flush
ing deep crimson with rage and shame, II
an adventurerw
"What elsa" she replied calmly. "How
should you dare-a beggar in rags-speak
of love TO meW
If she had meant to insult and exasperate
him, she succeeded but TO well. With mis-
eyes starting from his head, aud the foam
on his lips, he glared at her a moment; then
lifting his hand he struck her. 1t was an
act of frenzy the concentration Of his long
suffering and despair in one supreme mo-
ment Of utter abandon.
The next instant he was groveling upon
the ground, kissing the hem Of her gar
ment. bathing it in tears, and sobbinR
prayers for PARDON, self accusations. curses
upon his own brutality; while she, to YER
ing above him in her outraged pride, gazed
down at him with white face and flashing
eyes. "Cowardp' she said, in a slow, deep
tone, "cowardp
YES, yes" he cried, still kneeling "worse
than coward a villain. dog O, that |,
who would have died for You, should have
done this Blasted be the hand that was
raised against you'll But you shall be re-
venged. Yes, will myself revenge you. y
She made no reply, but pushing him
aside with her foot, went out Of the church,
leaving him kneeliDg upon the floor, Weep
ing and calling maledictions down upon his
own head.
The next morning, before she had arisen.
her maid brought her parcel which had
been left at the door by a messenger. Sup
posing it to be some article from trades
man, size united the wrapper and found b.
meath a small wooden box. Removing the
lid, she gazed within, and dropped the box
with a cry or horror.
There, at the bottom of the box, its fin
gers cont acted, as with the agony of the
blow, was a mans hand severed at the
wrist A bit of paper lay beside it, on
which were written these words:
The infamous hand that desecrated love.
You are revenged.n
For a long time she lay silent aud thought
full, With the strange parcel beside her.
Gradually the cold, proud expression of her
features gave place TO a look never seen
there before. At last she arose, ana gazing
at the severed hand for some moments
lifted il from the box and kissed the llfeless
fingers
All that day she remained at home, in the
seclusion of her chamber; and all day O
curious strugy gle seemed to be going on in
her mind. Now she paced to and fro in an
agitated way; again she sat in her chair
with her cheek resting upon her hand our>
led in profound meditation.
At nlghtfall she suddenly arose, dressed
herself in a plain walking costume, and
putting on thick veil, left the house alone
There was no hesitation in her step as she
went along the darkened streets toward the
commoner quarter Of the city.
Arriving before a large, gloomy build.
ing, whose tenants we're evidently of the
poorer class, she spoke to the concierge:
"You have a sick gentleman among your
dodgers"
"Signor Carnese ~ replied the man. go,
yes, poor young gentleman. He is badly
wounded. He will not say how. but"
"Show me his room"
Whatever questions be might have felt in
cliued to ask we eifeotually slenced by
The piece OF gold thrust into his hand. Lead
ing the way TO the very top of the house, he
pointed to door; and saying, "That is his
room. EIgnora," took himself downstairs
again.
She entered the apartment cautiously.
Tho poor scholar was lying upon his bed
with his face to the wall-5he could see,
even in the dnrkened chamber, hsw hag-
gard and white it was. Outside Of the
coverlet rested his right arm. bandaged at
the wrist. AS she approached him ne
"Water."
She found glass upon the stand near ct
hand and placed it to his lips. She had re-
moved her veil, and as she bent over him,
he saw her face.
You" ne said, striving to rise. But
she pressed him gently back upon the
pillow.
YES" she answered softly, at l."
"Ah," lac sighed, now | can die happy"
"On the contrary" she replied, "you must
live-for my sake, Marco"
Poor Marcos chief danger now was that
be might indeed die Of pure happiness. But
be did not die; for seldom has a man been
nursed in Illness and pain as he was nursed
by the woman who had once scorned him,
but in the sudden awakening of her own
heart had discovered the worth of such love
as his.
yes" she said. when he was GONZALES
cent at last aud able to sit up III his chair
by the window, "when saw chat poor hand
s3mething in my heart seemed to melt and
give way, and l knew that l loved you,
Marco"
1t il her husbands right hand, the hand
that smote her in the church of st. Lucia,
the hand of the man she loved as Few men
have been loved, that is kept in the por-
phyry casket in the boudoir Of the Signora
CarDess.
LEMON BTTXTR