Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-11-09

rs i, possible that mysterious sickness,
that sickness which nearly cost me my life,
vas caused by her haud-by the hand OF
Mar-ot''
"Ye>; she herself confessed as much to
me.
"Margo,!" shuddered Corona. "Oh how
terrible. Thank heaven | live even tor her
sake. ! thank heaven that | am spar
ed
Corona, before my mental vision see
and revenge" Paul gasped, in earnest
"Oh shall not fear her; l have hus-
band now she repeated, in fond, trust
full tone.
He will not be able to shield thee
against Margot's Vaccinations: therefore,
take heed ofmy warning>-ot these my
last words breathed to thee, Beware OF
Margot!'
Paul spoke no more; and when Corona
next looked into his face his eyes We're
glazed and his spirit fled
They had journeye into Italy, the Count
and his wife and were staying at a beanti-
Eul village near Milan. They were very
happy with each other, and the summer
days were too short for them. Corona
sometimes thought OF poor Paul, who was
lying in the cold churchyard, but she had
almost forgotten the existence OF her old
enemy. the venge!ul Margot.
One day, the Count brought home q page
boy-a handsome youth. with fair skin
and soft sunny curlS. The lad was dumb.
the Count said, and was to be the Countess
own attendant The page boy, who an
swered to the name Of AleNo was expert,
attentive and willing, and Corona was we'll
pleased to have him at her beck and call.
To be sure. his lack of speech was anything
but conv, nient to those whom he served
but then, AleXO wrote such neat hand,
~ sal Iva, 1nSS
of his voice MS any particular annoyance
and learning to like the silent youth, he
was entrusted With all sorts of messages
and commissions by his young mistress, to
whom he ever showed Il ready obedience
and devotion.
AT length, wearied Of rural life, the
Count carried his young bride to mag
nihCent villa on the banks of the river
Tesin, an abode heiittin. his rank and his
fortune, where he and his Countess could
receive and entertain the ;ruudcSt and the
nOblcSt in the land.
Corona was quite at home in the stately
:.alls that called her mistress. She matched
their grandeur. The richly -gilded walls
the ma-ni ticent paintings and sculpture
the windows of stained glass lighting the
long corridors--thc antique furniture the
Florcntne mosiacs. and the huge old Dres-
den vaSesall seemed like familiar objects
to her---like things she had always known.
Neither sweeping terraces. nor marble
fountains, nor splendid parterres appear
ed strange to her; Corona, iii her dazzling
loneliness, was graceful amid them all
And the new Countess fame
of whose beauty had travelled
lar and nearwas causing consider
able coniNotiUn amongst the circles Of lta!-
ian rank and fashion, and almost every one
in Milan was talking about her; while her
salons were crowded nightly with half the
mobiles in the land who would contentedly
bear Two hours squeezing, merely tor the
pleasure OF catching glimp.e of her sweet
face. Yes. Corona was the queen of beau
ty in Milan, and people were eagerly striv-
ing to pay court to her. endca yoriug to out
live each other in their homage.
Now, the Count loved his wife very fond
ly, and, as iiatt"ring as all this worship
might be- he did not care to see Corona
the object oft. He was not n Jealous man;
he could see his wife smiling upon, and
talking to, score of men. without feeling
the least concern about the matter. Still.
Tor all that, he was far from being comfort
able at the present moment.
AS for Corona herself. She had been so
long accustomed to receive general rever-
encc and adulation, that she scarcely knew
when such were being offered to her while
the mere st compliment breathed TO her by
her husband was treasured in her breast,
and pondered on over and: over again.
u
Palace Tesina-Such was the name of the
Counts dwelling-there was one Prince
Preideslaus. q man Immensely rich. vain,
and unscrupulous. He admired the young
Countess, and paid extravaganza court to
her. At first. his attentions had no OBJ
ject in them; but soon he grew deeply en-
amoured Of the lady, and then he thought
only OF how he might compass her down
fall
Prince Preideslaus spent days and days
musing on this subject, but never once,
either by word or look, did he permit Co.
roma to suspect his passion for her. He was
an adept at d 'ssim uation, and had little
respect for womankind. The fact of Coro-
ma being married woman he did not re-
gard in the least. Prince Preide>laus had
fought duel after duel, and he would not
hesitate to fight again, provided he found
anything worth the troubleof fighting Tor.
A gorgeous sunset was finging dazzling
windows OF Milan's grand cathedral, gild-
ing the spires OF her many churches, and
throwing red glory aslant the walls Of
the old Regency House, when youth, in
a picturesque dress of crimson serge, slash
ed with white plush. was seen hurrying
alongin the direction of the Palace Tesina.
'By St. Peter, Madame la Comtesses
page" cried voice: at the same moment,
hand was laid on the youths shoulder,
arresting his further progress. How
fares your mistress, the Countess?" asked
the same voice.
The lad smiled DOTTED his cap, and
bowed with a peculiar grace more bett-
ting q courier than a livered Iackey. Then
Alexo produced his little tablets, which
were always hanging by his side and
wrote an answer to Prince Preidesaus's
question: The Countess de Branden-
burg was well"
The rays OF the yellow sunset were play
ing amid the curls of Ale1o's soft. glossy
hair, as he was thus standing bareh AIDED
before the Prince, who had suddenly
fastened his eyes upon the lad with q
strange and oil absorbing interest.
"Of what country are you. boy?"
AlexO wrote on his tablets.
"From Normandy" read the Prince
Alexo bowed the affirmative.
"Harkye, boy!" laughed the Prince
catching hold OF his arm. and looking
steadily into his face Il have discovered
one of your secrets"
Alexo's cheeks and lips blanched, and
his eyelids dropped.
II say one of them. because leel certain
thou hast at least half q score OF such.'