The Dickinson press., 1893-11-11


"Ot revenge"
"prcciselv so, your highness'
against whom is thy shalt vengeance
levcllcdo Against the Count or the Count
cs>?"
Against them both"
Ohio" calculated Prince Prcidcslaus, at
once falling into fit of deep mu>ing
| We that l am ready to spill my best
blood for her?
Alcxo's lace suddenly paled and sensa
ton of taintne>s perva ed his whole frame
What had he done? He had placed hum
elf in the power OF one who loyel the
rountcSs--of one who would, dou5tlessiy.
act trcacl,crou>ly towards him.
Alcxo paused for few seconds before ho
made the Prince any reply. Alexo's ready
wit had furnished him with an answer.
"Yuur hi.hneSs has told me nothing be-
vond what | was already acqMaint.
ed with. know your love for the Count
e>s; know. also, that she reciprocates that
love" said the willy page, watching the
changing features before him.
GLOW know you all this
"i,y using my eyes, your highness."
"You are drceiving me; Madame 10
t'omte>se dreams not OF mel
"Ask her to grant your highness meet
ing al midnight. under the lime trees, by
he river Adda, or in her own shady
lTnIlEcTN, hlll IL MSii ou' AlSutSSS
will have no occasion to repent making
the request.
"Wiil you hear to her letter from me?"
he cried. quite eagerly.
.. am at vour hishneSss command"
answered the page Write bold y, your
'"..s: l", '',e Countess understand that
you have discovered that she reciprocntes
your passion.
You are not Sleludins me-
"What end should attain by so doing,
your bighneSs.
Nay. know not
Il would rather mi>lestl her than your
hishne>s, answered AleNo. in bitter
syllahles. My present aim is to intice her
lee, into dangerous ,psthways-to lure her
10 ruin. ii u. know her to be weak
and frai, and ready TO be led whittier she
You are q bitter hatcr," he observ-
ed.
u have good cause to be such, your
hishnc>s.
Fl should like TO hear your history.
at is not worth your highneSss atten-
ton.
lrince Preide.aus was silent for few
seconds. The street in which they We're
standing was in an obscure part of the city.
quiet and loncly-where the Prince and
the page might have stood for hours with
out attracting any particular notice.
y An y GU CoIlle Hclc ~ tiiio houA Aoihoa@
row." the Prince asked.
AleXo replied in the affirmative.
~ will prepare a letter for Madame Ia
Comtcsse. which you must contrive to
deliver into her own hands sometime dur:
ing the ball at the Tesina Palace where
| shall be tomorrow night"
II comprehend, your highness."
.'At this hour and ON this spot, to-mor-
| row. them"
"Your hlghness shall find me here"
| The prince waved his hand by way Of
adien, and the page. turning the corner Of
| the street, was soon out of sight
On the following day. at the hour ap
Preideslaus. The page was the first to ar
rive at the place of designation: Alexe
looked deadly pale. and as if he had no
slept since yesterday. Presently he wa
oined by the Prince.
"You are punctual, Alcxo," he remark
ed.
"Who would not be so when he is serv
ing prince?'
Here is the letter." proceeded Primo
Priedeslaus, producing sealed billet
which he placed in the pages hand. 70,
have not forgotten my instructions regard
II am to deliver it to Madame Ia Com
tesse sometime during the progress OF tn
ball to night your highn' ss?"
Exactly. After you have done SO, see
ME, ifpossible and let me hear the success
Of your MISSION"
II shall observe your highness."
Here is zecchino for thee, offering tn
page large golden coin from his purse.
, "pardon me. your highness, stand nc
i'll need o! money.
Thou art ricli ell?"
mot so your highness."
3 "Thy hands and thy speech both bespea
. thee gently bred"
Q perhaps so, your highness."
Thou retu>est the zecchino. and like
Z wise to bestow thy confidence on me?"
. Pardon me your highn!ess," ansTere re-
: taken charge Of 81 am waited for at tt
t Palace Tesina."
l. And. making his bow the page turne
and quickly sped away, clutching. Il
g Princes letter close 10 his breast his hea
;, full of wicked exultation. Alexo had Ii
IS of his highness's epistle. Ale1o was ASST:
10 ing himself to a revenge-to a specious al
j. cruel revenge. He had completely dup
B. the Prince; but SO very cleverly had
d done so, that his trickery was no: suspecte
ot AS Alexo fastened homeward, he once
ID twice q lanced at the Princes missive, Ion
2. ing to break its huge rod seal and tear
lg oren. He wished to know all that "
,e written there, to see whether its words We
D. such as would scare the eyes before viii
ID he was designing to place them. I
Of pages feet scarcely touched the ground
in he thus hurried onward, full of malicie
b. Joy and anticipated vengeance.
1g Alexo entered the palace by one of
.. private doors. and ascending a narr
1't staircase, reached corridor leading to
It, Countess's own suite Of apartments. Alo
,r. this corridor the page was now repairil
W conscious that the Count was close at
ed heels. Now was the moment. Alexo Or
forth the Princes letter, and rurpos
I'd dropping it, calmly pursued his way mp
it. wards his mi.tressis boudoir. rejoicing d
EN- Ii. had left mischief behind him.
ch The count paused, picked up the bil
I'D dropped by his wife's page, and read
IS superscrIpiion.
n The demon of Jealousy was in his SC
he broke the seal OF the letter and reac
y "And so thou dost understand the
~ dent glances of mine entranced eyes
I'd tranced by the splendor of thine own-a
ly thou dost respond to the throbbngs
mine heart beloved? Tonight, when W,
minds are keeping measure to mus
sounds. thou wilt steal away and wan
forth into the orangery, there to meet tn
own ''PREIDERLAUs.
e. ed the sheet of writins betw
lg his palms and moaned aloud.
ed telt as il a huge mountain lad been sudd
iy placed upon his shoulders, and, inst
i'd Of proceeding to his wiie's apartments,
he had intended. lie turned about.
in sought the oppos te wing OF the palace.
was consumed by jealousy, and well.n
o. crazed besides. He read and re-read
florid. scnseless scrawl, until its letters 4
II. ly danced before his eyes and yet lie co
H. not bring his mind to fully comprehend
M meaning. Corona falseto him! there ne
He asked himself how he was to act
,as this painful and agonizing affair. His l,'
az az was beating wildly and his whirlins h b.
nd ent lie thought of rushing to Corona "
the letter, OF accusing her then and ther
perfidy and basene-s; and at another he
!. termined to wait until night. when he co
.ts, ayenge himself on the fell destroyers Of
peace. He had no doubt whatever of
ona's guilt. No man. he thought, VIC
III, presume to write to married woman
ant the subject OF love unless she had given !
some encouragement to do SO.
ets For upwards OF an hour the Count
darkly brooding over his supposed VIZ
,em while Corona was wondering at hls