The Dickinson press., 1893-11-25

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CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
Leave me alone With my husband she
said so,lrs>>ius the doctors about her.
Madame Ia Comte>se hss been warn
ed.
YES. / shall RENE mber. doctor"
And then the men otmedicine reluctant
ly retired. leaving their patient and the
Count together.
Albert" said Corona. reckoning him to
her----'Albert. ann wounded probably un-
to death. and by your hani,'
Il know IL was his hriet and stern re-
ioinder, still preservli. his position i'll the
middle 81 tie chamber.
Come hthes--mr voice is very weak.
you must come nearer 20 me. iivou would
hear what have to say 10 You.
Hemove: forward :, few paees---his iea-
lures rigid and shaStiy pa'e.
What have l done. Albert?' she asked,
very gently--''wlat unknown fault have
committed. that you should thus have
stricken down Your own loving wie?'
Ask vuur own conscience. he answer
ed. severely. his arms folded across his
breast. his eyes fixed on the floor.
Il am asking ii; and it acquits me OF
everything. save OF loving You too fondly.
But that was not iault. was II?
DO YOU know anything OF thi>?' he de
manded, producing the Princes letter
dropped by AleNo, and holdin, it before
her haif-closed eyes.
What is i,?' she inquired. l cannot
read t-there is mist gathering before
my sight"
He repeated the contents of the letter
repeated every word OF ii.
II think | am an expiring woman"
Corona said, when the Count had finished
his perr>ai OF the fatal writing; "and think
ing thus, | would not dare to utter ausht
but the truth. | am wholly innocent IN
nocent in act, word and thought. How
came this note i'll your pos>e>siom'
Your page, Alexo. dropped it in one OF
the corridors. and picked it up, broke it
open, and peruscd it
send for the boy, gaspei Corona, ex-
citeAlv, before go hence Let my name
be cleared from the suspicion thus unjustly
and cruelty cast upon ii. Send for the boy
at once, for my moments on earth may be
numbered
The count did her bidding; but although
every inquiry was made for him through
out the palace. AleXo was nowhere TO be
found or heard OF.
Heavenly powers" exclaimed Corona,
OF receiving the above information. "A
II .w light bursts upon me- AleXo's face
p ..sent now To my mental vsion-Nas the
I. - of my old ene,ny-the face OF Margot
FLvArge,'
The face of Marsot Favarge?"
"Yes-ye>! Recall the boys features to
your mind-his brow his eyes, his nose,
h mouth--all, all belonged TO Murgot Fav-
arge!"
Great heaven cried the Count. striking
his forehead with his palm. But Alexo
was dumb
Gay; had Marsot spoken, her voice
would at once have been recognized by
True! Oh, Corona-Corona, we are the
victims of tiendish plot OF that wicked
wuman's weaving. But | will avenge you;
will follow her to the worlds end-l will
find her. if she he on the surface OF the
ear Ii. oh, Corona-Corona, forgive me
his knees by her side. You NUT not die,
my beloved wiie-no, no. you must not!'
The excitement OF the scene al been too
much for her; she had swooncd.
For many succeeding days Corona lay in
a most critical state; aud the Count was like
one distracted. Fully convinced oiCorona's
innocence, he sought the Prince Pre!des-
laus, and demanded of him an explanation
cnccrnins the letter dropped by the page.
The Prince did not ike being thus brought
to task by the man whom he had been seek
ing to injurc; but thinking that it might be
best to speak the truth, he spoke it. He
| confessed that he had never received even
| Madame Ia Comte>se-that he had been
mislead by AleX", who had made him be-
| lieye that the lady would haven" objection
to receive prince for her adorer.
No doubt now existed i'll the Counts
mind that AleXo and MarSot Favarge were
one and the same per,on. bitterly he re;
| pented the insane raShncss that had led
him to attempt the life of one so very dear
to him; and day and night he prayed that
heaven would spare her, and restore her to
his love. And heaven heard the mans
prayer. and Corona lived, and once more
became healthy, cheerful, and happy. The
,unt was now more than ever devoted to
b y wife, ard in his heart jealousy was ex
tngushed for evermore.
But their mutual enemy was still living
at all events, they supposed she was
aud they were nearly ways on the watch
fearful of her approach. The Count haC
sent messengers all about the country, il
missing A.exo; but they all returned with
ont the slightest tdings o him. For week
tta, quest was continued. but ever with th,
s,me useless result. A.exo had disappeare.
a,if by magic, leaving no trace whateve
behind him.
Milan, and after visiting several parts o
Italy. at length settled in beautiful Flor
ence where in the course OF time, Coron;
presented her husband with little daught
or. which event WAS followed by great re
ioirngs in the Villa Eosati, the place O
their then abode
Well the infant tlourished, as infants d
flourish, and it's parents were prodigiousl
proud OF it and fond OF it as we'll. Nanns
Its nurse-a woman of color. with Il re
handkerchief twisted around her head all
with strangely silent manncrs-appeared
be an admirable pretty woman, quite cor
versant with caudlc and with all rurser
| nd Mt a l,.J In lttr Ii n
charge. Mamma was implicitly contided il
In fact any one could see that she full
understood her business and that sl
would not like any person to interfere
that business. Monsieur lie Comte an
Corona were very grateful to Mamma for th
care she bestowed upon their youn
daughter, for which they were never tire
of fshowing her constant acts of generosit
and Kindness, which same acts the won
an received with chilling politeness and ir
difference, difficult to understand from on
in her sphere. She came. she said from tn
West Indies. and she could neither writ
nor read She had been II slave, but wa
now free. She was very independent an
saucy; and nearly every one about he
strated any violence or harshncss {
manner; far from such, she was apparentl
person of calm temper and placid dspC
sition-a sort OF lcaden woman; vet her Tel
low servants iisiiiKea ana feared ,ler. ail I'll
while unable to say wherefore they did SC
Time progressed, and Corona's littl
daughter SO wound herself about her pa
rents hearts, that they could seldom bea
her to be out of their sight.
, One day. while tondling the child, tn
mother, observing that the nurse locke
more moody than usual, kindly addresse
her.
r "Are you quite we'll. Nanna:''
L. Il tT,,l1,
. but coldv. as she dislikcd being trouble
!. with any questions
] Are you happy Nanna?"
Again the woman bent her head assen
ingy.
= "You ever seem brooding on some pa
trouble. Mamma, the countess went on:
wish could see you look more cheerful
Mamma only lifted her shoulders by W.
freely: and Corona said no more to he
That night the Villa ltosaii was fill
with CONSERVATION and terror. The col 10.
nurse, together with her little charge, III
STRANGELY and suddenly disuunrareL