New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-14

u
figure below that point lie was stanaing CLOS,
to the window. with his back almost aui'e turieu
shutter hid his face The whole attitude was
precisely as she had often noticed II when ne was
alive. and CHANGED 10 be looking a5 a ~
the street.-the misshapen, protudihg shouiuer'
tho right loo bcnt in more than the other. not a
detail was missing she came upon the vision
suddenly in the cold morning light: hand
The nurse was at her side almost instantly, oeud'
inc over hcr and raising her as we'll as she could
a moment later the maid rushed In-shc slept on
the other side Of the ,n Fra%ccsco Saye him.
sslf who temporarily occupied room next 10
1dclcs and who appeared robei in wide dress
ing.gown of dark brown velvet. and showing signs
before which his wife had tainted and lifted her
In his arms. As he regained his upright position
he eyes naturally fell upon the figure standing at
he window. His sight was not remarkably good.
and from the fact of the shutter being haM closed
the dressing room was darker than the sleeping
chamber. The impression he had was strong and
Who is that man ?" he asked. staring at what
he saw while he held Adcles unconscious form in
The nurse and the maid both started and looked
round The latter laughed little. involuntarily.
1T is not a man. Excelency." she said 1t Is
Donna Adcle's serge driving cloak hung IL
there last night because there not enough hooks
in the dressins-room for all her ENcehehcS
thinGs' - .,. a.. mantle
which had been hung upon the knob of the old
fashioned bolt by the two tapes sewn unler tne
shoulders for the purpose. The folds OF the rover
part had taken the precise shape OF a man S WIDE
trousers and the cape falling half way only. hung
exactly like a Jacket the fulness caused by gath
ering the upper portion together at one point CIV
ING the appearance Of hump on man 9 S,o,,;
That was what frightened her. said Saveili,
Us he turned away with his burden " DO not
thing looked lust ,S rs w wGId Sr0er'
Adele came 10 herself In a state OF the UTMOST
prostraticn Her husband explained to her care
fully what had happened ana trled 10 pennt .;""i
her that she had been the victim OF an optical
Illusion, but, though she did not deny TINS, he
could see that the occurrence had produced very
deep impression on her mind, ana had perhaps hao
an even more serious effect on her nerves lie
dispatched a messenger TO Rome Tor the doctor,
and after doing all he could left her TO the care OF
her nurse and maid and went out i9r t walk In
irksome task imposed upon him when ne remained
at home.
control herself Adele was in q state of the wild
est and most conflicting emotion. Tier streneth
returned indeed, in certain measure after lew
hours, but her distress seemed rather TO increase
than 70 diminish. when she was able TO walk about
the room and submit 10 being dressed Her maid
irritated her unaccountably too and at last, aiV-
Ing way TO the impulse she had felt so long, she
told her that she must 20 AT the end OF the month
The maid, Lucia by name. had for some time
expected that her DAYS in Case Swell, wers num-
bcred. for Adele had shown her dislike very
plainly of late, so that the woman dld not show
much surprise. and accepted her dismissal respect
fully and quietly. promising herself 20 zen 'les
though without the slightest foundation, would be
repeated and believed all over Rome;
Later in the day Adele shut herself up in her
rooe al the time when the sunshine was stream
ing In and making everything look bright and
cheerful She stayed there long time, and the
thoughtful lucia, watching her through the Key.
almost hour upon her knees before the dark
old crucifX which hung above the prdyer-stool
opposite TO the door of the dressing room. She
mot esH hlf 0s
breast. and then buried her face in her hands for
many minutes. The nurse asleep far away
and Lucia was quite safe. AT last Adele rose
and, though acting under an irresistible i'm
pulse, sat down at a table on which She kept her
own writing materials. and began to write rapidly.
For long time she kept her seat. and her hand
moved rapidly over the paper Then. when she
seemed TO have finished, she took up the sheets
though she meant 10 read them over. and did
suddenly, and Lucia saw tie look Of horror that
was in her white face: She seemed 10 hesitate
rose. turned and made two steps. toward the
crucliX, then returned, and hastily folded up the
lengthy letter and slipped il into a large envelope
on which she wrote an address before she left
the table a second time When she opened the
door Of tie drcSsing-rO0m TO call Lucia, the maid
was quietly seated 10y window with piece of
necdle,work. and rose respectfully her mistress
entered.
letter in her hand, but Lucia went toward
the door, she stepped her. No She said sud
have il registered AT once, ard to bring me back
the receipt from the postoiicc Tell him to be
careful as 4 is very important am going to
Lucia took the letter and went ont into the cor
ridor. Adele listened moment. then went back
into her room holtng the door behind her. as well
a. turning the kGy IN the lock Since her fright
in the morning she instinctvely barricaded her
self on that side. But at present the SUNSHINE
was so bright and the lace was so cheerful that
her fears seemed almost er0undess.
Size lay down and closed her eyes. In spite OF
all the emotions Of terror she had suffered on the
previous evening and to-day and although the
writing of any letter 30 long the one she had
just finished must necessarily be very firing she
felt better than she had been for long time. and
would perhaps have fallen asleep if the doctor had
not arrived from Rome soon alterward
On learning all that had happened he yielded
at last 10 necessity and gave her choral to take
In small doses showing her how 10 use IT, II was |
evident that unless she slept she must break down
altogether before long. and IL was no longer sale
10 let Nature have her own way He had brought
the medicine with him, and gave il into Frances |
CO.. keeping. cautioIng him not 10 let her use II
in larger quantities than he had prescribed After
giving various pieces of good advice he returned
10 the city. !,
Lucia gave her mistress the receipt for the |
registered letter, and Adele put it away IN the
small iewel-case she had brought with her 10
the country. That night she took the choral, |
and fell asleep peacefully before haf-past IL
o'clock, not TO awake until nearly on the fol- |
lowing morning. She felt so much better for the |
one nights rest that she went for a long walk with |
her husband, ate well for the first time i'll many
weeks and went TO bed again almost without |
having felt sensation or lear all DAY nor curing
the evening. Once more the choral had the |
desired effect. and on the second morning she |
began 70 imagine that she WAS recovering. The |
world looked bright and cheerful, the swallows |
wheeled and dartcd before her windows, and the |
thrushcs and blackbirds sang far down among |
the frut-trees. Even Francesca was less tire
some and unsympafhetic than usual. She was |
in such good humor that she almost repented ,
OF having dismissed Lucia.
Then the blow came The post brought her |
n letter addressed in small. even handwriting, |
very plain and entirely without flourish or orna- |
ment-such "a hand learned men and the0lo CLANS |
often write. The contents read as follows
Most Excellent Princess: have 10 Inform you |
that have iust received registered ana evidently |
addressed by your most excellent hand. an envelope
bearing the Gcrano postmark. but containing only |
four blank sheets OF ordinary wring-pap As ! |
cannot suppose that Your Exceency has designed 10
make me the object of a Jest. and rs II IS be |
feared tta the bank paper has been substituted for |
n writing Of importance. by malicious person.
have Immediately informed Your Excellency OF what |
has occurred. Awaiting any instruction or enlght-