The Washington times., 1895-03-17
Chronicles Of CoJnt Antonio
BY ANTHONY
81 o &c.
Ncopyright by ANTHONY Hopel
BY ANTHONY HOPE.

! iessiy-
My lord, Jacopo's foot slipped. and the
poor fellow has fallen down a precipice
thirty feet high onto the rocks below, and
we fear that he is sore hurt"
Nenusta sprang a step forward, for she
! suspected (What the Truth waS) that Luigi
j himself had aided the slipping of Jacopo's IS
] foot by sudden lurch against him: but she
said nothing, and Antonio baGe Luigi go
! quick and look after Jacopo and take the
other youth with him.
But we shall leave you unguarded, my
| lord" SAID Luigi, with cunning show of
solicitude
Il am in no present danger, and the
| youth may be dying. Go speedily" said
| Antonio.
Luigi turned and with the other youth
/ iTommaSIno told Niccolo his name. but
! Siccolo had forgotten it, rushed off, and
| even as he went Venusta cried: "It is
! lie You yourself brought it aboutl''
But Luigi did not hear her, and Antonio,
lett again alone, asked her, What mean
you?"
NAY, / mean naught," said she af-
frighted, and when fixed 10y his in =
| quiring eyes not daring to Confess her
| treachery
II trust the lad is not killed." said An
tonic.
Il care not for thousand lads. Think
or yourself, my lord " And planning to
| rouse Antonio without betraying herself,
| she said: Il distust this man Luigi. Is
he faithful? The duke can olier great re-
wards. f."
he has served me well have no rea-
son 20 mistrust him." said Antonio.
-Ah, you tIGst every oUei'' she cried in
passion and in scorn OF his simplicity
'-You trust Luigil You tn-st net"
why not?" said he But indeed, now
have no choice. For they cannot carry
| both JacopO and NE up the path
''Jaoopo! You would stay Tor Jacopo?"
she flashed out fiercely.
III nothing else, yet my oath would
! bind me not to leave him while he lives
For we OF the band are all bound to one
another as brethren by an oath, and it
would look Ill if ], for whom they all
| have given much, were the first to break
the oath. So, here / sm and here ! must
stay" and Antonio ended smiling, and his
| foot hurting him while he stood. sat down
again and rested against the rock
1t was now late and evening fell. and
Nenusta knew that the dukes men should
soon be upon them. And she sat down near
Antsnio and buried her face il ber hands.
and she cried. for "A Antonio had so won upon
her by bis honor and mis- gentleness. and
most of all by his loyal clinging TO the poor
Sey, Jacspo, that Ehe could not think OF
hcr treacfery without iosthing and horror
Yet abe dare net tell him-thaU now seemed
worse To her than death. And while
they sat thus Luigi came and told An
tsniO that the youth was sore hurt and that
they could Dot lin him.
Then stay 10y him, said Antonio 'I
need nothinsi''
And Luigi Bowed and turning went back
10 the other youth and bade him stay by
JacopO, while be went by Antonio's orders
10 seek for some one TO aid in carrying him.
Il may chance" said he. Ito find some
shepherds" So he went, hut not TO seek
4
tell them That they might safely come upon
Antonio. for he had now none to guard him.
Then Antonio Haid TO Verusta:
Why do you sit and weep?"
For he thought that she wept because he
had scorned the love in which her words
declared her to hold him, and he was sorry.
But she made no answer. And he went on
Il pray you do not weep. For do not
think 1 am blind to your beauty or to the
sweet kindness which you have bestowed
upon me. And in all things that may
VIII truly and faithfully serve you unto
nay DEATH
Then she raised her head and she said:
That VIII not be for long, Antonio"
Il know not, but for so long as it may
be- said he.
1T viii not be for long" she said again.
and burst into quick, passionate sobs. Uhat
shook her, and left her at last breathless
and exhausted.
anu Bc tODkeu DPT Tot ME ana SalG.
There is something that you do not tell
me. Yet If it be anything that causes you
PAIN or shame, you may tell me as readily
as you would any man. For am not hard
man. and have many things on my con-
science that forbid ME 10 judge harshly
of another"
She raised her head and she lifted her
hand into the air. The stiffness of even
ing had fallen and a light wind blew up
frsm the plain. There was no sound save
from the flowing Of the river and the gentle
rustic of the trees.
''Hark!'' said she. "Harll Harki" and
With every repetition Of the word her voice
rose, till it ended in a cry of terror.
Antonio set his hand TO his ear and lis
tened intently.
1t is the sound Of mems feet on the rocky
bath, said he, smiling. Tommasino re-
turns, and doubt not that he brings your
Jewels with him. viii you not give him
smiling welcome? Aye, and to me, too your
?smiles would be welcome. Your weeping
pierces my heart, and the dimpess ofyoureyes
is like a cloud across the sun"
Venusta's sobs had ceased and she looked
at Antonio with face calm, white, and set
1T is not the Lord Tommasino,' she
said. The men you hear are the dukes
mems" and then and there she told him the
whole. Yet she spoke as though neither he
nor any other were there, andas thoughshere-
hearsed for her own ear some lesson that
abe had learned. so IifeleSs and monotonous
was her voice as il related the shameful
thing. And at last she ended, saying:
Thus, in An hour you viii be dead or
captured and held-for a worse death. ItisI
who have dono it And she bert her head
again tomect her hands; yet she did not cover
erface. but rested her chin on he rhands, and
her eyes were fixed immovably on Count An
tonic.
For the space of minute or two he sat
Silent. Then he said:
Il fear theR that Tommaslno and the rest
have had fight against great odds But
they are stout fellows-Tommasino and old
BeBa and the rest. 1 hope it is well with
them"
Then, after pause, he went on:
Yes, the sound OF the steps comes nearer.
They will be here before long now. ButIhad
sot thought it of Luigi. The roguel trust
they will not find the two lads.
yenuHta sat silent waiting for him to re-
proach her. He read her thought on her
face and he smiled at her and said toher:
GO and meet them; or go, if you viii,
away up the path, for you should not be here
when the end comes"
Then she flung herself at his feet, asking
forgiveness. but finding NO words for her
prayer.
Aye, ave. said he, gently. But of
God you must ask it in prayers and good
deeds" And he dragged himself to the
cave and set himself with his back against
the rock and his face toward the path along
which the dukes men must come And he
called again to yenusta, saying: 'I pray
you, do not stay here"
But Ehe heesed him not, but sat again on
the ground, her chin resting on her hands,
and her eyes on his.
''Harki they are near now. said he And
he looked around at sky and trees and at the
ripping, swift river, and at the long dark
shadows OF the hills; and he listened to the
faint sounds of the birds and living creatures
in the wood. And great lust of life came