The Washington times., 1895-02-10

your highness will scarce sit down before
Forniola with the season now far gone.
$50 I am baikedT' cried the prince. and ne
rose TO his feet. and this trick is played me
by friendi'
II am Forniola,' said Antonio. flushing
red. "And while there was war l might IN
all honor have played another trick and car
ried you not hither, but TO Forniola.
Il care not, I" said the prince. angrily. 1T
was trick and no fair fighting
BE it as you will, my lord said Antonio.
"a mans own conscience is his only judge.
Will you draw your sword, my lord?"
But the prince was very angry, and he an
swered roughly:
Il will not fight with you, and I will not
speak more with you. will 60.
Il will lead your highness to your horse,
said Antonio.
Then he led him some hundreds of PAGES
down the hill, aud they came where a fine
horse stood really saddled.
1T is not my horse, said the prince.
'Be not afraid, my lord. 1t is not mine,
either" said Antonio. smiling. "a rogue who
serves me- and is called Bena, forgot his man
ners so far as TO steal it from the quarters of
the duke. / pray you use some opportunity
OF sending it back to him. or shall be dubbed
horse stealer with the rest"
II am glad it is not yours, said the prince,
and he prepared to mount, Antonio holding
| the stIrrup for him. And when he gas
mounted Antonio told him how to ride so
that he should come safely TO his own men
aud avoid certain scouting parties OF the
duke that he had thrown out behind him as
! be marched back to Forniola. And having
! done this Antonio stood back and barred his
! head and bowed.
And where is your horse?'' asked the
! prince. suddenly.
II have no horse. my lord said Antonio.
'AIy men and all my horses have ridden back
| to cur hiding place in the hills. | am alone
/ here, for thonght that your highness would
! kill me and | should need no horse"
| How, then, will you escape the scouting
| parties?H
4 fear shall not escape them, my lord, .
! said Antonio. smiling again.
And if they take you?"
! '0f surety shall be hanged. said Count
! Antonio
The Prince of Mantivoglia gathered his
brow into heavy irown. but the corners Of
his lips twitched, and he did not look at An
tonic. And thus they rested few moments
| till suddenly the prince, unable TO hold him
| self longer, burst in great and merry peal of
laughter and be raised his fist and shook it
at Antonio. CRYING:
"a scurvy trick, Antonio, BY my faith,
scuryier trick by far than that other of yours.
Art thou not ashamed. man? All. you cast
down your eyes. You dare not look at me,
| Antonio
indeed, have naught TO say for this last
| trick. my lord said Antonio. laughing also.
Indeed l must carry this knave with
me, cried the prince. "Faugh, the traitor.
Get up behind me, traitor Clasp me by the
! waist. knave! Closer, knayel Aa, Antonio,
l know not in what mood heaven was when
you were made. 1 would had the heart Io
leave you to your hanging For what a story
Will my princess make Of this l shall be the
best derided man in all Mantiyoglia-"
II think not, my dear iord,' said Count
| Antonio. "Unless a love that a man may
reckon on as MS ladys love, and a chivairy
that does not fail and a valor that has set
two armies all agape in wonder, be your mat
tiers for mirth in Mantivoglia. And indeed.
my lord l would that / were riding TO the
lady love best in the world, as your high
! ness rides; for she might augh till her sweet
eyes ran tears so l were near to dry them"
The prince put back his hand toward An
tonic and clasped Antonios hand and said:
what said she when you left her. Antonio?
For with woman love is often more than
honor and their tears rust the bright edge Of
| a mans conscience
Her heart is ever as our lady's; and with
tears ano smiles she left me, said Antonio,
AMI he grasped the princes hand. Come.
my lord, we must ride, or II is prison for
you and a halter for me.
So they rode together in the morning on
ths horse that Bena had stolen from among
the choicest of Duke Valentines and keeping
cunninEly among the spurs of the hills, they
were sighted once only from afar OF by the
dukes scouts and escaped at canter and
came safe TO the princes army. where they
were received with great wonder and JOY.
! And the prince would not turn again to be-
siege Forniola for he had had I'll of fight
ing, and the season grew late for the siege Of
the walledscity So he returned with all his
pewer to Mantivoglla, having Won by his ex-
pedition much praise for his yalor. and moth
ing else in the wide world beside; which thing
indeed is so common in the wars of princes
| at wis ms n cadSad a
wonder at IL.
But the Princess of Mantivoglia heard all
that had passed with great mirth, and made
many jests upon her husband, and again, lest
tho prince should take her jesting in evil part,
more upon Duke Valentine. But concerning
Count Antonio and the Lady Lucia she did
not Jest. Yet one day. CHANGING to be alone
witt Count Antonio-for he stayed many days
at the court of Mantivoglia. and was treated
with great honOr-she said to him, with
smile and half-raised eyelids:
Had I been m1u, my Lord Antonio, L
would not have returned alone from the gates
of Forniola. In truth, your lady needs pa
tience for her virtue, Count Antorior'
~ trust, then, that heaven sends it 10 her,
madam" said Antonio.
And to you, Also she retorted with a
laugh. cana to her trust in you also, pray
For an absent lover is often an absent heart.
Antonio, and hear that many ladies would
fain soften your exile. And what l hear the
Lady Lucia may hear Also"
''She would hear it as the Idle babbling of
water over stones,' said Antonio. But,
madam. am glad 1 have some honesty in
me- For If there were not honest men and
true maids in this world think more than a
half of the wits would starve for lack Of
food
"Mercy! mercy!'' she cried Indeed, your
wit has keen edge, my lord"
''Yet is not whetted or truth and chastity, y
said he.
She answered nothing for a moment, then
she drew near TO him and stood before him.
regarding his face. and she sighed, HeighoI''
And again, 'Heighor and then dropped her
at last she said:
ITO some faithfulness is easy. 1 give no
great praise to the Lady Lucia And when
she had said this she turned and left him. aud
was but little more in his company so long as
he stayed at Mantivoglia. And she spoke no
more OF the Lady Lucia. But when he was
mounting, after bidding her farewell she
gave him white rose from her bosom, say
ing carelessly:
''Your color, my lord, and the best Yet
God made the other roses also
''All that he made he loves, and in all there
is good" said Antonio, and hs bowed very
low, and, having kissed her hand. took the
rose, and he looked into her eyes and smiled
saying, "Heaven give peace where it has
given wit and beauty and so he rode away
to join his company in the hills. And the
Princess of Mantilvoglia. having watched til
he was out of sight, went into dinner anc
was merrier than ever she had shown herself
before, so that they said: "She feared Antonio
and is glad that he is gone" Yet that nigh
I, hz-l1 l1,,oI1 I ol.z AefNs