The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-10


permission, went and returned, saying
that no. physician dared come in the
face OF his highness' proclamation5i
but the truth was that Luigi was IN
the pay Of Venusta and of the duke,
and had sought by his journey not a
physician, but means of informing the
duke how Venusta had sped and Of
seeking counsel from him as to what
should next be done. And that day
and for four days more Venusta abode
in the cave, protesting that she could
not travel, and Antonio used her with
great courtesy. the more when he
heard that the duke, having stayed TO
muster all his force, for fear of An
tonic, had at length appointed the
next day for the burning of her house
at Rilano, and the carrying off OF all
her goods. These tidings he gave her,
and though he spoke gently she fell
at once into great distress, declaring
that she had not believed the duke
would carry out his purpose, and Weep
ing for her jewels and priced posses
sions which were in the house
Now, Count Antonio though no true
man could call him a fool, had yet a
simplicity nobler it may be than the
suspicious wisdom of those who read
ing other hearts by their own, count
all men rouges and all women Wanton,
and when he saw the lady weeping for
the trinkets and her loved toys and
trifes, he said:
NAY, though / cannot meet the
duke face to face, yet [ will ride now
and come there before him. and bring
what you value most from the house"
"You will be taken" said she, and
she gaZed at him with timid, admiring
eyes, 81 had rather thousand times
d1,Of oh
run into danger, my lord. For I owe
to YOU liberty, and perhaps RIFE"
ST will leave Tommasino to Aguard
YOU and ride at once" and Antonio
rose to his feet, smiling at her for her
foolish fears.
Then thing that seemed strange
happened. For Antonio gave a sudden
cry of pain. And behold. he had set
his foot on the point Of a dagger that
was on the ground near to the Lady
Venusta, and the dagger ran deep in
to his foot, for it was resting on a
stone, and the point 5ioped upward, SO
that he trod full and with all his
weight on the point; and he sank back
on the ground With the dagger in his
foot How came the dagger there
How came it to rest against the stone
None could tell then, though it seems
plain to MIN that considers now. None
then thought that the lady who fed
to Antonio as though he We're her
lover, and laVished tears and cries on
him. had placed it there. Nor that
honest Luigi, who made such moan of
his carelessness in dropping his poni-
ard. had taken more pains over the
losing of his weapon than most men do
over the preservation of theirs. Luigi
~ nd ta Iad DIV a
fate. And Count Antonio consoled
both of them. saying that the wound
would soon be well, and that it was
too light a matter for a lady to dim
her bright eyes for the sake Of it.
Yet Hight as the matter was 1t was
enough for Venusta's purpose and for
the scheme of Duke Valentine. For
Count Antonio could neither mount
his horse nor go afoot to Venusta' S
house in Rilano; and if the jewels were
to be saved and the lady's tears dried
(mightiiy. she declared, with pretty
seIf-reprcach, was she ashamed to
foot but yet they were dear to herr,
then Tommasino must go IN his place
to Rilano
land take all save Bena and two
more" said Antonio "For the duke
win not come here If ne goes no
Rilano.''
ST." said Bena, "am neither nurse
nor physician nor woman. Let NTartolo
stay-he says there Is already too much
blood on his conscience-and let me
go. for there is not as much as could
bear on mine, and maybe we shall
have q chance of an encounter with
the foreguard Of the duke
But Venusta. said TO Antonio:
sLet both of these men go and let