Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23


Come said his companion, with impa-
tience. PUT that broken rubbish In your
pocket and let us go and see the catheorai
and s. Fosca. for 1t will soon grow DARK:
They went, without visiting the basiifca'
back to Venice in the twilight. which deep
encd into night as they drew near the city;
the moon was high and the air sun.
They dined in the spacious rooms set ASIDE
in the hotel for Andreis. When the olnher
was over he rose.
"Win you Gomez he asked
"Where?" asked Damer.
ITO the Ca Laranigra." said Andreis'
with a boyish laugh.
mot l." replied Damer
"a rivederci, then" said Andreis.
But he fingered moment.
1T will not be fair to you, he SAID, ior
me to take the credit Of having found this
necklace"
Whatever honor there may be in the sal
wage cede It, tell you willingly.
"of course, I shall tell her that IL was
you.
There Is no need to do so; am not
squire Of danes She will prefer a SicllIan
prince to a plain man of science however,
you must find the lady first. The true
owner lies under some moss-grown slab In
some chapel crypt, no doubt.
why will you speak of death? hate it.
Hate it as you may, 1t will overtake
you"
He looked at his companion as he spoke,
ana thought what he did not speak:
Yes; strong as you are, and young as
you are. and fortunate as you are, you, too;
will die like a pauper and the cripple and
the beggar!"
The reflection gratifed him; for of the
youth, Of the beauty. Of the fortune he was
envious, and with all his scorn of higher
intellect he despised the childiike. happy.
amorous temperament and the uncultured
mind which went with them.
IF / had only his wealth." he thought
often. "Or If he only had my knowledge!
The sun was setting behind the 1strian
hills, and they depended on their own oars
to take them back to Venice in the rose
hued dusk, and few seconds later the
cony told his companion that the gondola
was moving.
It was 12 o'clock when into the empty,
brilliantly lighted room Andreis entered,
and came across it to where Damer sat on
the balcony.
Il have found herr' he said. with joyous
triumph. The moonlight shone on his dark,
starry eyes. his laughing mouth. his tall
figure, full of grace and strength, like the
form Of the Greek Hermes in the Vatican.
Damer laid aside his papers with impa-
thence.
"And she has welcomed you, apparently?
It Is midnight, and you look victorious"
Andreis made a gesture of vexed profess
tation.
Pray. do not suspect such things.
sent in my card. and begged her major
dOmo to say l had found her necklace. She
sent word for me to go upstairs, that she
known to her. She had a duenna. 1t was
all solemn and correct. She was enchanted
to find her necklace. 1t was an heirloom
which Laranigra gave her. He was killed
in a duel. as told you, two years ago. She
is very beautiful. and looks twenty years
old. even less. I was very honest. I told
her that an Englishman who was travelling
with me had had the honor Of finding the
opals. and she wishes to see you tomor-
row. promised to take you in prima sera !;
you surely ought to be grateful"
Damer shrugged his shoulders and looked
regretfuly at his papers and pencils.
women only disturb one," he said, I'M
graciously.
Andreis laughed
1T is that disturbance which perfumes
our life and shake the rose leaves over 1t.
But. I remember. to attract You a woman
must be lying, dead or alive. on an oper-
ating table, - 5'
alive by preference" said Damer 1.-The
dead are little use to us: their nervous
system is still. like stopped clock"
"A creature must suffer to interest you?"
Certainly"
Andrels shuddcred slightly.
"Why did you save me?' -
Oamer smiled.
my dear prince. 1t is my duty to save
when can. 1 should have preferred to let
of resistance in conflict with the destruc-
ton which was menacing them. But I
could not follow my preferences. I was
called in to assist your natural powers by
was bound to do so.'
Andreis made grimace which signifled
disappointment and distaste. -
IF my mother knew you looked at 1t In
that way she would not adore you, my
friend, as she does"
CHAPTER II.
Veronica Laranigra was charmed to find
her necklace: she was still more charmed
to find an adventure through 1t.
Ii
soft with admiration, who had brought
her back the opals, looked like a knight
out of fairyland. She was young; she
was weary of the seclusion of her Wild
owhood; she was kept in close con-
straint by those who had authority over
her; she was ready to re-enter life In Its
enjoyments, it's amuSementS, Its anec-
tons. its desires. The tragic end or ner
husband had impressed and saddened her,
but she had recovered from its shock. The
marriage had been arranged by their re-
spective families, and the heart OF neither
had been consulted. Laranigra, however.
had become much i'll love with her, and mad
left her all which 1t was III his power TO
leave, and that had been much.
"Hcw clever it was of you to see my
opals under the grass and the sand! she
said, few minutes later, as Andreis pre-
scented Damer in the long, dim room hung
with tapestries and rich in bronzes, mar
bles, pictures and mosaics.
She was like picture of Caterina Cor
marc as she stood on the balcony of her
house; her gold hair was inclosed in a
pearl-sown net. and her cloak of red satin,
lined with sables, lay on her shoulders and
fell to her feet like the robes of a
Dagaressa; for her dead lord she had felt
no regret. The balcony was filled with
spiraea, whose white blossoms were like
snow about her in the starlight and lamp
light as the gondola which brought An
dre:s and his companion to her palace
paused below at the water stairs. She
threw her cloak on a couch as she spoke;
she was dressed in black, but the gauze
| sleeves Of the gown showed her fair arms.
| and the bodice was slightly open on her
bosom; her face was bright like a rose
| above the deep shadow of the gown. Her
hair had been a little ruffied by the wind
| of the evening as she had stood on the
| balcony.
Madam" said Damer, as he bowed to
| her with a strange and unwelcome sense
| of embarrassment, prince Andreis should
| not have told you that had such good
| fortune. am no fit squire of DANES; he
| is"
| She did not catch his meaning. She
| turned from him little impatiently, and