The Washington times., 1895-02-24

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Baratesta. the duke making no resistance,
but sitting motionless with bewiids cred sta re-.
Then Antonio looked round, for he knew
| that Lorenzo would seon come. And Tor the
last me he bent his eyes again on the dukes
eyes in very long gaze and the duke cow
ered and shivered, moaning: .'You hurt me,
| you hurt mel'' Then Antonio said:
"Be still and speak not till l return and bid
| you" and he suddenly left the duke and ran
at the top of his speed along under the wall
/ OF the garden, and came where the wall
ended, and there was a flight of steps leading
| up OIL the top Of the wall. Running up them
Antonio stood for moment on the wall, and
| the river ran fifty lent below. But he heard
cry from the garden. and beheld Lorenzo
rushing up to the du Q. and behind Lorenzo
the captain OF the guard and two men. who
led maid n in white. Then Count Antonio.
! having commended himself to the keeping OF
God. leapt headforemost from the top OF the
4 wall into the river. and his body Glove the
/ water as an arrow c.eaveS the wind.
Now Lorenzo marveled greatly a. what he
saw, and came TO the duke crying: my
| lord. what does this mean? Antonio flies
But the duke answered nothing sitting with
empty eyes and lips set in rigid smile; nor
! dill he move. MY lord. what ails you?''
cried Lorenzo. Yet the duke did not answer.
Then Lorenzo's eyes fell ON the fragments OF
ihe phial which lay broken on the rim of the
| fish pond, where Antonio had flung it. and he
4
| Where is the potion?' And the duke did not
1 answer. And Lorenzo was much bewildered,
| and in sore fear; for il seemed as though his
bighness' senses were gore. And Lorenzo
| said: by some means he has drunk the
| potion"
And he ran up to the duke and caught him
| by the arm and shook him violently. seeking
to arouse him rom his stupor. anu calling
his name with entreaties and crying: "He es-
capes. my lord, Antonio escapes; rouse your
SELF. my lord he eseapes! But the duke did
no more than lift heavy, dull eyes to Loren
zo's lace in puZzling inquiry. And. seeing
the strange thing. the captain of the guard
hurried up. and with him the Lady Lucia.
| and she said. Alas, my lord is i'll! and, COM
ing TO his highne>s, she set her cool. soft
band on his hot, throbbing brow, aud touk
| perfume from silver flask thar hung at her
girdle and wetted her handkerchief with it
| and Dath6d his brow, whispering sot sooth-
ing words to him, as though he had been
sick woman.
For let woman have what grudges she
may against man, yet he gains pardon for
all Is soon as no becomes sick enough to
let her nurse ana comfort him; and Lucia
was az tender To the duke as to the Count An
tonic himself. and forgot all save the need OF
giving him ease and rousing him from his
stupor. But Lorenzo cried angriy 81 at
least nave my sensesr' And he sail TO the
captain OF the guard. 'I must needs stay with
has leapt from the wall into the river. Go
and bring him here, dead or alive, and will
be yonr warrant TO the duke. But if he be
as when | saw him last he Will give you
sp'al trouble For he was like child Tor
weakness and folly" And having said this
he turned TO the duke again and gave his aid
TO Lucia ministrations.
Now. the gentleman who commanded the
dukes guard at This time was a Spaniard. by
name Coroqua, and he was young. OF high
courage, and burning to do some great deed.
II pray he be as he is wont to be. vet / W II
bring him to the feet OF ray lord. the duke. !"
And he ran swiftly through the hall aud
called for his horse. and drawing his sword
ro q alone out OF the city and across the
bridge seeking Antonio and saying to him
s'lf. What a thing il take MIN! And II he
say newly, / will show that gentleman
OF Andaiusia Can die.
Yet he thought for an instant of the house
where his mother livei; then he scanned the
plain, ami he beheid a man running some
half mile away; and the man seemed to be
II aking for the hi on which stood the ruins
of Antonos house that the duke had burnt.
Then Coroqua set spurs 10 his horse, but the
man. whom by his stature and gait Coroqua
knew TO be Antonio. ran very swiftly. and
WAS not overtaken be ore he came to the Mill,
and he began to mount by a very steep.
rugged path, and he was out of sight in the
trees when Coroqua came to the foot. And
and could not mount the path, and Coroqua
leaped of his back and ran on foot up the
path. sword in hand. Once he came in sight
OF Antonio round curve of the path. three
parts o. the way up the hill. And Antonio
was leaning against the trunk of a tree and
wrncing the water out OF his clouk. And
Coroqua drew near, his sword in hand, and
with prayer to the Holy Virgin on his lips.
And he ire nbled not with fear. but because
fate offered great prize and his namc would
be famed throughout Italy il ne slew or took
Antonio Of Mon Velluto. and for fame, even
as for woHans smile. u young man will
tremble as a coward guakes for fear.
The Count Antonio stood as tn 'ugh sunk
| in a revery, yet presently. hearing Coroqua
tread, he raised his eyes. and, smiling kindly
on the young man. he said:
Very strange are the ways of heaven. sir.
l think that the wizard of Baratesta spoke
truth and did not lie 10 the duke. Yet have
that same power which the wizard claimed,
although the duke had none over me. We
are children. sir and our game is blind man s
buff; but all are blinded and it is but the
narrow st glimpse that we obtain now and
again by some clever shifting OF the handker-
chief. Yet there are some things clear
enough-as that man should do his work
and lie clean aud true. What would you with
me, sir For do not think L know you."
Il am OF hndalusia, and my name Coroqua.
I am captain OF his highness' guard. and
| COlHo ~ pIiuB yOut uiife VI Oedut 10 HIS pres
ence."
"And are you come alone on that errand,
sir?'' asked Antonio with a smile that he
strove to smother lest it should wound the
young mans honor.
David slew Goliath, my lord" said the
Spaniard, witt bow.
Then Count Antonio held out his hand to
the young man and said courteously:
'Sir, your valor eds no proof and fears
no reproa.h. / pray you suffer me go In
peace; would not fight with you, il l may
avoid 1t honorably. For what has happened
h s left me more in the mood Tor thinking
than for fighting. Besides, sir, you are young.
and far off in Andalusia loving eyes, and
maybe sparkling eyes, are strained to the
horizon. seeking your face as you return"
WHAT'S all that, my lordl'' asked CoroquR
81 am a man, though a young one, and am
here to carry you to the duke" And he
touched Antonio's sword with his, saying,
"Guard yourself
ut is with great pain and reluctance that
l take my sword, and call you to witness of
it, but if / must. must" and the count took
up his position aud they crossed swords.
Now, Coroqua was we'll taught and skilful,
but he did not know the cunning which
Antonio had learned at the school OF Giaeomo
in Padua. nor had he the strength and en-
durance of the count. And Antonio would
fain have wearied him out. and then, giving
him some slight wound to cover his honor,
have lett him and escaped; but the young
l.