The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

than that little stupid can make. Come,
get not that scowling face again. Thou
art i'll of temper. / will have my father
sell thee for dog. tell thee, be merry
such morning"
While they were returning home deli
cate Neapolitan shell necklace in one of the
booths caught Irene's fancy. In spite of
the nurses remonstrance she insisted on
buying it. She was holding it up adj
miIing it when a company of soldiery
swept by.
Irene and her train drew up hastily
against the wall. Ursula, taking advan-
tage of the crowd allowed herself to be
violently pushed against Irene, knocking
the necklace out of her hand to the ground,
where it was trampled to fragments in an
instant.
Irene turned upon her like a little fury,
and the blows ralned thick and fast upon
her face and head.
Ursula's reason left her completely, and
ii the nurse had not caught her hand the
little Lady Irene would have been paid in
kind.
"Dost wish the lash, mad childg' whis-
pered the nurse. "Fall back among the
slaves. Irene will soon forget"
Irene may but Ursula will not, NUT
tered the maddened girl.
Late that evening the nurse came to
Ursula's little pallet.
"l heard the Nazarene tonight" she
whispered, softly, land he said the I'M
known god did not teach vengeance, like
Jupiter and the other gods, but that we
were to love them that hated US and do
good to them that despitefully used u.s."
Ursula sat up, pushing back the tangle
OF her thick black hair.
els. the unknown god great 2" she asked,
eagerly. If l offer Iibations to him he
may strike Irene dead She does not know
him to intercede.''
The nurse shook her head.
mo, thou wicked child; the Nazarene
says, Though he be greater than all gods,
he is 8 god who says to love-
''Is that the greatest thing-to lover"
asked Ursula, wonderingly.
"Truly, | think So" answered the
woman "Would it not be the greatest
thing for thee to love Irene?"
'The gods themselves could not do a
greater thing" answered Ursula, with
clinched fists and flashing eyes.
Thou art not Roman, but thou art of
Thessaly, and brave blood runs in the
veins of Thessaly. Thy father was noble
show thy birth-and love-" counseled the
willy nurse.
The greater part of the night Ursula lay
with wide-open eyes thinking deeply.
IF loved Irene | would tell her what l
overheard Lady Fulvia say TO Lady VILLAIN.
in her. She is vain enough now. Bah! 1
will not please her SO; but then the harder
| the task the greater it is to do it. Well, l
will wait until the morning. Perhaps the
unknown goo will aid me-" she communed
! to herself.
As usual, the next morning she took her
station in the portico.
Irene came in pleasant humor, her
small form enveloped in a white robe,
! heavily EN- broidered in purple.
''Thou hast a brighter face this morn
! ing" she greeted Ursula. "I beset thee
right hardly yesterday, did l not?" she
continued, with a ringing laugh. "'Twas
most uncouth of thee to break my pretty
| chain, but nurse says it was the soldiers
fault, not thine. Here's that bracelet [
| promised to pay thee for the headache 1
! gave thee. Put it on!'' she commanded,
| imperiously, throwing it at Ursula's feet.
| The blood surged over the girls face as
| she stooped unwillingly and slipped the
! bauble On.
| II thank thee, Lady Irene," she said,
softly.
Irene looked at her in astonishment.
''Some one must be teaching thee man
ners," she said.
Out among the great beds of flowers
they gathered industriously awhile, Irene
chattering necessarily, Ursula, as usual,
quiet.
At length Ursula said:
Irene, / heard somewhat of thee the
other day."
MOI" replied Irene curiously. "What
| heardst thou?''
''The Ladies VILLAIN and Fulvia were in
the portico awaiting thy mother. Thou
hadst but passed. Dost rememb ber2''
Irene nodded
Lady Fulvia said THE little Irene bids