The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-10-06
VELAZZIO'S DAUGHTER.

my old college chum and the dearest
| friend | had in the world, had gripped
my shoulder, and whispered that i'm
pressive warning only n week before.
"There's man named Velazzio, and
you've got to cut yourself free from
him-or don't be astonished il you're
presently asked to resign your club
membership. It's being talked about,
understand me? The fellow knows
you are hot-headed and have money.
He may be fascinating, but If he isn't
one of the gang of italian Anarchists
conducted to the frontier last year
well, goodnight, Jeff!''
Yes, there was sword hanging over
mel could almost see it, but it was
too late to think of that. Velazzio
himself, with his indescribable fascina-
ton, / could have shaken off by one
determined efiort-but there was Nina,
his daughter Nina! Masters could
look pale and stern; but he had never
seen Nina. In my place l was certain
he would have acted precisely the
same.
How had the deadly thing begun? l
hardly knew. Three months before
the man had happened to sit near me
at debate of local Socialistic
society, and from the first / had been
greatly struck by his face-of n waxy
whiteness, with big, shining eyes, and
curling black beard. At one minute
his expression was eager and wistful
as child's; at the next it would be
sneering and almost tigerish. Possibly
the attraction had been mutual. At
any rate, as stopped to light cigar,
halfway home, a man overlook me. 1t
was the Italian, and he paused as If
he had known me for years. He
volunteered to accompany me home,
and by the time my door was reached,
I was positively fascinated; but the
strangest part of it was that for the
next few days seemed to run across
him wherever l went. Soon I found
myself unconsciously stunning old
friends and associations to be in his
company.
One day-whether it was part of a
plan or not I never Velazzio
went step farther. He invited me to
his house. Quite casually; besides,
somehow or other, up to the moment
when he turned the key in his door
dingy house in street turning off
the Strand-I had been thinking of
Velazzio as a single man, who lived
alone with his dreams-as woman
hater. The truth did nor strike me
even when heard girls voice sing
ing-not until he walked into the room
with the calm remark:
''Mr Jefferson, my daughter Nina
all l have in this world to lovep'
am certain stood with my mouth
open for a moment. His daughter
Nina! She had been sitting at the
window, over some bead-work. When
she turned and smiled, with carmine
spot springing to both cheeks, knew
only one thing I had never seen
such woman as Velazzio's daughter.
Why, with those wonderful dark eyes,
shining as changeable Us his own; red
lips, wax-white skin, and mass of black
hair-well, she looked as if she had
stepped out of an italian picture. II
Velazzio had asked me, as l left his
house that night, to become member
of his secret society, forswearing my
honor and previous ties for his
daughters sake, do not think
should have paused to reflect.
He was too subtle for that. A
month went by-a never-forgotten
month; at the end of it 1 was hope
lessly in love with Nina and ready to
go any length to win her. Velazzio
appeared unconscious. 1t was not not
until he asked me in whisper one
evening to take charge of some incrim-
mating documents, as they would run
less risk of detection in my hands than
in his own, that began to realize how
far had allowed myself to drift into
his power.
"Will I?" 1 repeated, hardly know
ing what said. ''You know 1 would
go farther than that, il you wish to try
me. Velazzio, you surely must under
stand"
''Velazzio is certain enough" he
puts in, ,''but the others--they are
afraid, without stronger proof than
you might care to give" A pause.
He looked me full in the eyes; think
ing OF my money, perhaps, although
it did not strike me then. "Yes, mat
ters will soon come to head now.
Meanwhile" he whispered, 'love does
not always go hand-in-hand with
loyalty"
walked home that night in n sort
OF fever. Give up Nina, felt could
not, and yet l had an indescrib-
able dread OF the price l might have
to pay--of the true character of
velazzio and his associates. There
was full light in my sitting-room.
Entering carefully, Itiptoed upstairs.
Yes, the door was half open; my heart
jumped again 81 sight Of man sitting
y the tsblc@ Masters, resting bis chin