Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-02-11

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Of beautiful noxers beside him.
.You mar % no~; Pepita,' said
the girl. The znnid rev . lace
shawl over the sk6qlders Of her
mistress'an dep.S The Prince
leaned over tbs b.lc,1 and whis-
pred: 'Signorina.'s !. The startled
girl looked mp and down the street,
and then at the. balcony. which
stood ont against the opalescent
sky, the tracery Of iron work shov-
ing like delicate etching on the lu-
minous background. She flushed
and dropped her eyes, making no
reply. 'Signorina,' repeated the
Prince. Il, too, am an exile.
Pardon me. It is in remem-
brance Of our lovely city and with
that he lightly aung the bouquet,
which fell at her feet on the floor OF
the balcony. For Q few moments
the girl did not move nor raise heI
eyes. Then she cast quick glance
through the open window into hs'
room. After some slight hesita.
tation she stopped gracefully and
picked up the bouquet. 'Ah, beau
tiful Venice 7 she mnrmured with
q sigh, still not looking upward
The Prince was delighted With The
success of his arst advance, which
is always the difficult step. Even
ing after evening they sat there Ia
ter and later. The acquaintance
ripened to its inevitable conclusion
the conclusion the Prince had
counted on from the FIRST.
One evening she stood in th'
darkness With her cheek pressed
against the wall ct the corner Of hel
balcony nearest 10 him; he looked
over aud downward at her. n
. .>snnot be. II cannot Uc, shs said
with . quaver in her voice. but {
quavcr which the Prince recognized
with his large experience, as tn
tone of yielding.
1T must be, he whispered doS'
to her. 1T was ordained frpm th'
first. It ,:as to be-
The girl we weeping silently
1T is impossible she said at last
my servant sleeps outs,>f 70 my door
Even if she did not know, ~ .@ar SER
want would, and there would he
gossip-and scandal. It is impos-
sible.'
Nothing 10 impossible, cried the
Prince, eagerly, where true love
exists. l shall lock my door, and
Pietro shall know nothing about it.
He never comes unless I call him.
I will get q rope and throw it to
your balcony. Lock your door as I
do mine. In the darkness nothing
10 seen.'
mo. no. she murmured. THAT
would not do. You could not climb
back again, and all would be lost.
ooh, nonsense cried the young
man, eagerly. 'It is nothing to
climb back He was about to add
that he had done it frequently be-
fore, but he checked himself in time.
For q moment she was silent, then
said: Il cannot risk your going
back. 1t must be certain. IL you
get a rope-a strong rope-and put
o loop for your foot. and pass the
other end of the rope to me around
the stanchest railing Of your balco-
ny, ! win let you down to the level
Of my own. Then you can easily
swing yourself within reach. If
you End you cannot climb back /
can help you bypulling on the rope,
and you will ascend as you came
down.
The Prince laughed lightly. DO
you think he said, 'that your frail
hands are stronger than mine p
-Four hands, she replied, 'are
stronger than two. Besides, I am
not so weak a., perhaps, you think
very well.' he replied, not in q
mood to cavil about trivialities,
when shall it be-tonight?'
NO; tomorrow night. You must
get your rope tomorrow
Again the Prince laughed quiet
ly. Il have the rope in my room
now he answered.
'You were very sure, she said,
softly.
. NO; not sure. ] was strong in
hope. ls your door locked 7
'Yes, she replied in an agitated
whispered. But it 10 still early.
Wait an hour or two.'