Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-20
CHAPTER xXxIT.
GUARDIoL4A AGAIN.


Count Guardiola, so long out of mind,
as to be almost out OF memory. his
himself not forgotten the scene that
introduced him TO the reader. He re-
members it with vivid distinctness-
every incident to the minutest And
not strange he should, since every day,
almost every hour, is he reminded of 1t
by some conversation overheard. or
squib sent after him in the streets.
Perhaps there are no people in earth
who can more thoroughly relish good
thing said or done than the Italians,
and he gets the full benefit of their APP
preciatiye talent.
Smarting under the shafts of ridicule
thus shot at him, he would give much
never to have laid hands on the political
offender, but more to get them on him
again. If Luigi Torreani had wished
to make Rome the last city in the world
where he might seek refuge he could
not have hit upon better means for
the accomplishment Of his end. Ever
since the day Of his escape there is not
house in it where he could have been
harbored with safety, not a corner
where he might lie concealed from the
lynx-eyed agent of Count Guardiola.
Even the Ctcombs-so oft giving
shelter to Indicators as to innocent
men-have been ransacked in search
Of him. Though living in London he
is aware of all this. For he has not
been forgotten by his friends left be-
hind at low-conspirators Of
his club, who keep him warned of this
watchfulness, so long and zealously
maintained. No wonder that on reach
ing Marseilles prudence counselled him
10 remain there, at least a little longer.
Tantalizing too, en- route to revisit his
native home-on its very threshold as
it were-thuS to be held back! Denied
the pleasure so long and so fondly an
ticipated of grasping his fathers hand,
kissing his sisters cheek, and some
thing yet sweeter-who can blame him
for thinking so?-the lips Of Camillal
If the eontadina has also been absent
from the readers mind, she has not
been out of his scarce moment And
there is another who remembers her
with like consistency, though with senti-
ments of a somewhat different kind.
Count Guardiola is equally DESTROYS of
seeing her, and saluting her rich red
lips. That beautiful face that came be-
fore him in the shifting panorama
around the Egyptian oblisk-though
hurriedly and but for an instant-has
left an impression upon him likely to
last long. Pleasurable, too, despite the
frown with which it confronted him
and the act of hostility that was much
as aught else contributed to his own
defeat and humiliation. Since then he
has not again beheld it, though scarce
a. day passes without his making en-
deavor to do so.
To give some detail Of the measures
taken by him, we must return upon
time, to period several weeks after
the scene in the Piazza di Popolo. The
Gardiner captain in his military quar-
tiers, in an apartment splendidly furn-
ished and decorated, around him every
thing to crafty the sight, and on a
table before him something to admins
ter to grosser senses-wines of best
bouquet, and cigars Of finest fragrance.
One OF the lattee is letween his lips,
while from a goblet by his right hand
he takes frequent draughts OF a beyer-
age which would make him cheerful.
For all he is not, but the reverse; re-
iecting with an aeerbity which causes
black shadows to fit across his brow.
They are not persistent, however.
Every cloud had bright side toward
the sun, and there. is such ON that
hanging over him. AS the wine warns
him the edge Of his bitterness becomes
blunted, and pleasant thoughts take its
place. His fancy centuries up the face
of the contadina, with its rich brown
color and cheeks blood-red, the great
dark eyes flashing fercely and half
savage with excitement; the magnifi-
cent form draped in its attractive dress
1.-THE as that OF an angry leopard; and.
dwelling on this, he forgets his hostile
attitude, could forgive, were it only
now possible TO approach her with
amiable embrace. He would even be
willing to forego capture Of the artist
II assured that Of his model. as the
hunter in pursuit Of a hare will turn
aside for the nobler quarry Of the stag.
In the eyes of Captain Guardiola the
grander game is now the contadina.
A smile iTradiates his features as he
thinks Of her. anticipating triumph S,ili.
it rs not cheerful. but grim. Ike the Iurid
lightning as Il splits the cloud leaving the
sky sombre az before For his hopes are
not high. ard day By day getting lower.
For several weeks has Re been engaged IN
the pursuit. giving al bis energies 10 il.
ana. as yet. nearly ali he has learnt Of her
Is her namz-Camilla Buonofantt-and that
she IS. or supposed 10 be. z peasant girl.
yArrae. N Tgor1sz from ffs1 Fri -x~f.rs