The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-11-03


and a moments survey of the face assured
me it was my host of the hovel, he who had
SO strangely disappeared with the girl, when
l fought with Brico at Perugia.
"A good day to you. friend!" called out,
"and well met"
''Who calls! Who is there!" he an
swered.
Zone moment; let me climb up these
stairs" and / made my way to the landing,
and held out my hand.
He took it in silence, but his grip was
warm.
"Signore," he said, after moment, II do
not know your name, but whoever you are,
Mathew Cortes owes you much, and will
some day show himself grateful"
MY name," said, "for the present, is
Donati, and as for gratitude, there is no
need to speak of it."
AS he mentioned his name, remembered
that there was mailman, so-called, who had
come into notoriety years ago, by asserting
that he had discovered the secret of pro-
longing life to 100 years. He had, heard,
written a book in which this was fully de-
scribed, and presented it to the Cibo pope,
with the inscription, "Videbis dies Petrie ct
ultra" Long after heard Cardinal Bembe
tell, in his witty way, how this same Corte
presented his book to three successive popes,
ending with Innocent of Genoa, adding that
he took care on each occasion to substitute
a new title page and dedication. "Iut,"
the cardinal was wont to add, lit is against
the canon for our lord the pope to 60 in
any matter, even in life, beyond the Holy
Apostle, and, therefore, no doubt, the
worthy doctors prescriptions were not fol-
lowed. Such are the sacrifices the church
has to make"
''How long have you been here% asked.
"Some days."
"And we have never nett"
"Ah! The place is like rabbit-warren.
There are hundreds here. But it is odd that
have never seen you"
Not 50 very odd when come to think of
it" and looked down at my shabby attire.
1T is generally late when 60 out"
He held out one leg, clothed in its fantastic
dress.
Il, too, am on the rocks, and he laughed
bitterly, land feed with the goats"
Wishing to change the subject, inquired
about the girl. He turned away to the win
dow, and when he looked back the mans
eyes were full of tears.
"Would you care to see?" he asked, with a
shake in his voice.
l bowed gravely, and he conducted me
upstairs, fully two flights beyond my room,
and then stopped on a small landing.
Through the half-open door that faced us,
little dog came out, and looked wistfully at
Corte. He stopped to stroke it, and then
rising passed into the room. When he had
gone beyond the door, he looked back at me.
saying: Enter"
l did so with gentle footsteps, and he
pointed TO bed in the corner of the room,
on which was the figure of woman, lying
SO still and motionless that she might have
been an image of wax. Her plentiful brown
hair was spread over the pillow, and out of
this frame the pinched white face, with all
its traces of past beauty, looked out in pitt
full silence. One thin hand was turned palm
downwards on the coverlet, and, as we
stood, the fingers began to work convul-
sively.
Corte bent over her forehead and touched
it with his lips. Little one" he said, "do
you sleep"
The girl opened her sightless eyes, and a
faint smile, that lighted up her face, making
it wondrous beautiful, passed over her
countenance.
"Not yet" She spoke so low I could
hardly catch the words, "but l shall sleep
soon."
l knew what she meant, for in her face
was already that look which comes to those
who are going away. Corte was, however,
Il will give her some more wine-all that
she needs is strength-my little one." With
this he turned to cupboard, and opening
it, took thenceforth bottle of wine; with
shaking fingers he tried to fill glass, but
the bottle was empty.
II forgot" he said, and looked hopelessly
around him. There was that in the mans
face which made me read it as an open book.
''Stay here" whispered, 81 will be back
soon-very soon."
He looked at rne in a dazed sort of man.
ner, but waited for no reply, and, slipping
out of the room, ran as fast as could down
stairs, and through the darkening streets'to
the nearest inn. Calling the landlord /
asked him what was his best wine
"My best wine, signore! All my wines
are good. There is Chianti from our own
Tuscan grape, Lacryma Christi from Naples,
Earolo from Piedmont, Roman Orvieto and
White Vernaccia of the same brand that the
Cardinal Ippolite d'Este--"
Fool" interrupted, answer my ques-
ton. What is your best wine? Have you
any OF the wines of Francew
wines of France!" he exclaimed, "Corpo
di BaccO! Does not your excellency know
that La Palisse and his French cut-throats
have been here for a month? Think you
there is bottle of red Roussilon or Armag-
Iac left in Florence? There lie, however, in
my cellar. two fagons of Burgundy"
Fetch one at once-run, mani" and
flung him crown.
tro BE Continued
What He Really Meant.