The Winslow mail., 1900-02-15

also that there was no hope for me from La
Pallsse, and that my steps must turn else
where If l wished my purse to show full
fed appearance. dined sparingly, drinking
but half measure of Chianti, which mixed
with water, and it made but thin fluid.
When l finished my slender repast, there
was nothing left but to kill time 1t was
Useless to go back to my lodgings, for want
OF funds had compelled me to discontinue,
until better times, my newly acquired habit
, of reading, and Cec, despite the kindness
he had shown me, was precise in the exac-
ton of payment for Offices performed by
him. No more indeed could be expected
from huckstering mind such as his, inher-
tied no doubt from line of bargaining citi.
Zens, whose hearts were in their bales of
wool So l stroiled towards the garden of
St. Michael, passing on the way the piazzi,
where there were still numbers assembled,
and wondering at the implacable hatred of
the Florcntines towards their noblest blood.
a hatred they carried so far as to build the
walls of the Palace of the Signory obliquely,
rather than they should touch the spot
where the Uberti once dwelt. And this set
lie rehecting on the unreasoning stupidity
OF the canaille, in their enmity towards gen
tie blood. Perhaps | was little Influenced
in these thoughts, from the fact that the
Uberti were connected by marriage with
the Savelli, daughter of Maso degli Uberti
having welded that Baptista di Savelli who
upheld by force of arms his right to attend
the Conclave of Cardinals. 1t was sad to
think that of the Uberti not one was left,
and of the Savelli-I alone. / will not in
clude the Chigi, for they come through the
female line, and although Amiicar Chigi, the
son of my fathers old enemy, subsequently
made advances of friendship towards me-
l felt bound to explain to him that l was
the head of the house, despite the broad
lands his father got with his mother Olym-
ria, by an unjust decree of the Chamber of
Lies. This, however, is a family affair,
which does not concern the narration In
hand. Having reached the garden, sat my
self to rest on q stone seat, set against wall
overhung by large tree At the further
end OF the walk were two ladies in earnest
conversation. Their backs were to me at
first, but on arriving at the end of the walk,
they turned slowly round, and came towards
me. As they approached, | was almost sure
they were the two | had seen in the gala pro-
cession, and my doubts were soon at rest,
for, on passing, they glanced at me with idle
curiosity, and in a moment | recognized
them by their air and gait. On this occa-
sion they wore no masks, and l saw they
were both young and passing fair. The face
Of the shorter of the two, whose figure had
a matronly cast, was set in a mass Of light
hair, and looked brimful of good humor.
The other, who, in marked contrast to her
companion, had dark hair and dark eyes,
Possesseda countenance of exceeding beauty,
marrcd perhaps by its expression of pride.
Be that as it may, my blood began to tingle
as | saw her, and an indefinite thought OF
what might have been rose into my mind.
When they had gone a few yards, the on
whom | took to be a married woman said
something to her friend, and glanced over
her shoulder; but the other appeared to re-
prove the remark, increasing as she did SO
the pride of her carriage. | wondered to
myself that two ladies should be out unat-
tended, in so sequestered a spot, at time,
too, when the city was so full of excitement,
and watched them as they turned the cor
ner of the walk, and went out of sight be-
yond the trees. | began in useless man.
her to speculate who they were, and to
weave together a little romance in my heart,
when | was startled by shrek, and the
next moment the fair-haired lady came run
ming round the corner of the road, crying