The Winslow mail., 1900-02-15

Madam, dld nothing but di1vS oil cur
you thank me too much. Good day"
l stood cap in hand until they turned She
elbow of the walk, and then retraced MY
steps to my lodging. As went back, | could
not help railing at my luck. was enabled
to do a service, which, for no reason | could
assign, would rather have done to this
particular woman than any other-a service
which should have made her look kindly
at me, and yet by cruel stroke she was
made to think me nothing else but thief,
for Lugi's charge was definite, and it was
clear i knew him. My name was also known
to her, and perhaps the rest of my story, as
it was understood by the public, would be
told to her, and then, adjeu to my little ro-
nance, if it was not adieu already. Then
again what business had | to have such
thoughts? l had yet to learn that these
things come unbidden, and when they come
take no denial. Thinking in this way as
walked on, | was surprised to find | had
reached the old Albizzi Palace This build
ing, like all the other houses of the mobiles
of Florence, was fortified with braccia OF
towers, joined to each other by bridges.
These towers formed refugees during inter
urban wars, and stood many a siege from the
people. The Albizzi Palace had four such
braccia, but the two towards the Ultrarno
quarter had been half demolished in some
forgotten riot, and never restored. The 9th
ers were, however, intact, although the
bridge between them had long since given
way. 1t was in one of these that | had my
abode, and reaching it about sundown, be-
gan to slowly ascend the stairs which led to
my chamber. Occasionally l stopped and
rested, and it was during one of these rests
fhot lcOl-a1 70 h. lox, Z
1t was still in light, for the setting sun
shone through giglio-shaped window in the
western wall. As | glanced up, a figure sud
denly appeared at the head of the stairway,
and leaning one hand on the balustrade
reered down into the dim light below it. !
recognized the extraordinary dress at once,
and moments survey of the face assured
me it was my host of the hovel, he who had
so strangely disappeared with the girl, when
| fought with Brico at Perugia.
"a good day to you, friend!" l called out,
"and well met"
'Who calls? Who is there?" he an
swered.
Zone moment; let me climb up these
stairs" and l made my way to the landing,
and held out my hand.
lie took it in silence, but his grip was
warm.
"Signore," he said, after moment, "1 do
not know your name, but whoever you are,
Mathew Cortes owes you much, and will
some day show himself grateful"
''My name,' l 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 radman, so-called, who had
come into notoriety years ago, by asserting
that he had discovered the secret of pro
longing life to l20 years. He had, heard.
written 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 l 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
new title page and dedication. "But,"
the cardinal was wont to add, ''it is against
the canon for our lord the pope to go 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?" l asked
"Some days"
"And we have never met!"
"Ah! The place is like rabbit-warren
There are hundreds here. But it is odd that
have never seen you"
"Not so very odd when I come to think of
it" and ! looked down at my shabby attire
'It is generally late when go OUT
He held out one leg, clothed in it's fantastic
dress.
IT, too, am on the rocks" and he laughed
bitterly, "and 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.
1 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 u.s.
little dog came out, and looked wistfully at
Corte. lie 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"
| did so with gentle footsteps and he
pointed TO a bed in the corner of the room.
on which was the figure of a 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
it's 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.
Cortc bent over her forehead and touched
it with his lips. Little ono," he said, "do
you sleep?"
The girl opened her sightless eyes and
faint smile, that lighted up her face, making
it wondrous beautiful, passed over her
countenance.
"Not yet She spoke so low | could
hardly catch The words, "but | 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,
unable to judge. 'She is better" he said;
Il will give her some more wine-all that
she needs is strength-my little one." With
this he turned to a cupboard, and opening
it, took thenceforth bottle of wine; with
shaking fingers he tried to fill a glass, but
the bottle was empty.
Il 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 viii be back
soon-very soon"
He looked at ne in 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 darkcning streets to
the nearest inn. Calling the landlord !
asked him what was his best wine.
"MY best wine. signorel All NV wines