Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-11-07

"Ah, but never even imagined my.
self i'll love with any man till I knew
that l was in 1--we with you," said Let,
ty, with a charming pout, that made
him compare her mouth to a rosebud,
and then kiss it INFO smiles.
"Of course" he answered, compla>
Gently, you must never think of loving
any ones but me-"
LAS if I could-my husband, my king,
my own darling :over!"
She caught up hi; massive hand ana
pressed her lips upon it as she spoke.
bruising her red mouth on a curious,
hessvy ring. as she did so.
WHY do you wear it?' she asked,
larghing,y. II cs sure 1t :sn't d, hand
some ring, Anthony. and it can't be VAL
uable?" asked Lefty. pointing to the
solid. heavy ornament.
"There you mistake. Cariaa: it is of
value, if I am of of value to you, for it
is capable of saving my life
How. asked Lefty, wonderingly.
Perhaps it c1sta;ns some precious
elixir-some drug capable of calling
beck Efe?"
"Almost that" returned the Marquis
Gel Costellani. lit has been in my fam
| AlS III INV lluuOlSSS. SCdl Sllltl lllciS
gives it value. But within this small
cavity, that opens So" and he pressed a
spring that opened and closed instantly
Wien ne Withdrew the pressure. SIS con-
tanned a precious drug which, like the
friar's POTION given to Juliet, causes a
sleep that lasts thirty hours: and then,
being over. the sleeper awakes, and is
thus enabled, in any case of emergency
To
"How? I can't understand the use of
it: unless a person was condemned TO
death, or something as bad as death,
ard wished to escape it.
Just so, little one. Let us imagine a
case. Suppose I was arrested, and was
threatened with trial or execution for
some crime, which, of codrse, I had not
committed; suppose I was condemned
to- death, or something equally bad. on
evidence I could not disprove. Why.
then, I would swallow this elixir. I
" Guild die, or seem to, and my wife
would claim my body and carry it
away, and, waiting for the proper time,
we would escape together to some hap
Ply land where people are not wicked
enough to suspect the innocent. Eut
she would need to be more careful than
l
or else she would spoil everything"
What a horrible ideal" exclaimed
Lefty, turning deadly pale. "How can
you frignten me so, Anthony? 1t is
cruel of you'll"
Ma petite! Cruel to you? Let me
kill myself t;rst. But don't you love me
we'll enough to save my life, Letty?" he
asked, sharply.
cat the sacrifice of twenty other lives,
if necessarily exclaimed the girl, EN-.
bracing him with passionate affection.
But let us talk no more of such pain
full things. The very thought of harm
to you makes me feel i'll. Come, dear,
show me the box of jewels you said
| We're to be mine! I love jewels, and
will love these thousand times more,
because they come from you'll"
ut isn't safe in this lonely place,
Lefty. I have had them removed to a
place of safety by one of my country
| men,"
lone of your countrymen?" repeated
Lefty, reproachfully.
| Yes. Haven't, you forgiven me yet
for being an italian instead of an En-
glishnlan?" asked the Marquis del Cas-
| tellani laughing But never mind,
Carina; have here some jewels that
am going to have set in a necklet for
this pretty throat. You shall not be
quite disappointed"
And touching a spring in dainty in
laid table beside him, a small part of
the top moved, and he took out some
very fine Embellishments, pearls and
emeralds, set and unset.
Lettys eyes, bright as the gems, and.
stretching out her hand, she began
emptying the concealed drawer and lay
| ing it's contents on the table.
| Suddenly she took up large solitaire
diamond stud, and looked at it with a
sharp cry of surprise while the color
forscok her cheeks and lips:
oh it's impossble!'' she gasped.
| Then, with sudden resolution, she
turned it over and examined the back.
| The setting was peculiar, and the stone
SO large that, for greater safety, it had
hack of solid gold. On this was en-
graved the letters, "P. c.
With a smothered Shrek, Lefty drop
ped TIE jewel, and the marquis swept
all of the glittering stones back into
their hiding place and closed the sliding
cover over them.
"What is the matter, Carina?" ne
asked, softly.
"That diamond-where did you get
it?" gasped Lefty. "It wasJ--it was
the stud taken from my uncle When he
was murdered! I knew it instantly; !
have seen it n thousand times'"
| "Your uncle-your uncle?" asked Cas-
tellani, wonderingly. Yes, remember
you We're dressed in black when we
met after my return from my aunt's flu
neral,' and he began to laugh.
Don't laugh, for heavens sake, An
thcny! You telrify me! Have you no
fceling?" cried Lefty
"Not for my good aunt dearest. You
forget, she never existed, and sentiment
is out of the question. But I'm sorry
about your uncle, pet. Come now, tell
me all about it,
"Ah, how can +? I did not tell you at
the time, because it was so horrible but
my uncle--my dear, kind, Uncle Philip
was fouly murdered"
Castelani looked at her with gaze OF
almost amused surprise, or perplexity,
but not shadow of alarm, regret or
sorrow for the grief and horror that