The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

II love you very much. For week
we have been injecting daily. Generally
we kneei beside each other in church I
also go there every day. You have not
noticed me because you never lift your
eyes from your prayer book In order -
criticize the toilet, the headgear or the
attitude of your neighbor. But while
am praying ] look constantly at you.
Praying Is with me necessity. In the
morning 1 pray on account OF the sins
have committed. and in the evening on
account Of those am going to commit.
Then there is a common misfortune which
binds US TO each other; we are both con-
demned to widowhood; and We both hate
the world, only that you do Il sorrow
way In which YOU dash inen to the
ground. Do you not believe It? Did
not people tell you that the anonymous
/ letter which warned you of a devilish in
| trigue was written by me?f
| Blanca stared at the speaker with her
| large eyes, and began to believe. her.
That was indeed true. Oh. those two
men are great intriguers. One Of them
reproached me with having spoiled his
whole plan. He also told me how cruelty
you had cast him from you. That must
| have been a grand stroke. The fourteenth
this riddle consisted Years ago he
forged notes In the name of a good
friend. who redeemed them and kept them
in his possession with. these he can at
any moment ruin the forger, and have
him condemned to a long. d!ssraceful
captivity"
And this, also. Blanca was Obliged to
hear from the lips of this woman.
THE trembling malefactor wished to
free himself at any price from that sword
of Damocles suspended over his head, and
1 pointed out two means whereby II could
| be accomplished. One of these was, that
should ensnare the young man with my
/ seductive charms, then take advantage
of him in one of his moments of weak
ness, and obtain from him the dangerous
/ forgery"
The beautiful Cyrene cast such look
at Blanca as showed that she was really
| in possession of the requisite charms.
| Blanca shuddered at this look. At the
same time she was conscious of feeling
| of gratitude toward the woman for the
| news that Manasseh was still in Rome.
''The other method" continued the lady,
was to have him killed II he did not
| give up the dangerous weapon"
Blanca, fearing that dangerous outcry
would escape her, pressed her hands upon
/ II had the choice of either Of these
| because / know that the young man
| adores you: the second. because I know
| that you adore the young man."
| Blanca sprang from her COUGH and
| stretched out her hand to seize the phial
| on the mantelpiece. with the view of ex-
! tinguishing the fire which illuminated her
| face.
| The Warehouses noticed the intention,
4
| Blanca had stretched out to take the bot
! tie. while she seized the other hand and
| laughed.
Don't do that. Sit down and laugh
with me. / resolved to enact neither OF
| the two tragedies. | like the comedy. In
| which one can laugh. Instead of comply
ing with Vajdar's request, | drove my
| two fools out of Rome. | allowed them
| to ascend into the air like paper kites,
| and then cut the string. Let them now
| fly about in the world"
| The beautiful Cyrene was convulsed
with laughter; everything she wore. even
| the tight-ftting dress. shook. Laughter Is
| contagious Blanca could not resist.
Now the whole house belongs TO u.s."
| said the lady, with wanton gaiety, until
the next great condensation, when Rome
| will be entirely reduced to ashes"
She then roguishly shrugged her shout
ders. half closed her eyes, and yawned
sieepily
Good night Princess. We have bah
bled enough tonight. Drowsiness has sud
| denly overpowered me. / viii go home.
| lest I fall asleep. II you desire to hear
more from me, procure a mandolin. If
| tomorrow you hear Sapphos Tyre resound.
answer with similar sound. 1t will sig
nifty that you are alone and ready to re-
ceive me. Perhaps / shall then hear you
speak. Tonight you have not uttered a
can not do everything at once. Tonight
l am Satisfied that you have laughed with
me. Good might. Don't forget to let the
key remain in the lock"
The woman. who was now alone, tot
tered to her bed, and, without taking off
her wrapper, sank upon her couch, and
slept long, dreaming of everything she
had heard and seen that day When she
awoke next morning she thought that all
had been only dream. She rose from
her bed and stole to the fireplace to see
whether the spirits in the vision had left
a trace to show they had been there. On
the mantelpiece stood a flask of strange
shape. Near 1t were drops of red wax
from the burning candle. On the sofa
lay a cut gem from the lady's slipper. In
the brilliant red eye of the phoenix was
the key with the two fabulous monsters
upon it. All this had remained from the
dream of last night
Blanca endeavored to compose her
thoughts.
What is this woman? And what does
she propose to do with me?'
1t could not be denied that the mar
chioness had displayed magnanimity in
disclosing the secret of the hidden door
and delivering the key by which Blanca
was enabled to protect herself against
villainous surprise. If she had wished
to harm the Princess she would have left
her defenseless, and would have betrayed
her.
Blanca shuddered at the thought that
for months she had slept with the doors
open in the same house with men in whom
Ing them capable of every villainy: and
that during all this time she had had no
protection but the well-kept secret of a
woman.
Those in the adjoining palace led a
different kind of life. Blanca was often
came from the adjacent garden; she dis
tinguished familiar voices which she