The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-19

do much fear me that thou wilt cut
myself"
For answer she laughed the prettiest
laugh imaginable The fire of her an
ger had subsidized, and she was now her
own sweet self once more.
l now noticed for the first time that
Ippolita was without the coronet of
diamonds which 1 had seen her wear
at our first meeting. was naturally
interested in the matter, and / asked
her if she had left it home when she
came to the postern gate with Fiorella.
Nay, Timoteo, it is matter of no
moa9ent, as l will straightway show
thee, I will tell thee the secret lest
thou hear it from others and think
slightingly of me for it. A year ago
come Michaelmas the duke, my father,
being hard pressed by his tradespeo-
pie, did take the diamonds from this
same coronet and did pawn them with
the old money lender Montefiori, put
ting in place of them in the diadem
lot of pebbles, which shone with great
ulster and seemed in every way as
good as the original. 1t will be a rare
jest upon these rogues when they do
discover it."
| thought as she did. At the same
time wondered why the old duke had
not pawned some of that great guam
tity of gold and silver plate of which
he was possessed instead of taking the
Jewels of his beautiful and only child.
AS though she had OWNED my thought,
she now continued:
Having told thee the one secret, /
will cen make clean breast of it and
reveal to thee another. Thou didst
doubtless take note yestreen at the
dukes banquet of an exceeding great
display of tableware of gold and sill
yer. Alas, that / must say it to thee,
but the whole outfit is bogus, and the
goblets, plates and basins which thou
didst see are but brass and pewter cop
les Of the originals, now also, like the
diamonds, in the possession of the old
Sir Isaac, the usurer."
teardrop came into her dark, lus-
trous eyes as she spoke, and in my
mind was pictured at that moment the
whole story of the old dukes riotous
and eXtravagant career and of his an
gelic daughters consequent privation
and maidenly shame. The pity of it
touched my heart, and that, together
with the sad and surprising loneliness
of her present appearance, so wrought
upon me that / caught her to me,
sWOre that [ loved her as never mortal
damizella was loved before and be-
sought her to name upon the instant
the happy day. TO my establishment,
she drew away from me, and upon her
face there was a look of fear and of
indecision.
ooh, Timoteo,' said she in accents Of
tenderness, 81 do love thee right well,
believe me, but how can 1, oh, how can
link my young life with one who is
descended from the devil?"
NAY, Signorina Albizzi," said l, with
some hauteur, while at the same time
I wondered much at her remark. 81
am indeed of old and noble lineage, but
beshrew me if claim to trace it back
to the gentleman whom thou didst men
tion.''
at cannot be-" said she, gazing at
me with her magnificent eyes wide
open in surprise, that thou hast not
heard the tale which is told in every
corner of the land anent the family of
the Pazzi? Surely thou dost but jest"
"By a whole wagon load of saints"
said 1.
This, then, was the tale, fair prince,
as 1t was told me by my grandam
whites that 1 was but small child:
ho4 ho
first happened, being at the time when
| my great -grandsire, Galeazzo Albizzi,
had the misunderstanding with thy
great-grandfather, Lodovico de- PazZi."
| At this moment the countess gave
startled and terrified glance over my
| shoulder and at the same time uttered
| quick cry of alarm. l turned swiftly
and beheld standing within the door
| way of the stair which led below a
burly and hirsute ruffian. We had been
so taken up with each other and the
sweet moments of our interview had
sped so pleasantly that we had made
no account of where we were and had
forgotten the presence of the robbers
in the castle until all in twinkling we
found them upon us.
The rogue was unarmed, and as
drew my sword and made a spring for
him he turned to run down the stair,
1 placing his right hand upon the door
! casing as he went out. At this second
l slammed the door to, catching his
wrist between it and the jamb. 1t was
heavy door and did not fit very close
! ly to the casing SO that his hand stuck
straight out into the room like a point
ing hand upon a signboard. He natu-
rally raised great ado about the mat
ter.
"Cut it OFF, cried Ippolita.
1t was happy suggestion which the
darling girl had made, and / went to
work and gave 1t two or three hacks
and sawed at it awhile and haggled at
it and finally got it off. 1 was ashamed
of the operation, for l had done much
better when I was q student II this