Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-01
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)

"a
grand old city of Rome lay resting in the
sun, its gorgeous palaces and castles, lis
glorious ruins all shining in the rays 81
the fairest sun that ever shines. The old
palace stood outside the walls Of Rome
at some little distance from the city
where the Tiber runs wide and clear; il
is almost hidden by magnificent trees.
All that day, as he travelled toward
Rome, the duke had been thinking OF
Beatrice; he had a confused idea that
Beatrice was waiting for him, and yet he
repeated TO himself, again and again, that
Beatrice had been dead many years.
1t happened that when the carriage
stopped, ard the duke said he could walk
through the garden and reach the house
by the grand entrance, the first thing he
saw in the beautiful walk that led to tie
lick trees was the sweeping train of a
long, black dress; he saw the figure CT
a woman tai, slender and graceful as
any OF the woIld-famed statues, a face
go magnihcently beautiful that 10 man
who saw it could ever forget it, yet face
with a story in it.
A figure, the curves and lines OF which
were all harmony. He stood quite silent
for few moments. Was this what his
dream meant? was this Beatrice? Quite
inv0luntarily he uttered the name.
Beatrice" he cried, and the tall, state
" figure turned 20 him at once. All, no,
1t was not Beatrice. With all her beauty
the young duchess had not been one-half
so fair. This was golden-haired woman
with a face like flower.
y beg your pardon" he said; IL call
ed you Beatrice
She came toward him, and he said to
himself that grace itself was centered in
every movement
1t is l who should beg pardon" she
said an low, clear voice; Il am intrud-
ing here"
who are you?" he asked, with perfect
courtesy, yet with the manner OF one who
expects an answer.
She had heard nothing of the dukes
coming, but it was very evident to Ter
thar he was someone who had righi to
ask the question.
i am Irene Darcy, the daughter OF
Santon Darcy, the artist" she replied.
And then the duke held out his hand.
must Introduce myself lie said. Il
am the Duke of Bayard'
Irene bowed. All the dukes in the
world would not have lessened her self
possession. He admired her we'll bred
calm.
Your father knows am expected, "
he said. Has he not told you!"
She smiled, and the smile made her so
beautiful that the duke gazed at her in
silent wonder.
To tell your grace the TRUTH" she said,
my father and myself seldom speak of
anything but art Sometimes we sit To-
gether for hours and do not speak. Ny
father is not an ordinary human being.
and he never remembers to tell me any
thing, no matter how interesting it may
be"
II quite understand" said the duke,
gently; and Irene continued:
Since we have lived in this beautiful
old palace, he has been more silent, more
given TO dreams than ever"
y remember now" said the duke. sud
denly; your father wrote to ask my per-
mission for his daughter TO accompany
him. And are You that daughter"
Yes, am my fathers only child said
Irene.
The duke walked by her side down the
winding path.
u hope" he said CALAMITY, that you
have enjoyed your visit here, and that
everyone in the place has been most at
tentive 10 you
- have been happy and well cared
for she replied.
III Lord Waldo, the dukes nephew, had
been there TO see the lingering glance
OF admiration that the duke gave TO the
beautiful woman he would have called
out Danger
! Irene was a little puzzled she had new
er been vain, and il all her recent dis
tress the fact that she was exceedingly
beautiful had escaped her thoughts. She
wondered at the dukes kindness and his
evident determination to see more OF her,
but she did not, as many would have
done. think that it was owing to her own
charms.
That same afternoon the duke found
his way TO the artists quarters, aud over
whelmed him with kindness. He would
insist that the artist and his daughter
should dine with him. Long after that
dinner party was over long after the sun
had SET and the moon had risen over the
broad river, Irene sat watching the blue
night skies.
My vengeance" she said; ''oh, heay-
en- my vengeance, aud now it seems near
Al hand"