The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-16

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much for its success. 1t may have
been she; but why she should have
sought me out in my despair, when she
held herself aloof from me in the
time Of my prosperity, and why she
should have brought flowers and
strewed them over my poor body,
cannot explain. But perhaps Annetta
can. She was here and may have seen
something or gathered something from
the lady's manner which will help US
to comprehend the meaning of her ac-
tions;" and beckoning the Portuguese
toward her, the signorina asked one
or two questions, which being duly
answered she turned Dack to Mr.. De.
graw and exclaimed:
1T must have been the lady spoke
of. She came without flowers at first,
and asking for me, seemed to be great
ly shocked when was pointed out to
her, lying, as she supposed, dead. She
attempted to question ,Annetta, but of
course got no answer from her. as
my good friend does not speak word
of English; and when the lady went
away she made a gesture that must
have meant that she would return, for
in half an hour or so she did come
back, bringing these beautiful flowers,
which she at once began to strew over
me. That is all Annetta can tell.
Would you like to question her
further?"
II would like to hear what she has
! to say about these candles and your
dress and the drapery Of your couch.
1t may explain who Montelli is, and
this you as we'll as myself ought to
know"
"True, true," came in murmur from
the young girls lips. "Annetta must
be able to tell how came to be dressed
thus though the robe itself is no mys-
terry, being one Of the costumes pre-
pared for my debut. But the lights,
the drapery! all that I cannot under
stand"
And she drew the old crone nearer,
and holding her by the arm, put ques-
tion after question, while the young
man stood still, gazing from one to
the other, devoured by curiosity that
the signorina's rapidly changing ap-
pearance certainly tended to aggra-
vate. For at the explanations which
the old woman rendered without hesta-
tion, the young girls head sank lower
and lower in manifest confusion, while
on her cheek and brow flush slowly
gathered, which, If it added to her
beauty, could not but add also to the
watchful artists impatience and dis
trust.
what is it? Tell me-" burst from
his lips as the Portuguese finally drew
back, leaving the@"signorina standing
by that forsaken couch.
"Ah, how can II" was her cry,
though her eyes looked up fearlessly,
and the smile on her sensitive mouth
was simply deprecatory one. '1t is
such a story of-of an unreasoning
passion-of-of love Of which I was
ignorant, and would never have counte
nanced if had known Of it. that"
He appreciated her confusion; he
loved her for its evident depth; but he
would not help her even by a word
to speak. This story, whatever it
was, he must know. She saw his de-
termination and summoned up her
courage.
"Annetta tells me-" she began, "that
for the last three months have been
pursued by an Italian who has been
determined to marry me. She says he
found no favor in her eyes, and that
she was sure he would find none in
mine; and so, to save me anxiety and
pain at time when I needed my full
strength and liberty, she had persist
entity placed herself between US, and
by articles and stratagems Of various
kinds succeeded in keeping him out of
my presence. She says that, owing to
my preoccupation and determination to
see nothing but my art, she was
strangely successful in this, though
there were times when he almost
brushed my garments in the streets,
and others when it nearly took the arm
of the police to keep him away from
these doors. He had seen me at the
theatre one day, and hidden behind
the boxes or among the wings of the
scenery, had heard me sing. and moth
ing could rob him Of the idea that he
was destined to marry me and make Of
| me the leading prima donna of the
world; not even my failure, for he was
present at that. nor my consequent per-
sistent shrinking from sight into the
obscurity that became me. Nothing
affected him or changed his mind; and,
while he showed some sense in not
attempting force after this, Annetta
knew that, sooner or later, he would
find some means Of crossing this
threshold and offending me with offers
size was confident would meet with a
rebuff that would only add to the an
noyance and danger Of the situation.
For lie is an ugly man and coarse be-
yord expression, though seemingly
honest and very determined in his
wishes. So. when she saw me sunk in
despair and anxious for death, she die
not attempt 10 reason with me, but
rather humoTed lre in my detcrnlina-
ton, promising me an effective poison,
while secretly resolved upon furnish
ing he with drug that merely sinu-
lated death. For if she could show me
10 this A1ontclli in a state that forbade
all further hope on his part. she
thought his prosecutions might cease
and that we might obtain the oppor-
| tunity for aScaDc which seemed our