The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-27
BY HELEN M. eIvINs.

Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Co.
When Willis ran into st. Peters to
escape one of the sudden downpours
so prevalent in Rome during the sum-
mer months, he was still possessed by
the sense of injury that had been his
slope of the Janiculum an hour before,
and had failed to see little Rosetta
leaning over the wall near Tasso's oak.
At their last meeting, as she told
him, between the bursts of weeping, Of
her fathers determination to have her
wedding take place within a month,
Willis had understood the necessity of
putting an end to the romance an idle
spring day and a peasants fete had
been responsible for.
1t had all been idyllic and innocent
enough Being a good fellow in the
main, and moreover, not wildly in love,
Willis was capable of sharp twinge
Of conscience when he realized the
child's distaste for a marriage about
which she had at first prattled hap
PLY enough. But Rosetta was so pref
ty, so full of distress! Who could resist
the temptation of seeing her once
more? Besides, had he not promised
himself to speak wisely and firmly, as
became mature twenty three when adj
vising inexperienced seventeen?
Such, however, is mans inconsistent
cy, that when the trysting place ap-
peared. void of the trusting maiden, he
experienced none of the satisfaction
popularity supposed to reward the vir-
tuous. 1t is one thing to confront a
pair of beseeching black eyes, in the
role of stern representative of duty
and quite another to be anticipated; to
find the play played out and the cur
tain rung down, without any of the
plaudits so dear to self-sacrifce.
Now, avoiding a procession of damp
pilgrims, in whom the odor of human
ity predominated over that of sane
tity. the young man strolIed down the
great nave with lowered head and
thoughts bitterly intent upon the in
constancy of woman. Thus he did not
notice bucket dangling from the end
OF rope until he struck sharply
against it. AS he recoiled it rose in
the air and he saw it was rude de-
vice for carrying water to some work.
men who were repairing the mosaics
ornan1enting the dome. Willis lip curl
ed with English intolerance of such
nethods-his glance following the I'M
wieldy contrivance until it reached a
haven under board stretched from
side to side of the railing surrounding
the dome.
THE signore might perhaps like to
see the work nearer. It is very inter
esting," said Iow-toned voice at his
elbow. in Italian.
The young man turned quickly, en-
countering a pair of brilliant, shifty
eyes, set in handsome face of the
better type of peasant
1T is forbidden to enter the dome
during REPAIRS he replied CURLY in
the same tongue. 44r. 49,.
But l have a brother among the
workmen. See, 1 am taking him the
macaroni." holding up a small basket
as he spoke. Then, as Willis shook
his head impatiently, he added: "The
old sacristan is also my uncle, so, if
the signore pleases,cI will gladly con-
duct him to the dome"
Willis looked at the speaker with
more interest. Rosetta had once point
ed out the sacristan, speaking of his
great age and Of his relationship to
her. Could this young man be the
cousin lover against whom the girl re-
belled? His. good looks deserved a
stronger hold upon her fancy.
"How did you know I understood
Italian?" Willis demanded abruptly.
Il heard the signore speak to beg
gar at the door,"
Evidently the fellow had been fol-
lowing him That he should wish to
conduct him to the dome was a singu-
lar coincidence; but he dismissed as
improbable the idea of any stronger
motive than the hope of a possible
fee, and, moved by an unexplainable
impulse, he determined to accept the
offer he had been on the point of de-
elining.
Ten minutes later, stepping through
the doorway opening upon the mar
row platform surrounding the dome
he heard a sharp click behind him.
and turned to see his companion coolly
pocket the key he had just removed
from the lock.
''Fhe signere appears surprised" he
said, regarding Willis with a smile OF
triumphant malice. "He has perhaps
never seen a rat caught in a trap. To
understand, he must first regard the
scaffolding enclosing the platform on
the left"
The other had mechanically turned
to the point indicated. Certainly the
left was completely blocked by the
scaffolding; but 10 matter-they could
pass to the right
Still that smile Of triumphant mall
ice. Willis made a step forward, but
recognizing rather late the value OF
discretion, paused before the steeiy
CLINT Of a stiletto. Nevertheless he re-
turned the Italians gaze without
finching, leaning against the wall, and
thrusting his hands nonchalantiy into
his pockets.