Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-10-07
ward, took one OF her hands and. be-
fore she was conscious OF his intention.
kissed 1t againg and aiyafn.
Oh she said. starting.

oh" she said, starting.
Roma, my Roma. ! 10y you.' he
began, and would have continued but
that he heard sounds of footsteps and
he hurried to open the door just as 1t
was reached by veneto, who entered.
followed by Sasari.
Roma" her father said, rubbing his
hands joyously. his well-worn velvet
coat thrown back and showing his
flannel shirt with its deep collar and
flowing scarf. Roma, here is IN
good friend again giving us a happy
surprise. Bid him welcome. my daugh-
ter"
Count Sasari is always welcome"
she replied.
AS the visitor took her hand he felt
1t trembie. and he was not slow TO no.
tice signs OF unusual emotion in her
face. while her Eyes shone, those beau
tiful eyes that at that moment were
the color of a purple pansy leaf. For
a brief stirring instant he won-
dered IL these signs were due TO his ar
rival. Then he remembered that Bur
bage had been with her as he entered.
Quickly mastering himself. he spoke
of the pleasure it gave him In seeing
them again; when Neneto unconscious
ly came to his relief by calling out:
He brings me news; unexpected
news-poor old Zoffani is dead. All.
you were out Il DlIie SlFl WUen last
you saw him outside the Porta Nuova
in Pisa. The most skilful doctor and
the widest dreamer in Europe, q gem
ius and a mailman; killed by his own
folly. But what has our good friend
lone for me? You will never guess.
At the auction he bought all the old
mans books and chemicals that he
might give them to me. You see how
rich he has made me. What can we
do to show him u gratitude, my
daughter"
Roma made no answer. The rich
color that had rushe into her face a
moment before had vanished, leaving
her pallid at the thought that the man
who was heaping favors on her father
had never received the reward he de-
sired.
There should be no thought of grati-
tude between friends" Sasari was say
ing, in his quiet, composed voice.
Veneto put an arm round his should
er a~tfectionately.
been a true friend. We never forget
all that you have done for us. Do we,
Roman"
Never, father she answered fer
vently, making an inward effort to re-
cover herself.
When last / saw Zoffani, he gave me
an old volume hat had belonged to
~ 401 49, ~ wi ~
There are his notes on the margins.
Dunstan will bring it to me-" Veneto
said, Then turning round to find that
his secretary mad left the ROOM, he ad-
ded, II will fetch 1t myself"
Il will come and see it presently"
Sasari told him; but first let me say
a few words to Roma"
MY dear Sasarip say as many as
you like and when you join me may
You have that to say which will glad
den my heart Veneto answered.. as.
shaking the counts hand warmly, he
hurriedly left them.
Roma stood confused before Sasari.
her lips quivered, and a quick look
that gagged him flashed from her eyes.
To her surprise, she noticed in his
n a hesitation and embarrass-
ment he had never known before, and
while she was wondering at this, she
heard him say:
II am going to stay but a few hours,
for | leave tomorrow morning: so / had
to take his opportunity of speaking to
you alone"
Her heart began to nutter so much
that she could not speak, so she merely
bowed her head, prepared to hear a
fresh avowal of his affection. To lAer
surprise he said: II know, Roma, that
you can never love me; | do not blame
you; | could not blame you for any
thing you did, not even for loving an
other man."
She strove to speak, but before she
could get out a word, he went on: IT
hope, you will not hate me for what i
am about to say, but / cannot resist
the temptation of claiming you at any
cost, for / love you above all things
better than my honor, better than my
soul"
She saw that his natural dignity and
calmness had deserted him, leaving him
abashed. And something in his words,
though she did not understand them,
startled her.
Roma he continued, hurriedly, II
know you love him, and that loving
him you must above all things desire
TO have him freed from all suspicion of
the crime for which he was tried. /
believe / can do that"
You know the murderer" she cried
out In establishment.
Il belive l do-a confession has been
to mel can
And you will-you will clear Dun
stan?"
"Yes-providing Q will marry me-"
ne plurted out.
A SILVER suddenly passed through
her. she shrank from him and averted
her eyes. THAT 10 the price at which
/ am to be bought?"
The hardness of her voice and the dis
dain OF her face made his blood boil
from shame, n FOR answer he bowed
his head, not daring TO speak. The sec
onds that fitted by seemed centuries,
their silence became uncomfortable to
him..
Don't answer me now; wait until
you have time to consider he said, as
confused, Inundated and miserable, he
hurried toward the door; but before
reaching 1t he looked back with depair-
ing eyes, then with a cry, he retraced
his steps and flung himself at her feet.
where she had remained pale and mo-
tionless as If frozen.
Roma, Roma, forgive me for so base
a thought" he called out In a broken
voice. II was mad with longing for
you, but ! could not sacrifice your hap
piness-no, not yer to secure my own
salvation. oh, my dearest, you do not
know me. you never understood me. 1t
is not passion, but affection / feel for
YOU. / reverence, / worship you, but
/ will never marry you, as you cannot
love me-"
She was strangely moved, but re-
straining her feelings, she said with
such calmenss as she could command:
But you will clear him :"
Il will clear him." he answered, no.
ticing her pallor, her agitation.
For my sake?' she suggested, long
ing to hear him say the words.
For your sake-can you doubt me 2"
he said ap~pealingly.
mo. no." she answered. " don't