The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-23
BY ALFONSO CELIA, of Providence

oughly puzzled and badly impressed nv
the strange words she had heard in her
uncle's room concerning the Maha. Add 10
that the hint given by Monasterio In the
short interview about tte impending dan
ger 10 her lover and one may readily un-
derstand why she could not close an eve
when she went 10 bed. having her mind
ever reVerteng 10 those mysterious
phrases. and filled with disquietIng
thoughts
She lay awake hour after hour that
night, never suspecting what was going
on i'm the adjoining house
Very early i'm the morning she got up
and by candle light sat down TO write
short note 20 Orsini, asking him 10 call on
the following night. I'm order that she
might have explained TO her all that was
now incomprehensihble; but after having
written the note she was reluctant 70
give II TO Margaret for delivery. deeming
II scarcely proper for girl TO press meet
ings with her lover.
ElEh1lnG- -nLilhla= herself AllA- -AissHsp ps Mt
thoughts as 10 whether II would be ad-
vissble 10 send the note. she happened 70
glance At the window Of 0rsini's sentry
house and for a whole minute she stood
gazing through the dim twilight. her eyes
fixed on something attached 70 the sill.
There indeed was her lovers symbol ask
ing for meeting-the symbol she knew
so vell--and her heart overfowed with
jov.
But slssi Something else caught her
eye something whose meaning she had
never known.
a rosebay and a sprig Of cypress
What can be the meaning" she muttered.
and running quickly TO her little parlor
where she had concealed among Old
school hooks the explanatory flower code
which she had received from Alfredo ~
the beginning Of their correspondence
she began TO search wildly. Before she
could find the scribbled pamphlet, which
she had not used in long time. every
thing went topsy-turvy in the little par
Tor Drawers We're smashed I'm her reckless
haste. choice volumes scattered around.
and all her pretty things were tossed
about and walked upon. before the manu-
script came in sight.
After a short pause. smothered cry
and a sudden heavy fall on the floor an
nounced that. while Gabrielle had reach
ed the so eagerly sought explanation, she
had lost consciousness and dropped sense
less on the floor, az finding that the cy-
press meant death "
Margaret aroused by the unexpected
thud which made the pictures on the wall
shake slightly and the furniture tremble.
rushed 10 her young mistress room, and
found Gabrielle lying down on the carpet.
in a very miserable state, deprived or
consciousness. with rolling, eiaueeHs- -eFss
wandering in undetermined directions. as
inexpensive as those OF dummy.
Clinched in Gabriella's hands was a well
thumbed manuscript which Margaret rec
ognized at a glance as the one which had
many and many time been consulted by
her mistress in interpreting the meaning
OF Alfredos flower signals
She tried TO take II from Gabriells
grasp. but found the fingers too rtgidly
| closed upon H.
Margaret, however. quickly made UP hel
mind that this was not a case In whicr
che would need 10 call for assistance and
thereby give all the secret away. She die
not scream or lose her coolness, though
deeply and strongly affected ar the pitifu
sight. but she raised the inert body In hei
strong arms and laid II on the bed suc
then. shrinking fresh water on the war
face and briskly rubbing Gabriella's
breast she tried 10 revive her.
1t required long and constant attend
ance. but finally Margarets- quick, mus
cular motions UP and down with both
palms as IL securing sooty pewter
were crowned with success and Gabriella
began 10 give signs of vitality. An arm
which had laid outside the bedspread. was
thrown up near the face. The mouth and
the teeth which had been tensely closed
as though by the paroxysm OF lock-jaw'
began stacking. the eyeballs began tc
move more naturally. and from the lips
OF the half conscious and half stupefied
Gabrielle escaped a feeble whisper,
HE is dead, OH he Is dead and I shall
die too" and she closed her eyes again.
4