The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04
Curse :, Darlington

By X. TEMPLE MOORE.


whitening embers."
Cynthia had leaned her elbow on her
knee, her head on her hand, and was
looking into the glowing fire with
great, burning, feverlsh eyes. She
started when her companion spoke to
her.
"You must surely have come to some
decision by this time, dear. Do you
think she is really Laurence Lisle?"
"Yes." che answered deliberately. 81
dol"
lit is kismet!" my lady murmured.
ut is Gods wilt" Cynthia respond
ed. reverently.
do you mean that?" she cried, with
more emotion than the speech In the
question appeared to warrant. DO
you really believe that the fact of her
coming to Blackcastle Is to be con-
sidered as an act OF providence? Re-
member, | speak, supposing she is
whom she says she is--Laurence
Lisle."
IL don't see what very great differ
ence that makes. II seems no strang-
err TO me that she should be at Black
castle than I. We, neither of us, have
really claim here"
"You have!" Lady Darlington inter-
posed. quickly. "You are the child or
my Oldest. dearest friend!"
The girl gave swift, upward glance.
"And She" in O tone OF grave, sig
ss,uo n haVn haan
you sons wife!"
For a few moments utter silence
reigned.
'What I meant" Cynthia resumed,
"was TO deny that 1t was an Idle fate,
and that alone, which grasps the
threads of many lives, and weavos
them In the selfsame strand"
"And when said 1t was destiny, !.
meant All, you will not understand,
Cynthia!" she cried suddenly. Il VIII
tell you'll will tell you now, that
which ! promised to repeat one week
from Christmas Eve. 1t is long
story--a strange story-a sad story!
I will make it brief, and clear, and
light as may be-"
Cynthia slipped from her low seat
to the solc rug, and half-kneeling half-
sitting. leaned against her companion.
She clasped her slight olive hands In
Idle fashion, and resting her arms on
ny lady's lap, lowered her head upon
them.
swell, dear, to go way back over
years and years and years, to the time
when | was a girl! l am an Italian,
AND l como of race known and hon.
ored throughout Italy--a race fierce,
wealthy, powerful, proud Of Its ancient
glory. proud of its stainless escutcheon,
proud OF its dauntless men, Its noble
women. And at the age OF sixteen l
was left orphaned, the last OF the
grand old name. I, mere child, left
maintain that old pride OF lineage, to
maintain that boasted, stored honor.
1--WE were in Venice just then. and
there we remained, with me the wom-
an who had nursed me when child,
now my duenna. One year--two, slip
ped by, and began to think tho world
was not such bad place to live In,
after all. began to cast aside my
somber garments. to dress gaily, to go
on. good deal.
81 was young, you must remember.
Of irreproachable ancestry, with the
bearded wealth OF centuries under my
foolish hands. So they made much OF
me--the great people of Venice.
81 had been brought up In seclu.
sion so complete as to be almost i'm
prisonment, and this strange sense Of
freedom, this new revelation Of life.
held for me q charm irresistlbly beau
tifui.
"It was then, while was still rev.
cling my sweet independence, and
flushed with all the glowing Joy of
ycrth--it was Just then met the man
wtu changed the current OF my life
forever-Clive Carrington!
81 remember so well Tam wesrying
yet, dear?-old memories are so
strong to-nighD the first time we met.
It was summer evening. and was
out with merry party on the Grand
canal; and our gondola, bright with
dainty dresses, and rich-leaved flowers
and colored lights, represented. in its
gay freight, the young nobility and
grace Of Venice.
"a white moon qulvered slowly up
the blue Venetian sky; and we drifted
or. with song and laughter, under the
grim and royal homes OF the Foscari
and the Cavalli, past the stately cam
ranile of st. Marks, past the palace of
tie Doges.
Suddenly a gondoia flashed out
from beneath the Rialto bridge and
sre0 by us. One of our number rec
ognized friend in the boat which had
just passed ours, and lie hailed him.
The gondoliers drew their crafts to-
gether. The occupants Of the gon-
dole hailed proved to be party OF
young English tourists. Mutual intro
auctions followed.
IAN old Italian lady-my chaperone
for the time being-turned to me.
"'Let me present to you,' she said,
Sir Give Carrington!'
"He stood up and bowed low. He
was about thirty then--a tall. broad
shouldered, handsome young English
man.
II noticed the quick fash of admira-
ton which lit his blue eyes as he saw