The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20
a. COpA CpESSEY CpOW

Say il: I love you. Piperno,' and
ne repeated the words after him. The
mere sound of her voice saying his
reme in soft accents intoxicated him.
Promise me that you will not so
pack to your cold country; that We
viii live together in our land Of blus
skies"
No, no-Our love grew too quickly,
Piperno; ii is only time that can prove
if il be really love. You dazzle and
fascinate me-you are so different from
our men at homei But 1 do not know
whether it will last, and until that
knowledge comes to me in a way that
cannot be questioned, l shall never
marry you. Where is my soldo? Now,
as 1 drop it in the fountain, 1 promise
to return TO this spot and to you two
years hence"
His face was pale. He could not see
the reasonableness of her action, but
he felt, as he looked at her, that moth
ing would change her And after all,
she was well worth waiting for. So,
dropping in a soldo with her, he, too,
registered a vow to be there on that
night that now seemed to~reach so far
into the future. There was a chilliness
IN the air which accentuated the gloom
that had fallen upon them. To throw
IL off she said:
Let me see the dagger you always
carry with you. Tell me about it
again.
What, you mean my misericordi?
There is not much to tell except that
there is only one other like it and that
it belongs to my twin brother. Josefa.
They have been in our family since the
fourteenth century, and many super
stitions cling about them. See this hol-
low place at the handle: II used to con-
tain poison, and IT is said that when
these stones flash brilliantly 1t por-
tends death to one Of our family"
AS he passed it to her she recoiled.
Take it away quickly. They seem
to shoot fire now"
He took her hand reassuringly.
'Tis only your Imagination"
The thought Of their parting on the
morrow was with him and It took much
of the passion from him. leaving only
gentle caress in his touch He glanced
at the dainty fingers, so clearly out
lined against his brown hand. and saw
a ring sparkling on one.
This must soon be replaced by one
which will be the emblem OF our love-"
mo, not replaced, Piperno."
''Is II, then. so dear to you? Why?"
My fathers best friend gave it to
me-a man who loved me. and I wear
the ring because he asked me to-"
His lovers jealousy was aroused.
him.
How impetuous you arel You
frighten me, but I swear It. Here we
are back again. VIII you not come
in?"
Not tonight. I could not be seeing
you with others. Here in the shadow.
come closer to me-"
He pressed her to him in silence. AS
she passed into the warmth of the
lighted rooms she turned and waved
him a gentle adieu and he went back
to the Fountain of TreVi. to live over
again all that he had felt there that
evening. The fatal air. which rises late
at night from the fever marshes of the
Campagna, made him its target. 1t
aimed straight.
That night, as he retired. there
mingled with his vision of a beautiful
woman the consciousness that the
CLASSY stones in his dagger were fash
ing fire.
In a lucid hour the patient said:
Doctor, hand me that dagger. Yes,
know It 1 am going to die. How
long have 1 to live? Tell me, for it
matters more than the mere dying"
The physician hesitated.
Answer me. The MiIanis are not
afraid Of death"
The exertion of speaking brought the
blood to the sallow skin for an instant
in two dull red spots. but the eyes were
wide open and fearless.
You may recover Mr.. Milani: but
you may not live many hours"
The invalid's hold on the bedclothes
relaxed and his eyes closed for an in
slant.
My brother-oh, that Josefa were
herel
Can do nothing for you In his abb
sence? Pray, command me-"