The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-10-07

ward, took one of her hands ana. be-
she was conscious of his intention,
kissed it againg and again.
oh she said, starting.
Roma. my Roma, l love you," he
began, and would have continued but
he heard sounds of footsteps and
voices in the passage outside. on which
he hurried to open the door just as 1t
was reached by Neneto, who entered,
followed by Sasari.
Roma her father said, rubbing his
coat thrown back and showing his
flannel shirt With its deep collar and
flowing scarf. Roma. here is our
friend again giving us . happy
surprise. Bid him welcome, my daugh-
ter"
Count sasari is always welcome"
she replied.
AS the visitor took her hand he felt
it tremble n he was not SLOW to no.
tice signs of unusual emotion in her
face, While her eyes shone, those beau-
tifui eyes that at that moment We're
the colon OF & purple pansy leaf. For
d brief Notwithstanding instant he Won
dered ii these signs were due to his arr
rival. Then he remembered that Bur
bage had been with he. as he entered.
Quickly mastering himself, he spoke
of the pleasure 1t gave him in seeing
them again; when Veneto unconscious
~ came 10 his relief by calling out.
He brings me news; unexpected
news-poor old Zoffani is dead. All.
you We're but a little girl when last
o saw him outside the Porta Nuova
in PISA. rhe most skflful doctor and
the widest dreane1 in Eurone. a yen-
ius and a madlnan; killed by his avn
folly. Rut what has our good friend
done for me? You win never guess.
At the auction he bought all the old
,A.- Ia No.. 49,
might give them TO me. You see. how
rich he has made me. What can We
do to shoAv him our rratitl,da. my
daughter9'
Roma made no answer. The rich
color tlnat had rushed into her face a
moment before had vanished. leaving
her pallid at the thought that the man
VINO was heapipe. fay0rs on her fafber
had never received the reward he de-
sired.
There should be no thought of graft
tude between friends, Sasari was saw
ing. in his quiet. composed voice.
Neneto put an arm round his should
er a~ffectionately.
And YOU" he said "haye aIvavs
been a true friend. we never foreet
all that you have done for us. Do We,
Roma?"
"Neyer. father she answered fer
vnntiy making am inward effort ia re-
cover herself.
"Nhcn last i saw zoffani, he gave me
an old volume that had belonged TO
Jacob HoehuN you must see If
There arc his notes on the marquis.
Dunstan will bring it to me" Vepeto
said. Then turning round to find thar
his secretary had left the room. he nd
ded. Il will fetch ii myself
Il will come and see it p~rasent.y..
Sasari told him; but first let me say
a few; words 10 Roma"
My dear Sasari, say as many as
You like and when Won ioin me nav
YOU have that to say which will glad
aen my heart Veneto answered, as.
shaking the counts hand warmly he
nllrriedly left them.
Roma stood confused before Sasart.
her lips ouivered. and a quick look
that gagged him dashed from, her eyes.
To her surprise, she noticed In his
manner a hesitation and ernbarrass-
ment he had never known before, and
| while she was wondering at this she
heard him say.
Il am going to stav b,,t a faw hours
| for 1 leave tomorrow morning: SO I mad
to take this onnort,1nitv of snaakintr to
you alone"
Her heart began tn nutter So much
bowed her head, prepared to hear a
fresh ayowal of his affection. tn her
surprise he said: II know. Roma. that
you can never love me: 1 do not blame
YOU: [ could not blame Won for any-
| thing Won did NOT even for lovi,,. y
other man"
She strove to sneak. but before sbe
could get out a word. he went on: II
hope, YOU will not hate me for what I
am about to say, but I cannot resist
the temptation Of claiming YOU at n
cost. for I iove Won ahove all things--
better than my honor, better than NV
SOUL"
She saw that his natural dignity and