Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-10-06
ward, took one Of her hands and, be.
fore she was conscious Of his intention,
lfssed Ii a srnitae and aaain

ward, took one Of her hands and, be.
fore she was conscious Of his intention,
kissed 1t againg and again.
ooh" she said, starting.
Roma, my Roma. I love you.' he
that 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 Neheto, who entered,
followed by Sasa,i.
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
good 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
II tremble 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 We're
the color of 4 purple pansy leaf. For
q brief heart stirrillg instant he wof1-
dered If these signs We're due to his arr
rival. Then he remembered that Bur-
bage had been with hcs as he entered.
Quickly mastering himself, he spoke
of the pleasure 1t gave him In seeing
them again: when Neneto unconscious
ly came To his relief by calling out:
He brings me news; unexpected
newspaper old Zoffani is dead. Ali,
you We're but a little girl when last
you SAW him outside the Porta Nuova
in Pisa. The mcst skilful doctor and
the widest dreamer in Europe, Il gem
ius and lntdman. killed by his own
folly. But What has our good friend
done for me? You will never guess.
n lao. 1,.A p1,f all h, a
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 oar gratitude, my
daughter?'
Roma made no onswen. The rich
color that had rushed into her face 4
moment before htd Vanished. leaving
her pallid at the thought that tho man
who was heaping faVors on her father
had never received The reward he de-
sired.
There should he no thought of grati-
tude between friends, Sasari was say
ing, in his quiet, composed voice.
Neneto put an arm round his should
eli affectionatcly.
And YOU" he said, have always
been a true friend We never forget
all that YOU have done for us Do we,
Roma? 90
Never, father" She answered fer
sNentlN. making an inward GIIOTt 10 re-
cover herself
When last / saw zoffani he gave me
an old volume that had belonged to
Jacob Bochme. You must see it,
There are his notes on the margins.
Dunstan will bring it to me-" Veneto
said. Then turning round to find that
his secretary had left the room. he adj
dea. Il Will fetch it myself"
II will come and see 1t presently,
Sasari told him. but first let me say
Il few words to Roma"
My dear Sasari say as many as
you like and when YOU join me may
YOU have that to say which will glad
den my heart" Neneto answered, as,
shaking the counts hand warmly, he
hur,iedly left them.
Roma stood confused before Sasari,
her lips puivered, and quick look
that sauscd him flashed from her eyes.
To her surprise, she noticed in his
manner hesitation and embarrass-
ment he had never Known before, and
while she ";,s wondering al this. she
heard him say:
Il am going to stay but few hours.
for leave tomorrow morning; so | had
to take this opportunity OF speaking to
you alone
Her heart began to fiutter SO much
that she could not speak, so she merely
bowed her head, prepared 10 hear u
fresh avowal of his affection. To her
surprise he said: Il know, Roma. that
you can never love me; do not blame
you; 1 could not blame you, for any
thing you did, not even for loving am
other man.
She strove 10 speak. but before she
could get out n word, he went on: II
hope, you will not hate me for what
am about To say, but 1 cannot resist
the temptation of claiming you at any
! cost, for l 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. Il
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 l can do that
You know the murderer" she cried
out in establishment.
Il belive l do-a confession has been
to mel cam
And you will-you will clear Dun
STAN"
"Yes-providing you will marry me-"
he blurted out.
A shiver suddenly passed through
her, she shrank from him and averted
her eyes. That is 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, and 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
I II
hurried toward the door; but before
reaching it he looked back with depair-
ing eyes, then with Il cry, he retraced
his steps and flung himself at her feet.
where she had remained pale and mo-
tionless as il frozen
Roma, Roma, forgive me for so base
n thought" he called out in Il brok en-
voice. Il WAS mad with longing for
you. but could not sacrifice your hap
pinesS--no. not even TO secure my own
salvation. oh, my dearest. you do not
know me, you never understood me. 1t
is not passion. but affection l feel for
you. l 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?"
II 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-"
he said appealingly.
NO. no." she answered. don't
doubt you and ! think I understand
YOU"
He looked up, struck by some tone of
her voice; and seeing the inward glow
Of her face, he took her hand and
kissed it TREMENDOUSLY, reverently, grate-
oh oil Nm,