The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-25

NAV Peters to escape one of the sud-
den downpourS so prevalent in
Rome during the summer months, he
| was still possessed by the sense of in
Jury that had been his ever since he
mad hurried down the slope of the
Janiculum an hour before. and had
failed to see little Rosetta leaning over
| the wall near Tasso's oak
| AT their last meeing. as she told him
between the bursts of weeping, of her
fathers determination to have her
wedding take place within a month.
/ Willis had understood the necessity of
putting an end to the romance an idle
spring and peasants fete had
/ been responsible for.
II had been idyllic and innocent
| enough. Being a good fellow in the
| main. and moreover not wildly in love.
Willis was capable of a sharp twinge
/ of conscience when he realized the
| child's distaste for a marriage about
which she had at first prattled happily
j enough,
But Rosetta was so pretty, so full of
/ distressi Who could resist the temp
| tation of seeing her once more Be
| sides. had he not promised himself to
speak wisely and firmly. as became
\ mature twenty-three when advising in
| experienced seventeen?
Such, however. is mans incon-
| sistency that when the trysting place
| appeared. void of the trusting maiden.
| ne experienced none of the satisfac-
/ ton popularity supposed to reward the
virtuous- 1t is one thing to confront
a pair of beseeching black eyes, in the
/ role OF stern representative of duty,
| and quite another to be anticipated; to
| hnd the play played out and the cur
| tain rung down, without any of the
plaudits so dear to self-sacrifice
| NOW, avoiding procession of damp
/ pilgrims. in whom the odor of human
| lty predominated over that of sanctity,
the young man strolled down the great
| nave with lowered head and thoughts
bitterly intent upon the inconsistency
OF woman. Thus he did not notice a
| bucket dangling from the end of a rope
| until he struck sharply against it.
AS he recoiled ii rose in the air. and
/ ne saw 1t was rude device for carry
ing water TO some workmen who were
repairing the mosaics ornamenting the
| dome. Willis's lip curled with intoler-
ance Of such methods-his glance fol-
| lowing the unwieldy contrivance until
IL reached haven under a board
stretched from side to side of the rail-
ing surrounding the dome.
The signore might perhaps like to
| see the work nearer. II is very inter-
esting.' said a low toned voice at his
| elbow, in Italian.
".
countering a pair of brilliant, shifty
\ eyes set in handsome face of the bet
| ter type of peasant
1T is forbidden to enter the dome
| during repairs" he replied curtly. in
| the same tongue.
But 1 have a brother among the
workmen. See, l am taking him maca-
roni." holding up a small basket as he
| spoke. Then, as Willis shook his head
4 imna tipntlV ha aHdad Nho oII
tan is also my uncle. So II the signore
pleases. L will gladly conduct him to
| the dome"
Willis looked at the speaker with
more interest. Rosetta had once point
| ed out the sacristan. speaking of his
| great age and of his relationship to
her. Could this young man be the
cousin lover against whom the girl
| rebelled? His good looks deserved a
stronger hold upon her fancy.
How did you know 1 understood
| Italian?" Willis demanded
| Il heard the signore speak to a beg
| gar at the door,"
| Evidently the fellow had been follow
| ing him. That he should wish to con-
| duct him to the dome was a singular
| coincidence: but he dismissed as i'm
| probable the idea of any stronger mo-
| tive than the hope OF a possible fee
| and, moved by an unexplainable i'm
| pulse. he determined to accept the Of
| fer he had been on the point of de-
| clining.
Ten minutes later. stepping through
| the doorway opening upon the narrow
| platform surrounding the dome, he
| heard a sharp click behind him, and
| turned to see his companion coolly
| pocket the key he had Just removed
| from the lock
| The signore appears surprised" he
| said, regarding Willis with a smile
| of triumphant malice. He has per-
| haps never seen rat caught in a trap
| To understand she must first regard
the scaffolding closing the platform on
| the left.
The other hand mechanically turned
TO the point indicated. Certainly the
| left was completely blocked by the
scanolding; but no matter-they could
| pass to the right.
Still that smile of triumphant NAL
| ice. Willis made step forward. but
Teeognizing rather late the value OF
\ discretion, paused before the steely
| CLINT OF a stiletto. Nevertheless he re-
| turned the Italians gaze without
| fiinching. leaning against the wall. and
thrusting his hands nOnchalantly into
his pockets.
The signore will remain without
| stirring-or@'
The gesture was significant.
Il understand. No need to illus
| trate," said Willis. Besides. there's
| nothing in my pockets but the small
| change 1 keep for your compatriots
| Now. If you will be good enough TO ex-
| plain"
| There is nothing to explain" sig
more. am Giuseppe Montanari, who
was to marry Rosetta Nicoli."
| You have taken too much trouble
| SignOre-er-Monta Willis said
iusolentIy civil. Still l am yet in the
| dark Is this perhaps part of the cere-
| mony announcement?
Montanari's eyes cleaned.
| Il care nothing for the signore's
words" he said; lit is with what he
| has done that l have to deal. Three
months ago Rosetta and l were happy
| in the thought of passing our lives
| together. She danced and sang the
whole day through. Now she weeps-
| she turns from me-she will hear moth
ing of marriage. This 1 owe to the
| signore. The debt is heavy
Willis now moved uneasily. The
| pathos OF this statement, simply made.
| planted certain sting. and his mind,
| engaged in a rapid reconstruction of
| the past, accused him of cutting a
poorer figure than he cared to admit.
| "Montanari,'' he said. ''pon my hon
or there has been no-wrong-only-'
Il know that" interrupted the 9TH
/ er, with passion, "else the signore would
not be standing there-alive. Yet, he
mistakes-there has been wrong. Roset-
IA iS SDOiled for her own DeODIA-her