Middletown transcript., 1905-03-18
IooNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

AuG uutli l. HAL tUChCd ny SCiA SCCuiCil az
my room. I had but one wish-that
Nigel would answer my letter at once.
III / could have followed my own de-
sires, i should not have left my room
again that day; but | was afraid that
by doing so I should arouse Anne's sus-
picions. When tea-Gme came smoothed
my hair and washed the traces OF tears
frem my face, and went down to the
drawing room to face the mysterious Ser
gall.
"Mademoiselle, where have you been
all these houres ~ lie asked petulently as
soon as / entered the room. II have
been bored to death by my own company.
Why have you had no compassion on
lonely exile?"
81 have been for walk" answered
as poured out the tea. "My head ached
in the house. Do you ever go ont,
Signor ?"
Il do not like walking" he answered.
"Don't you? Yet l should have
thought that you had been very vigorous
in your youth" was talking merely
to distract my thoughts. "You often
move quite briskly now. although at other
times you are very feeble"
II am not an old man." lie answered,
and his tone sounded almost piqued.
misfortune has made me what | am,
yet the blood still runs warm in my veins,
and I can still sympathize with young
life. We none of ms like to grow old,
mademoiselle."
mo-" assented Iamely.
At that moment I heard the sound Of
the crunching of gravel, and in spite Of
myself / started and looked quickly at
the window. To my surprise the Signor
started up with astonishing agility, and
placed himself in the shadow of the cur
tains.
"What is it? What do you see, mad
emoisele ?" he asked in a quick whisper.
"Ah''-with long breath Of relief as
Roberts walked leisurely past-''it is only
the servant ~
"Why, Signor, you are as great a
coward as 7 am r exclaimed as he sank
back in his chair. "Wlat is it that YOU
fear? An assassin's knife or what r.
'sMademoiselle, what do you mean ?
How should you know? What do you
suspect, girl?'
He rose and stood over me almost
threateningly. At that moment all my
natural courage reasserted itself. ] looked
into his dark angry face, and burst into
an amused laugh.
Really, Signor, yon remind me OF an
Adelphi drama! | only thought that all
Italians who remained in hiding in a
house and country which they detest
did SO because they had found their
native land too hot for them.'
He began to laugh.
'It is good guess, mademoiselle. So
you imagine that have made my native
land too hot to hold me? 1t is quite true
I have. In my youth. mademoiselle, |
was a fool. For the sake Of pair OF
bright eyes and musical tongue fell
in with secret society of 1taians-uni-
versal reformers Of everything that the
members did not themselves possess.
For the time being aided their schemes,
and was a more or less active member ;
but then my zeal and enthusiasm waned
perhaps the bright eyes drew dim and
the musical tongue lost its softness. |
was loss-a decided loss-to the society,
and they viewed my detection with dis.
content. They took steps to prevent my
leaving them, and Il took steps to
prevent their annoying me, and SO here
/ am, mademoiselle, a prisoner in this
dreary castle with only your kindness
to relieve my misery"
''But why did you come to the Court?''
I asked.
"Well; the late lanented Verriker had
also had the misfortune to fall into the
clutches and under the ban of this society
and as we were companions irf adversely
/ knew that, if circumstances had per-
mitted, he would have welcomed me
to his English stronghold
sPerhaps it was good thing for him
that he died when lie did," | said, fol-
lowing my own train Of thought.
Undoubtedly, mademoiselle, it was.
Verriker had reached the end of his
tether. III he had not fallen overheard
when he did / have no doubt that by
this time he would be lying in an Italian
grave with hole in his back that was
not made by nature
| shuddered at the words and at the
cynical, reckless tone in which they were
spoken. looked at the old worn man
and felt almost sorry for him. But l
could not forget his treatment of Lady
Ferriker.
s'Is Lady Verriker member OF this
precious society too ?" / asked suddenly.
1t occurred to me that if she were it
would explain many things, but the
Signor promptly and with much surprise
atthe question answered that she was not.
Lady Verriker had not returned when
I went up to bed. / was careful to
inquire Of Anne how she was and to
express my sorrow that | had not seen
her. I intended to sit up all night, SO
that I might hear her when she went
along to her room but in spite OF my
efforts could not keep awake. ] dropped
asleep in my chair with my head resting
on the cushioned window-sill
It must have been some hours later
that / was aroused by hearing Lady
Verriker's voice.
aYou deceived me n / heard her say.
nThat telegram was forgery! Reginald
yerriker is In London"
I raised my head, and heard no more.
leaned my head on the sill again, and
then discovered that the window-seat
acted as kind Of telephone. Afterwards
found that the wall which ran up from
the room below was hollow, and so the
sound Of the voices in the drawing-roonl
ma ..x~.vc ~S9c oiony tha wall ~ stnr