The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-14

| and rose. Tn Heavens name have done with it"I cried furiously. q am no fool to misread your mean ing; nor child to be frightened by your threats. If your will is to hand | me to the carahinieri, send for then and do 1t. But spare me your silly taunts prompted by an empty jealousy | If you would turn the feeling have l for you to hate, you can take nc quicker or surer road. am no dos to be held in leash and menaced with the lash"
 was hurrying out when she ran and put herself in my way. T didn't mean to anger you like this, Beppo."
 Mean 1t or not, you have done It. answered curtlY.
 "You know I would never do aught against you. You know that"
 Then why threaten meT'
 You are so strange to me. So diff ferent. So cold" and she made as If to put her arms about my neck. .
 stepped back. NO. You have an- gered me. I know your thoughts. You would be my master and have me cringe and whine before your lifted fin- ger. am not fashioned that way. You listen to tales against me when my back is turned; and in your senseless anger at what is told you raise the whip. You say there is price on my head. Well, earn it by betraying me; and find some other man to lawn upon your whims and answer your threats with caresses." and slipping past her, l went out and returned to>the old for' for my nights vigil.
 found Breva awaiting me. He also had heard the news that l had been prescribed.
 'It is Giuseppe's doing, Beppo. am sure. He is one of the few Of us who know that Vicino Is dead. and he has been secretly to the mainland"
 Tt will neither help him nor hurt me" I replied. "The carabtnieri will not come here, and I shall not go there; hnd in a few days there will be changes, and Vicinio's friends will no longer be in power"
 Beltano had assured me of this, and the Counts urgent summons had had to do with the matter. But the knowl- edge that was a prescribed murderer. even though the deed had been com mitted while I could not be held &C., countable for my acts, was infinitely distressing. I thought of 1t constantly in the long hours of my watch that night; and the fact that had been un- able to ascertain whether or not 1t had been my hand which had slain the nan--galled and harassed me. must lose no time in getting at the truth.
 And the next day the matter had other consequences. Breva relieved me of my watch soon after dawn, and when at midday l returned to the fort, Pepita surprised me by saying Masita wished to speak to me.
 Here was a change indeed. l went up to her with smile of exultation; but her first words killed 1t. T have sent for you, not because have ceased to Ioathe your presence, but because you
 II. -.t-.- wuvfk |. Nrrut1 contempt as she could cram into both words and manner.
 Call 1t gaoler or guardian. as you please. Names are as nothing
 How lonR am l to be a prisoner?"
 "Beltano said he should be absent at least some days
 I thought I could detect signs that she understood this intentionally equiv ocal answer, for she paused a second main shut up here all that timer"
 shrugged by shoulders. Those are his orders,"I said bluntly.
 "In that case I must have some few things from my house." she said. again showing some hesitation.
 Give me list of them and they shall he fetched"
 "I have written it," and she handed me a paper.
 
 in 1t of any consequence; nothing that she could not very well have done without. The thought at once occurred to me that. after my conduct of the day before she had been recalling my words would help her--and in- tended this more as a test than any thing else.
 Say to whom this paper Is to be given and add an authority to the bearer to receive them"
 May I say whore l am?' she asked as she took back the paper.
 No. That would bring trouble upon others than myself"
 She started ever so slightly at this reply and then wrote as I said. You can read all have written." she said as she gave 1t 10 me again.
 I turned to leave the room and she stopped me. There Is another thing. I wish to have my brother know that am here" She saw my hesitation and added. You know well why he may safely be told.'
 "On the contrary. l do not"
 The girl, Agapa," she replied with wealth of scorn.
 The answer astonished me. q will see what can be done" l said; and again turned to leave. AS my fingers were on the handle of the door she again stopped me. Wait. What did you mean by your conduct