The San Francisco call., 1908-04-05
/\REIHlO[A oy S$rawf5ra A. - &c


TO the ground floor. But the counting
house was locked. and the men SER
wants told her that OmObono had gone
out She would not leave the book
with them. for she had saperstitious-
~ exaggerated idea OF the value OF all
hidden things, therefore. after mo-
ments hesitation. she turned and car
rfed IL upstairs again
At the first landing she almost ran
against the master OF the house. who
asked her what she was carrying and
where she was going He spoke rather
sharply. and Yuiia was frightened and
told him the whole story explaining
that Zoe seemed to be in a bad temper.
and would be angry with her for bring
ing back the account book. but that it
was Om0bono's fault. How could he
dare 10 suppose that the Kokona could
not read?
The little slave did as all slaves and
servants naturally do when they wish
TO gain favor with the masters she
hfnted that all the other servants In
the house were in league to do evil.
and that she only was righteous. Zeno
carelessiy looked through the pages OF
the account book as he stood listening
to her tale.
you talk too much" he observed.
when she paused Go upstairs
Thereupon he turned hts back On her
and went in under the heavy curtain
TO his own room, taking the book with
him and leaving Yulia considerably dis-
concerted She looked at the curtain
disconsoIately for a few seconds and
apartments.
A few minutes later Zeno himself fol-
lowed her, with another book IN his
hand He knocked discreetly at the
outer door. and LuciIla opened. for
Yulia was still explaining to Zoe what
had happened. The maid stood aside to
let the master pass through the vestf-
buIe which separated the inner rooms
from the staircase Zeno raised the
curtain and went In
II am no great reader" he said. al
he came forward toward the divan. but
I have brought you this ola book. II
may amuse you. The man died more
than so years ago. and fancy he was
mad; but there must be something IN
his poem for IA has been copied again
and again This was given me BY ths
Emperor Charles when was with him
In Venice
Zoe had time to recover from hsr
surprise. II she changed color at all
he did not see II. for though he glanced
at her two OF three times. be looked
more often at the book he held Az he
finished speaking he placed IL IN her
hands and his eyes met hers.
Possibly Zoe had guessed that II she
could make a stir in the house by
sending MESA ges to Onnobono. the mas
ter would at last come IN person: at all
events she felt a little thrill OF tri-
umDh when he was before her bring
ing his book and speaking pleasantly.
as a sort or peace Offering for having
neglected her so long.
Thank YOU. said she. very sweetiy.
A little pause followed. during which
Zoe opened the manuscript and read
the Illuminated title page.
1T Is dull for you here" said Carlo.
awkwardly.
Zoe did not even look up. and Affected
to answer absently, while she turned
over the pages.
"Oh. no. she said Not in the least.
1 assure you. She went back to the
title and read it aloud. The Divine
Comedy OF Dante AIighierr-I have
heard his name. A Sicilian. was he
note Or Lombard? r cannot remem-
ber- Have you read the poetry The
paintings are very pretty. I see There
is much more life in italian painting
than In our stiff pictures with their gilt
background OF course. there Is a Ger
tain childlike simplicity about them. an
absence OF school. OF the traditions OF
good masters. of reverence for the old
art. But they mean smething that IS.
whereas our Greek pictures mean
something that never was Do you
agree with me-
She had talked on in careless tone.
toying with the book and only looking
up as she asked a question without
waiting for d reply BY the time she
paused she had asked so many that
ZeRo only noticed the last
You would like Venice" he said.
but you would Ike Florence better.
There are good pictures there. j be-
lieve"
You have seen them yourseIfs's
~Oh, yes. But l don't understand
such things. This man AIighieri de-
scribes some OF them in his book. He
was a FIOrentfne."
As zenO showed himself more willing
to talk Zoe seemed 10 grow more in
different. She laid the book down be-
side her. leaned back and looked OUT
OF the window. turning her face half
away from him. IL was the first time
he had seen her BY daylight since she
had come. and the strong afternoon
light g1owed IN her white skin. her
eyes and her brown hair. He could
have seen on her cheek the very small
est imperfection, had il been as tiny
as the point OF pin. but there was
none He looked at her tender m0uths
and in the strong glare he could have
detected the least rOughneSs on her
lips. IL they had rot been as smooth
as fresh fruit. Her nervous. high bred
LOullE manu- idN OH the LOA1S Oh ucE
over garment, within his reach, and ha
felt much inclined TO take n and hold
IT. He did not remember that any
woman's near presence had disturbed
him in the same way, nor had he ever
hesftated on the few occasions in his
life when he had been inclined to taxa
a wOman's hand He had the fullest
rights which the laws OF the empire
could give him. for Arethusa. as Ia
called her. was his property out and
out. and II he died suddenly she would
be sold at auction with the furniture
Yet. for some wholly inexplicable rea-
son he did not quite dare to touch ths
tips Of her fingers.
II have heard that you are hero"
Zoe observed. without looking at him.
as it true?'
Then she turned her eyes to him and
smiled a little maiiciously. be faneied.
as IL she had guessed his timidity from
his silence
who told you such nonsense Zeno
asked. with a laugh. for her question
had broken the ice-0r perhaps had
- Co.