The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29

library full of correct cancellations and
documentary by himself to teach the
world the truth of the ancient litera-
lures.
Into that task Bardo brought all the,
fetvor and concentration that his an
oestors had used to attain power and
wealth. 1t was an age when men
fought fiercely over Greek definition
or a Latin lexameter and hesitated not
to charge opponents with every crime,
from poor grammar to forgery and
theft.
In the beginning he had son to
stand by his side and help him in his
interminable wrangles over the turn
ing of a sentence or the origin of an
obscure reference. But the cold heal-
then mythology of the Bardi house re-
PEELED the young man. He was as
fiery and passionate as all the Bardds
and the fierce gospel of the monk g.
which began to flame through Italy.
soon filled him with fanatic zeal that
drove him forth to roam the world as
q pilgrim In friar's cowI.
From that moment he became as one
dead to his father. who esteemed him a
traitor. and turned to his daughter Ro-
nola to help him. With the uncon-
scious selfishness of those obsessed by
slave--a slave SO willing that she car
ried immense follos for him till she
tainted. and searched for quotations
and citations through the mighty II
brary from dawn till dusk. faborfng
desperately to satisfy the blind
scholars uncesing demand for more re-
Isearch.
When Tito was admitted into this an
cient house he saw before him tall
girl of eighteen. whose hair. shining
like red gold. lay in wave-like ripples
over GROW like that Of a queen. while
a patrician nose and mouth told not
only of naughty blood, but of proud
tenacity and unwavering firmness..
The blind sage was so interested by
Tito's travels that he quite forgot the
possible consequence of throwing the
fascinating young man into daily COM
partnership with his daughter. Romo-
las godfather, Bernado del Nero, one
of the ruling men Of Florence. was not
equally cblivious to the danger. and he
warned Bardo: but the scholar could
think only of the Creeks knowledge.
Bernardo's distrust was not shared
by any one else. except perhaps the
painter Cosima. The rest OF Florence
was charmed by the wit and the MINI
hleness of temperament that made Tito
| learn quickly what praise would please
Florentines best. Soon the authorities
gave him the Greek chair in the univer-
| sity and he was hidden to feast In the
greatest house night after night.
| He had succeeded in freeing his
Hight mind almost entirely Of the mem
DRY of his foster father, when he was
accosted on the street one day by a
/ Dominican friar. who placed into his
/ hand sealed bit of parchment. Inside
were the words: Il am sold for slave
l think they are going to take me to
| Antioch. The gems alone will serve to
ransom me-
Il am Fra Luca." said the friar The
man who gave me this was pilgrim
who had it from the man who wrote
lit"
With these words he disappeared
| leaving Tito stunned with the fear that
his duplicity would be disclosed. Then
he bethought himself that the docu-
ment had been sealed Perhaps the
4 friar did not know It's contents Again.
Il he remembered how pale and suffering
\ the monk had seemed He looked like
4 one dying Uncon sciously his step grew
Tighter as his elastic mind cast the
burden of present decision away and
postponed it.
II So thoroughly was his mind at ease
again almost Immediately that he
Il courted Romola with all the ardor Of
one who had no other thought to oc-
!, cupy his brain: and the girl. so long
:, Immersed in the gloom of old manu-
u scripts and dead wisdom. was all too
i susceptible to his presence that came
, to her like the living glory Of the
, roses and wine OF the shining Greece
!, of which she had read so long for
her blind father
( Soon all Florence was delighted TO
hear that their young Greek professor
, was to marry the beautiful daughter
OF one of their Oldest and mobiles.
. houses Bardo saw no reason why II
2 should not be- and even the great and
worldly success.
Y For, two months Tito lived in q
Q wholly complete rapture without blem-
ish. Then suddenly there came a black
cloud that overwhelmed him in mo-
e ment. secret message came le
t Romola while he was with her. telling
: her that ner brother was dying and
t adiuring her to come to him to receive
! a warning
d "Ah, Tito" said she, II cannot re-
q fuse. though / hold him guilty. love-
II him so before he forsook my father. I
1T would cost you less to be forgiving
II though If you had seen your fathe
forsaken when his need was greatest
i. even you, Tito, would md 1t hard t
X forgive
IN Tito WINGED and cast down his eye
to before the brave clear, faithful, homes
J. eyes of Romola. The next momen
ee his shame was overpowered by terror
rs FOR Romola said: ne was christene
Barnardino, after our godfather. blu
ne now he is called Fra Luca."
is Where or how long Tito walked afte
n Romola left him he did not know. II
tn knew only fnat he could invent /,
r. falsity to ward off the consequence
liz OF his treachery IL the friar. told Re
n mola what he knew, as no doubt Il
lis intended to do, He was like a drunko
ed man. With everything wrecked aroun
at him he plunged into the crowd, whic
ell has assembled to see another festival
elk that OF the mountain peasants WI
~ had come into Florence TO hold a FIJI
OF His mind strove so hard to throw q
he the fear OF exposure that he locke
he eagerly for distraction. He WAS
III one OF the lawless moments thaf con
get to men who have done wi nr !, ar
nd know that their sin is about to Al
art them out, SO, when he suddenly ca n
bic on little peasant girl, with a ros
,Be bahy-like face, out of which glpri0,
ca. blue ewes looked with utterly touchir