The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-29

which she had read 50 long for her
 Soon ali Florence was delighted to hear that their young Greek professor was to marry the Beautiful daughter of one of their oldest and nohlest houses. Bardo saw no reason why it should not be. and even the great and wise Bernardo was half won by Tito's
 For two months Tito lived in a wholly complete rapture without blem- fish. Then suddenly there came black cloud that overwhelmed him in moment. A secret message came to RoYnola while he w@s with her, telling her that her brother was dying and ad5urinS her to come to him to re- ceive a warning
 aAh. Tito.,' said she, "T cannot re- fuse, though hold him guilty. I loved him so before he forsook my father It would cost you less to be forglving; though If 3a had seen your greatest. even you Tito, would find 1t hard to forgive"
 Tito winced and cast down his eyes before the brave. clear faithful, honest eyes of Fiomola. The next moment his shame was overpowered by terror. for Romola said: He was christened
 3srnardino, after our godfather, but now he is called Fra Luca,"
 I.ss Where or how long Tito walked after Ronola left him he did not know. He Knew only that he could invent no falsity to ward off the consequences of his treachery if the friar' told ho- mola what he. knew, as no doubt he intended to do. He was like drunken man. With everything wrecked around him he plunged into the crowd, which had assembled to see another festival that of the mountain peasants who had come into Florence to hold fair.
 HIS mind strove SO hard to throw off the fear of exposure that he looked eagerly for distraction. He was at one
 of the lawless moments that come to men who have done wrong and know that their sin is about to find them out So, when he suddenly came on d little girl with a r"sy, baby-like face. out of which glorious blue eyes looked with utterly touching simplici- ty. he went to her gladly and whisper ed: Dear little Tessa, come with me"
 joy. She looked at Tito as if he were an archangel. He had seen her many times and had made love to her in his careless way. She followed him as happily as child, while he brought her sweets and took her from booth to booth. All at once they came un- expectedly on public jester Who hao attired himself in a white gown and wore a huge mitre like a bishop. Candles burned on the table in front of him and he was engaged in ceie- brating mock marriages
 The jester caught sight of the two fncongruous figures at once and in- vited them with exaggerated language to the altar. Tito. drifting along in the grip of circumstances, exclaimed. "should you like to be married to me, little Tessa ?'' and she looked at him adoringly Before he could reflect the two we're on their knees and the jest CT performed the mimic ceremony with dispatch.
 Tito had. not intended to deceive Tessa but when he saw her Innocent joy he delayed the .expla anatfon and walked on with her, pleased to hear her artless talk So it happened that finally. when the time care to part, he left her in the belief that she had really been married to him. and he warned her that she must tell no one. "If you are good, little Tessa.' said he. q shall come back again; but If you ever tell any one that you are married, shall stay away forever" ."
 It was with a siekening sense of impending ruin and shame that Tito betook himself to meet Romola after her visit to the dying frfar. He saw her approach and shrank away. Then,