Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-04

with himi Dared he seek her out?
Dared he hear from her own lips the
whole truth? When he had landed on
the previous evening he had sent of
another urgent letter imploring En-.
rico to write, or, if possible, to come
and see him at Genoa, where they had
accepted a brief engagement; but now
to be told that Francesca was close
to him threw him completely off his
balance, and an impulse scarcely re-
sistible drove him toward the salotto.
Should he not enter that room?
| Should he not see her at least for this
once? And yet every throbbing pulse
within him warned him not TO do SO,
proved to him beyond dispute that
for Francesca's sake and for his own,
he had far better not seek her out.
with a struggle that seemed to him
bitter as death, he forced himself to
pass by that closed door, and TO go up
stairs to his room. He was not left
long in peace, for Gigi-who had
grown into very manly little fellow
of nearly seven years old, and who
had been greatly improved by two
years at good school in New York
came bounding in with an eager re-
quest.
"Zio caro-, don't you remember you
promised to take me to villa Pallavi-
cini this morning? / guess We'll
never be Bkely To get firer day, and
/ do so drefiy want to s',e the foun-
| tains!'
Though sick at heart, Carlo would
not refuse the little fellows petition,
and he dragged himself over to Pegli.
trying hard to enter into Gigis happi-
ness, listening to his raptures over the
beautiful gardens, and smiling politely
when their CONDUCTOR wien,
shrewd-looking little man--made time
honored jokes, and tried to be face
tious. Neither the glorious views of
| sea and mountain, nor the lovely
| groves of lick, olive, eucalyptus, and
pine-trees, nor the glowing color of
the aloes and rhododendrons, could
rouse in him that day the slightest
pleasure. Gigi chartered merrily as
| they rowed IN little boat, under
charge of a bro d-shouldered, kindly
old boatman. through the stalactite
caves, and gave shout of delight
when, as they passed on, and came in
| sight of the fountains, they saw one
of the gardeRers carrying out the
usual practical Joke of turning the
watering-hose in the direction of some
visitors, who fed with good-natured
laughter.
Look, zio caro-! On, do look" cried
the child, clapping bis hands.
And Carlo, glaucing round, saw.
only a -..one's-throw from him, on the
bank, little group OF visitors, and
among them Count Carossa and Fran
cesca. 4, 10. .~t.. .r-'
! She did not see him, and, after one
long look, he turned away with sick,
dizzy feeling, and knew that he was
answering the boatmans remarks at
random, and vaguely wondered
whether, after the first shock, that
sight would grow more bearable to
/ him.
How he lived through that day he
never quite knew, but he had learned
the truth of the words which he had
spoken TO Anita at Philadelphia that
Nothing is imposible; and when the
evening came, though Sardoni had
dned with him, and stayed afterward
| talking of Domenica's perfect,ons,
and Of his anxiety about his father >
first sight OF her, Carlo had betrayed
nothing, but seemed as ready as ever
TO sympathize with his friends affairs.
So engrossed was the tenor with his
own happiness that he was amazed
when, that evening at the theater,
Anita drew him aside, and, with tears
in her eyes. begged for his advice.
You are Carlos friend!" she said
in low. hurried tones; for Gods sake
tell me what to do. The Contessa
Carossa is sitting in the stalls!
Shall | tell Carlo before he goes on"
Sardoni stared.
Who. in Heavens name, may the
Contessa Carossa be?" he asked
Insomnia! l forgot you had not
been told! He kept it from you be-
cause he would not have you troubled
at the time OF your wedding. She Is
Francesca Britton, the girl he was to
have married. He heard when We
were at Philadelphia that she had be-
come the wife Of Count Carossa"
Sardoni gave an inarticulate excla.
nation of rage and regret.
"He must be told2' he said. "a
sudden shock like that might make
him break down. will tell him my.
self"
Nita thanked hsTn. Sne was dressed
in the coquettish costume OF Carmen,
but for the first time Sardoni noticed
a softened look about her face He
saw that she had begun at last really
to care for her brother. and that ap-
| psrentlg Comerio. who was also en-
gagged at Genoa during the summer
season, had not regained his old In
| fluence with her This, however was
but the frst night OF the engagement
he wondered greatly whether her
strength would hold out to the end.
And then he thought wrathfully of
Francesca Rrftfpn and remembered