Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-18


fought with the Duke But ! VIII
tell you the story and have every con
idence that you will not reveal II.
Il am Count Baradini. and my an
cestors have lived in this palace since
the twelfth century. The man you
saw on the other side OF the senorina
at the ball was the Duke of Abolino.
a relative Of the king. The senorinn
herself is the daughter of the Countess
Francoccio. an old family that sprang
up under the influence Of Lorenzo de
Medici. commonly called Lorenzo the
Magnificent Seuorina Blanca Fran
eoccio and myself have been lovers
ever since was sixteen and she four
teen years old Upon her entrance into
society lately on her eighteenth birth
day the duke saw her and became de-
sirous of possessing her. He is
widower. very Eich and has great in
huence with. the king. Soon after see
ing Senorina Blanca he made formal
application for her hand. Her mother
her father is dead-urged her to ac-
cept wIlat is TO be considered in
worldly point of view a better position
than / could give her. To be duchess
and rich is higher in the worldly scale
than TO be a countess and with no pos
sessions except this old palace AS for
Blanca. her heart Is all mine. as mine
is hers. and If left to her own will
she would refuse the duke to marry
me. Indeed. rather than wed with
him she declares she will go into
convent.
THE duke was expecting to have
his own way in the matter when at
the recent ball at the Pitt he discov-
cred that 1 was his rival. / was with
Senorina Blanca a few minutes before
we passed you. when the duke Joined
her and by a look babe me give way
to him. l asked the lady to go with
me into another apartment. She as
scented, whereupon the duke went with
us. On reaching the other room Bian-
ca showed the duke so plainly that his
presence was not desirable that he left
US, giving me a malignant look as he
did so that plainly meant 4 am
man of too much Importance to be in
terfered with by such as you
"On leaving the palace the duke, who
took OCCASION to go out at the same
time as I, jostled me. Seeing that I
must have 1t out with him, 1 sent him
a challenge.
"Just at present the king would be
furious If he knew that members of
the nobility to whom he looks for sup
port, especially his relative. had fought
a duel IL were known to have sent
a challenge to the Duke of Abolino
should in some way be made to suffer.
I met him within an hour after we
left the Petit: but. realizing my posi-
ton. did not dare even pink him.
He came very near killing me, as you
see. and doubt not viii be disappoint-
ed If / recover.
'The duke and my second Joined In
conference as to how to keep the mat
ter a secret and decided to call upon
you to attend me.
"There you have the story so far as
it has been enacted"
The balance Of the tale learned
from Count Baradini after he had re-
covered. Senorina Blanca was com
handed by her mother to marry the
duke, and the king sent a message TO
say that he would be pleased at a
match between her and his well be-
loved cousin. Despite these commands
and requests the girl fatty refused to
marry any one but the man she loved.
and when those VINO were conspiring
against her found it impossible to
move her they desisted. and finally her
mother gave a reluctant consent that
she should marry the count
When the wedding came or / was
present and had a pleasant chat with
the bride about her husbands wound
l. H.
norance till the affair had blown over