The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-02-17

TOMORROW, said Merr1hew. I'm
going to look up tho Jail and engage
rooms ahead. 1t might be crowded"
Roth he and Hillard rode back to
their quarters for the night. but they
found that sleep was practically out II
the question.
The morning sun poured over The
hills. throwing huge shadows IN thi
surge below, O'Mally shifted. AS the
wind veered Internationally there came
to him the perfume Of the locust trees.
now In full bloom. Pietro rocked, his
legs crossed. his face blurred In ths
drifting tobacco smoke.
mo more tourists. PietrOr"
"No," Pietro sighed.
Did you ever see La ~Signorina b.
fore? DO you know anything about
her."
"Never, Nor answered Pietro. with
the perfect candor Of mn accomplished
liar.
"Have you eve seem
"Zitto! She comet" PietrO got Up
with alacrity,
La Signorina was as daintily fresh
in iret pink frock as a spring tulip.
Her eyes were shining. but her color
was thin.
81 have been looking for you. Mr..
O'Mally," she said. II have just re-
ceived a telegram from her highncss."
O'Mally accepted the yellow sheet.
II can make out a word or two" he
said. It's in Italian"
IL forgot" alphabetically.
Briefly, La P~rincipessa di Monte
Blanca gave Sonia Hlida Grosveuor
full authority to act as her proxy In
giving the ball. As for the invitations,
she knew absolutely nothing about II.
This last statement rather staggereA
the erstwhile concierge. II the prin-
cess hadn't issued the invitation. whs
the deuce had?
The dreamy. ~pleasurable days at the
villa Ariadnc were no more. The
spirit Of suspicion now stalked
abroad. And there we're a-coming and
going of the many needed extra serv-
ants, a to and froing OF extra garden
ers and carpenters and the sound Of
many hammers. The ballroom and the
dining room were opened and aired
and the beautiful floors polished.
In Florence there was n deal of ex-
element over the coming affair. for
the villa Ariadne had nee been the
scene of many n splendid entertain
ment. There had always been n mys-
terry regarding the Principessa di
Nfantn Dfnnna Aa,,x, .VA,rItnl tnr ~.
tual existence. But the prince was
known all ove Europe as a handsome
spendthrift. And the fact that at this
precise moment he was quartered
with the Eighth corps in Florence add
ed largely to the zest OF speculation.
AS for Hillard. we'll indeed he un-
der&.ood now why Mrs. Sanford had
warned him. He understood now
what the great mistake was.
He was always at her heels now,
but speaking no more of his love. She
understood and was grateful. Once
she plucked Il young rose and gave 1t
TO him. and he was sure that her hand
touched his with pity. though shs
would not meet his eyes.
At 4 o'clock on the afternoon OF the
day before the ball. now that the
noise had subsidized and the servants
were IN their quarters, LA Signorin1
went into the gardens alone. An hour
earlier she had seen Hiliard mount
and ride away. the last time but once.
There seemed TO bear down upon her
that oppression which one experiences
In a nightmare of being able to fly 50
high, to run madly and yet to move
slowly. always pursued by terror
Even now there was n single avenue
Of escape. but she knew that She could
not profit by it and leave these unfor-
tunatc derelicts to shift for them
selves. Love. She laughed b-okenly
and struck her hands in suppressed
fury. A fitting climax this. All the
world was mad. and she was the mad.
dest in it.
Some one was coming along the
path. She wheeled impatiently. She
wanted to be alone. Aud OF all men
Worth was not the one she cared ia
see. But the sight Of his pale face
and set jaws stayed her words. Sh,
waited restlessly.
81 have something To say TO you,
he said, upon which your future wei
fare largely depends"
81 ain listening" She showed sur
prise.
There has beer a tremendous won
der, as | understand. about this bal
In regard to the strange manner in
which the invitations were issued"
Have you found out who did it%
she demanded.
YES" The light in his eyes wa.
feyerish.
who was it," tiercely.
g! issued those invitations"
"You" Her lips parted.
Eyes. ! am the guilty man. The
list was the mair obstacle. repre-
sented myself ~ secretary to her high
ness"
.ttl 49,. la.. A..