The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02


 wished to tell her a story of one of his love affairs-an affair which had taken place in Italy. Relying upon the good sense of Miss Byron and appreciating her just discernment in all delicate mat ters, Sir Charles had sought her ad- vice.
 While residing in Florence Sir Charles had made the acquaintance of a lady of noble rank, great wealth and great beau ty, the Lady Olivia. Naturally Olivia had fallen desperately in love with Sir Charles and had proposed marriage to him. Gent ly as he could, but firmly, Sir Charles had declined the offer Olivia was so enraged that she sought his life, and he fled from Florence. But Olivia was bounding him even now, seeking him throughout the world with the idea of forcing him into marriage with her. And this was not all. When in Rome Sir Charles had been an intimate in the family of the Della Por- rettas-a princely race from Bologna At first he had been a companion of the young BarQp Della Boretta-young Ge- ronymo. But that young man would not live Up 10 the standard of morality pro- fessed by Sir Charles Grandson. So, with regret. Sir Charles gave up his company.
 Afterward, when Sir Charles was tray cling in the Cremonese, he saw from his travelling coach two men attempting the life of a third. To spring from the chariot, to draw his sword, wound one of the miscreants and put the other to flight was the work of a minute with Sir Charles Grandson. And the man whom he had rescued was Geronymo Della Por- retta, his former friend.
 Geronymo was badly wounded, but Sir Charles took him into his travelling car riage and conveyed him to Cremona. Hay ing received proper medical attention in that city the young man was taken by his friend to the home of his princely family in Bologna. It seemed that rival of young Della Porretta in the love of a absolute woman had hired assassins to compass his death. Only the fortuitous arrival of Sir Charles with his skill in arms and his bravery, had saved the young mans life.
 The family of the young man were nat urally very grateful to Grandson for his rescue of their darling boy and Sir Charles became for a time the guest of their house. But that untoward fate to which his Vaccinations condemned him pursued him even there.. The beautiful and gifted daughter of the house-the Lady Clementna-fell so desperately ir love with Sir Charles that the English man felt he must fly the hospitable roof IIn ,At ,,at, and felt that to indulge her in a hopeless passion by any r2arks of attention would oe a breach of hospitality. Clementina fell into a deep melancholy The family saw how matters stood and held a coun- ci.
 It was proposed to Sir Charles that he marry Clementlna. only in this way could her life and reason be saved The girls great fortune would be handed over to him; he would live in Italy, going only once a year to England. and would change lis religion. Clementina herself besought Sir Charles to accede to the terms. The baronet was filled with great distress He knew Clementina to be a noble and in- tellectual girl. He was not ayerse to ner person and was pained to think tha. his fatal Vaccinations were likely to wreck her life. He tried to compromise He agreed 10 sacrifice himself and marry Clementina upon his own conditions These conditions, however, the family would not agree to- though Sir Charles made them as liberal as he conscientious iy could. He fled from Bologna, and CIementina went mad for love of him.
 New the Della Porrett family had