The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19

at one point interrupted the song of Cor inne, the poetess happened to observe him, and from his features, the color of his hair. his dress. his height-indeed. from his whole appearance-she recog- nixsd him as English. she was struck by the mourning which he wore and by his countenance. His gaze, then fixed upon herself. seemed gently to re- proach her. She re-entered into his thoughts, and felt wish to sympathi4e with him by speaking of happiness with less surety and by conseorating some verso to Death in the midst of the fes- tival A few prolonged aud solemn tones silenced the -Gpplauding assembly as the poetess continued:
 Yet there arc griefs which our consolins
 sky May not efface; but where will griet Noble and soft impressions to the soul As 1t does here7
 She proceeded in this strain, and Oswald was 10 enchanted that he testified his ap- preciation with a vehemence equal to that of the Romans themselves. After her tri- umph Corinne was led from the capitol by Castle Forte amid the sound of trum- pets and the clash of cymbals. Oswald pressedp closely after her. and he could not but notice that she half turned every now and then to glance at him.
 As Corinne descended the steps sudden gesture displaced her crown. which fell to the earth. Oswald sprang forward and, picking 1t up, kne1t and offered 1t again to tho poetess. What was his astonish- ment whom Corinne thanked him ip Eng lish, with that peculiar insular accent which can never be acquired by the for signer Was she Enslishf had she not passed many years of her life in Eng land? fIe could not tell. but 1t was irn- possible that study alone could have en- abled her to speak thus. Night fell. and Lord Nevil wandered forth alone to muse upon the events of the day and upon the mysteries of human destiny. In tho midst of these reveries he found himself on the bridge of St. Angelo. which leads over tho Tiber to the castle of that name-or rather to Adrian's tomb. which has been converted into fortress. The silence of the scene. the pale waves of the Tiber, the moonbeams which lit up the statues till they appeared like palid phantoms steadfastly watching the current of time by which they could be influenced no more, all the objects recalled him to his habitual train of thought.
 He laid his hands upon his breast and felt there the picture of his father, which he always wore. He drew 1t forth and gazed upon 1t while the cause of the fe- licity he had recently enjoyed in looking upon and hearing Corinne too poignantly recalled to him all that had once tempted him to rebel against that parent whose wishes, now that he was no more. he had vowed should be his guiding principle tho life that remained to him.
 Tho next day Count dErfueil who had been at the coronation in the capitol, called upon Oswald and said: My dear Oswald, would you like to visit Corinne this evening?" 'How!' exclaimed Lord Nevi. "visit Corinne?" "Why. yes." ar,- swered the volatile Trenohman. why l mission to visit her and bring you along with mo this evening. Of course, she has said yes, and. to the injury of my self esteem, may say that my note spoke moro of myself than of you. but in her answer Corinne almost ignores mo and speaks particularly of you So como along; perhaps the conquest is for you and not for me after all"
 Oswald was annoyed by the lsvity of the Frenchman. but he consented, and that evening saw him at the house of Corinne. The house lay beyond the bridge of St. Angelo and was furnished with that correct taste and elegance which might have been expected. When Corinne ap- peaied she bowed first to Count d'Erfueil. though looking as Oswald. and then lowing again said with . perfect English accent, Lord Nevil." repeating 1t twice as if that name was associated in her mind with some affecting reminis- cence. Then shs said few words in Italian to thank him for restoring to her tho crown.
 "Am greater stranger to you than was yesterday? Surely English is your native tongue-that which you speak to your friends" "I am an Italian" replied Corinne. Forgive mo. my lord. but I thing I perceive in you that importance which % often characterises your ooun- trymen. Here we arc most lowiy; neither self-complaoent, like the French, nor proud of ourselves. like the English. A little indulgence from strangers suffices us. and we have tho great fault of want ing as individuals that dignity which Is denied us as a nation. But when you know us you may find some traces of our former greatness, such. as though t6w and half effaced. might be restored by happier times. shall now and then. speak to you in English. but Italian is moro dear to mel have suffered much," she added. signing. that might live in Italy"
 ''In snercy," cried the count, ''spsak French. dear Corinnc: you are worthy to do so." She smiled at the compliment. and granted the request with ease But the count. who believed that he might say what he pleased. provided hs did % with grace. imagining that politsness dwelt not in matter. but in mannsr. declared that she spoke French with m English accent. and put tho direct question to her of the cause of this singularity. Dur ing the four years that have dwelt in Rome, monsieur" replied Corinne with dignity, none of my friends. even those most interested in me, have inquired as to my history-thsy understood that 1t