Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-08
CHAPTER V-Continued.

CHAPTER V-Continued.
"Run to the village. some one. and
give the ALARM" he ordered. in the voice
Of sick man. sfCall Sandro and his men
and bid them bring extra horses"
A half dozen 1eet-footed youths broke
away and were OF before he had finished
speaking. Then Blake was helped into
the hall Of the CASTILLO, where the confu-
sion was less
Lucrezia Ferara, who had been In the
rear Of the house, and was among the
last to hear the evil tidings, came run
ming to him with colorless lips and eyes
distended, crying:
1.-THE truth, signore. for the love OF
Christ! They tell me he is murdered
but know 1t Is q He.''
The notary's wife attempted to calm
her, but the girl began to scream, fling
ing herself upon her knees at the feet OF
the American. begging him to tell her II
was all a mistake.
MY father would not de-" she cried
loudly. HE was here but an hour age
and he kissed me-" She would not DC
Gained, and became SO violent that 1t re-
quired force to remove her. AS soon as
she was out of the way Col. Neri began
time striving by his own example &c
steady the young man. who was In ter.
rible condition of collapse. Bit by OIL
the soldier learned all there was to learn
of the shocking story, and through 1t al
the Countess Margherita stood at his ell
bow, never speaking. Her eyes were
glazed with horror, her lips were Whis-
pering something over and over, but Wner
her cousin appealed to her to leave the
scene she seemed not to hear him. she
only stood and stared at the exhausted
man until he could bear 1t no longer
and, hiding his face in his hands, he be-
gan to SILVER and cringe and sob.
It seemed to him that she must know
that all these people must know the truth
and see his shame as If 1t were blazoneo
in fire. Their horror was Tor MN: tneii
looks were changing even now to con-
tempt and hatred. Why did they not &C
cuse him openly instead of staring with
wide. shocked eyes? Realization mac
come to him long before he had reached
Terranova, and he was sick with loainlne
for himself. Now, therefore, in every
blanched cheek, in every parted hip, ne
felt an accusation.
"Why do you waltz" he queried. al
length, thinking Of Martel out there or
the lonely mountainside. why don
you go fetch him?"
Neri said, soothingly Help will be here
in a few moments, signore. You coulo
not sit a horse yet awhile
.'Io'' Blake asked. blankly. and shud
dered So they expected him to return
through that darkness; to guide them tc
the horror from which he had just fled
He would not go. His mind recoiled Al
the thought and terror came upon him
afresh Nevertheless. he made an effort
at self-control, lurched to his feet and
chartered through clicking teeth:
''Come on. I'm ready.
Presently! Presently! There will be
men and horses here In moment" In a
lower tone the colonel urged: For the
love of our Savior. can you not send the
countess away? l am afraid she is dy-
ing"
Blake went to the girl and laid a shak-
ing hand upon her arm, stammerine
wretchedly:
Contest you-you-'' He could not
go on and turned appealingly to the
others.
You say he is dead?" she inquired
duly. How can that be when you told
me there was no danger?'
Il did not know. OH He lowered
his working features. If it had only
been / instead"
She nodded. THAT would have been
better
From somewhere to the rear of the
house came the shrill screams of Lu-
crezia. and the countess cried, Poor
child. They did not even spare Ricardo
but-after all, he was only a father"
Neri said, gently: Let me help you
signorina The doctor is with your aunt
but l will call him."
'.He cannot give me back Martel,' she
answered, in the same dull. lifeless tone
Voices. footsteps sounded outside. and
a man in the cooked hat and uniform OF
lieutenant of carbineers came briskly
into the hall and saluted his superior.
I'VE are ready. SIR
The countess reused herself. saying:
''Then come, l. too. am ready"
Heaven above us,' Neri faltered. You
are not going" He took her by the hand
and led her away from the door. mo.
my child. we will go alone. You must
watt His face was twitching and the
sweat dripped FROM his square jaw as he
nodded to Blake.
They went out into the hooking glare
of the garden lights. leaving her standing
in the great hall like a statue Of ivory.
her lips dumbly framing the name of her
lover