Evening star., 1912-09-06
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

had caused her to glow, but 1t hao re-
quired this breath Of fear to fan the fire
into full strength. He was deeply moved.
and answered. simply. Il understand-I-
never knew how much you loved him"
| Her humor changed and she smiled.
Zone is foolish. perhaps, to be SO frank,
but that is my nature. You would not
| have me change it?"
you couldn't IL you tried
''Martel has always known 1 loved him
could never conceal 1t. I never wished
| to. II he had not seen it would have
| told him. Just now. when l beard he was
| threatened-well you see
'IppoIito had no business to mention
the matter. l suppose his tongue ran
| away with him. Tongues have a way OF
doing such things when their owners are
in love-
HE Is not for Lucrezia.'
why? He's a fine fellow
"Oh, but Lucrezia is superior. I have
| taught her great many things. She is
and I could not see her married to a
farmland. She can do much better than
| to marry Ippolito."
Love goes where 1t pleases,'' said the
American. with so much feeling that
| Margherita's eyes 1eaped to his.
You know? All. my good friend, then
you have loved?''
He nodded. II have. I do
She was instantly all eagerness. and
beamed upon him with frank delight
that stabbed him.
"Martel? Does he know"
mo. you see, there's no use-no possi-
bility"
I'm sorry. There must be some great
| mistake. ] cannot conceive of SO sad a
thing"
please don't try" he exclaimed. panic
stricken at thought OF the dangerous
ground upon which he was treading, and
miserably afraid she would guess the
truth in spite OF him.
II should think any woman might love
you.'' she said. critically, after a mo-
ments hesitation. You are good. and
brave and true
Most discerning OF women" he cried.
with an elaborate bow. 'Those are but
| a few of my admirable traits" He was
relieved to see that she had no suspicion
OF his feelings.
Blake was as good as his word, and
made her wishes known to Martel, who
laughingly accused him of lack of faith
in his own arguments. The count was
bubbling with spirits at the Immediate
nearness Of his nuptials. and declined to
consider anything which might interfere
with them
The country people had begun to as
semble ovhen Martel and his friend ar
afternoon. and the grounds were filling
with gaily dressed peasants. The train
from Messina had brought -Margherita s
relatives, and the bishop had sent word
that he would arrive in ample time for
the ceremony the next morning. The
contadini were coming in afoot. astride
Of donkeys and mules. or in gaily painted
| carts. pictured with the miracles Of the
| saints and the conuuests of the Moors.
There were dark haired men and women.
ufi1 ha{ {rn6 ha1y rHt oh Iatr
ears girls with huge earrings and fringed
shawls which swept the ground as they
walked. As vet they had not entirely
lost their restraint. but Martel went
among them with friendly handclasps
and exuberant greetings. renewing old
acduaintances and welcoming new. until
at last their shyness disappeared and
they began to laugh and chatter unaf-
fectedly.
AS night approached the guests gave
themselves up to joy rs only southerners
can. forgetting poverty. hardship and all
the grinding cares Of their barren lives.
They yielded quickly to the passion of
the fiesta. and Blake began to see Sicily
for the first time He would have liked
to enter into their merrymaking, but felt
himself too much of a stranger.
The feast was elaborate. no ristorante
could have equaled it. no one but a spend
thrift lover like Martel would have fur
niShed 1t. But 1t was not until darkness
came and the trees began to twinkle and
glow with their myriad lights that the
fun reached its highest pitch. Then there
was true Sicilian dancing. true Sicilian
joking, love making. Eyes were bright,
cheeks were flushed. lips parted. and the
halls Of Terranoya echoed to a bacchana-
lian tumult.
There had been an elaborate supper in
side, also. to which the more prominent
townspeople had been invited, and from
| which Norvin Blake was only too eager
to escape as it drew to an end. The
| strain to which he had been subjected
for the last week was growing unbear-
able and the sight Of Margherita Ginini
clad like vision in some elaborate
Partisan gown. SO intensified his distress
that he was glad to slip away into the
open air at the first opportunity. He
found Ricardo leaning against the bole
of a eucalyptus tree, observing the throng
| with watchful eyes
why aren't you making merry"
Blake inquired
The overseer shrugged his shoulders,
replying. somberly:
II am waiting"
For WHAT"
who knows? There are strangers
here"
You mean" Blake's manner
changed quickly. There may be enc
miles,"
"If Cardi is in the mountains behind
Martinello. may he not be here at Terra
nova? 1 am looking for a thick black
man. Aliandro has described him.
"Cardi would scarcely come to wed
ding feast said Blake. with a certain
feeling of uneasiness.
Scarcely the overseer agreed.
Have You seen anythng?"
Nothing
Where is 1ppolito?'
Ricardo grunted. Asleep in the sta
BILE. The imbecile Is drunk
A half hour later as Blake was watch
Ing the crowd from the loggiato. Mar
gherita appeared.
MY good friend. missed you," she
said. but I had no chance of leaving
until this moment" Coming close to him.
amiss? You have seemed sad all this
evening. 1 do not know, but fear your
heart is-heavy.'
He answered. unsteadily, Perhaps it
is. I-don't know
1T is that certain woman?'
Il dare say. I'm a great fool, you
Don't say that. This is. perhaps. the
| only chance I shall have of seeing you
alone.'
I'm glad" he broke out. in tone that
startled her. Glad for you. 1 have tried
not to be deaths head at your feast.
but 1t has been q struggle"
I'VE women see things. Martel, boy
| tnat ne Is. does not suspect, and yet I,
who have known you SO short time.
have read your secret. It Is our happi-
ness which makes you sad"
mo- no. I'm not that sort. share
your happiness. want 1t to continue
III had one wish 1t would be that she
might care for you as / care for Martel"
You are very good" he managed to
he took her hand and kissed it. A mo-
ment later she left him. but the touch
of her cool flesh against his lips remained
| an unforgettable impression.