Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-23
CHAPTER XV.-Cotninued.

"Lugrezia is here also, and she. too. is
another. You have never seen her. You
understand?
He nodded. "And her name?''
"Oliveta. We are cousins
II respect your reasons for these
changes. Tell me only what you wish.
ooh. I have nothing to conceal" she
said, relieved at his growing calmness.
They are old family names which l
chose when l gave up my former life.
You wonder why? 1t is part of the
story. When Marte1 died the Countess
main at Terranova. where everything
spoke Of him. She was young, she began
long quest. AS YOU know, it was fruit
less. and when in time her ideas changed
she was born to q new life
You have-ab andoned the search"
Long ago. You told me truly that
hatred and revenge destroy the soul. l
was young and l could not understand,
but now l know that only good can sur
vive-good thoughts, good actions, good
lives"
and is the Donna Teresa here?''
Nittoria shook her head. she has
comeback. perhaps, to her land of sun
shine. her flowers. and her birds and her
dream-filled mountain valleys 1t was
two years ago that we lost her. She
many regrets when l think of her.
You know, of course, that returned
to Sicily and that 1 followed your
Eyes. And when l learned Of it
knew there was but one thing to do
Il was unwise-disloyal there at Terra
nova She met his eyes frankly. but
made no sign. rs that why you avoid
ed me?'
"Ah. let us not speak of that old time.
When one sewers all connections with the
,:,A~,
should not look back, But 1 have not
lost interest in you, my friend. 1 have
learned much from Myra Nell: seeing
her was like seeing YOU, for she hardly
speaks of any one else. Many times we
nearly met-only a moment separated us
you came as [ went, or l came in time
barely to miss you. You walked one
street as I walked another: we were in
the same crowds, elbows touched.
our paths crossed, but we never CHANGED
to meet until this hour. Now l am al
most sorry
But why if you have forgiven me.
how could you be SO Indifferent? You
must have known how 1 longed for you.
Her look checked him on the brink of
passionate avoWal.
Does my profession tell you nothing?''
she asked.
You are a-nurse. What has that to
do with it,"
do you not know that I have been
with the Sisters of Mercy? II am one
of them"
'Impossib1e,"
''In spirit at least. I shall be one in
reality as soon as I am better fitted
|. "A NUM- He stared at her dumbly
and his face paled.
II have given all I possess to the order
excepting only what / have settled upon
Oliveta. This is her house. / am her
guest. her pensioner. / am ready to take
the last step to devote my life to mercy.
Now you begin to understand my reason
for waiting and watching you in silence
You see it is very true that Marguerite
Ginini no longer exists. | have not only
changed my name. | am different wom-
an. / am sorry" she said. doing her
best to comfort him. Yes. and it is
hard for me, too That is why l would
have avoided this meeting"
IF YOU contemplate this-step,' he in
quired. duly, why have You left the
hospital?'
Il am not ready to take orders. I have
much to-overcome. Now ] must pre-
not changed as l have and there might
be consequences"
What consequences"
I'VE wish to forget the past she said
non committally. When she returned
from her errand she saw him outlined
blackly against one of the long windows
his hands clasped behind his back, his
| head low, as if in meditation. He seem
| ed unable to throw off this spell Of ST
lence as they drove to the La Branche
home, but listened contentedly to hel
voice, SO like the low, soft music of a
cello.
| After he had left her it was long be.
fore he tried to reduce his thoughts te
order. He preferred to dwell indefinitely
| upon the amazing fact that he at last
| had found her, that he had actually seer
and touched her. Finally, when he
brought himself to face the truth in its
| entirety, he knew that he was deeply
| disappointed, and he felt that he ought
| to be hopeless. Yet hope was strong ir
| him. 1t blazed through his every vein
| he felt it thrill him magically.
When he fell asleep that night it was
with smile upon his lips. for hope had
| crystallized into a baseless, but none the
less assured. belief that he would find q
way to win her.