Evening star., 1912-09-22

out upon a rusty, Overhanging iron ball
cony. The room ran through to a court
! in the rear. after the style of SO many
of these foreign-built houses. 1t had
| once been the home of luxury and ele-
gance, but had long since fallen into a
| state of shabby decay. He was still lost
! In thoughts of the important step which
he contemplated, when he heard the rus
tie Of a woman's garment behind him
and rose as a tall figure entered the
room.
Miss Fabrizi?" he inquired. "I came
He paused, for the girl had given a
! smothered cry. The light was poor and
the shadows played tricks with his ewes.
He stepped forward, peering strangely
| at her. then halted.
"Margherita"' he whispered: then, in
shaking voice. MY Cod"
/ YES" she said. quietly. 1T is l.
He touched her gently. staring as n
bereft of his senses. He felt himself
swept by a tremendous excitement. II
struck him dumb, it shook him, ii set tho
room to whirling dizzily. The place was
no longer ill-lit and shabby, but illunli-
mated as II by a burst Of light And
! through his mad panic of confusion he
, self-possessed
Caro- Norvin. You have found me in
deed" he heard her say II wondered
when the day would come"
/
hungry for her. his heart was melting
with the widest ecstasy that had eyer
possessed it. She was clad as he often
! remembered her, in dress which par
| took of her favorite and inseparable
color. her hair shone with that unfor-
gettable luster, her face was the face he
/ had dreamed of. and there was no shock
of readjustment i'm his recognition of her.
Rather her real presence made the cher
ished mental image seem poor and weak.
II came to see Miss Fabrizi. Why are
you here?' He glanced at the door as IL
expecting an interruption.
81 am She
"ConteSsa!
"Hushr' She laid her fingers upon his
| lips. Il am no longer the Countess Mar
| gherita. / am Vittoria Fabrizi."
''Then-you have been herein New Or
leans for long time?"
More than year.
Impossible! I-you- it's inconceiv-
able! Why have we never metz
Il have seen you many times"
And you didn't speak? Why, oh. why.
Margherita?"
"My friend, If you care for me, for my
safety and my peace OF mind. you must
not use that name. Collect yourself. We
will have explanations. But first re-
member I am Vittoria Fabrizi, the nurse,
a poor girl"
81 shall remember. l don't under
! stand. but l shall be careful. I don't
know what 1t all means. why you-didn't
let me know" In spite Of his effort at
self-control he fell again into delicious
bewilderment. His spirits leaped, he felt
unaccountably young and exhiarated; lie
laughed senselessly, and yet. with deep,
throbbing undernote of delight What
are names and reasons, anyhow? What
are worries and hopes and despairs? Pve
found you. You live; you are safe; you
are young. / feared you were old and
changed-it has seemed so long and-and
my search dragged SO. But never ceased
thinking and caring-I never ceased hop
ing
She laid a gentle hand upon his arm.
Come, come. You are upset 1t will all
seem natural enough when you know the
story"
Tell me everything, all at once. I can't
wait" He led her to a low French lit de
repose near by and seated himself beside
her. Her nearness thrilled him with the
old intoxication. and he hardly needed
what he was saying. Tell me how you
came to be Vittoria Fabrizi instead or
Margherita Ginini, how you came to be
here; how you knew of my presence and
yet-oh. ell me everything. for I'm
smothering. rm incoherent. IL
First, won't you explain how you hap
pened to come looking for me?'
He gathered his wits to tell her briefly
Of Myra Nell. feeling renewed sense OF
strangeness in the fact that these two
knew each other. She made as If to rise.
"Please," he cried. this is more mpor-
tant than Miss Warren's predicament.
She's really delighted with her adventure,
you know"
"True. she is in no danger There is so
much to tell. That which has taken five
years to live cannot be told i'm five min
utes. I'm afraid am sorry you came
Don't destroy my one great moment OF
gladness.''
Remember I am sittoria Fabrizi-"
Il know Of no other name"
(To be continued tomorrowl -.