Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-10-18

strange. faraway look that they could
not fathSm.
There was no evidence as to who had
killed Brandini. though every effort
was made to discover his murderer.
Only one person knew with certainty
who had stabbed him. and that was his
betrothed. But she never breathed a
suspicion. Had she done so 1t would
have awaited nothing. for In those days
the science OF obtaining evidence
against criminals was not what 1t liz to-
day. Besides. ut that time law was lax
and persons were inclined to take their
differences with their neighbors into
their own hands.
Carancola supposed that even II b.
anca did not denounce him she would
treat him as her lovers murderer
What was his surprise then when Oh
their first meeting after the murder
she seemed to incline herself to him for
sympathy, His heart leaped with n
sudden hope. Could II he that in hcr
innocence she did not lay the crime al
his door? Would 1t be possible after
all to win herr He spoke kindly to
her, and his words and muhiier al,
peared to give her comfort. He did
not see that strange look In her eye
which her friends had noticed. or II he
What he looked for was reliance on
him for comfort that might develop
into love. Her own manner was nj
tered. He seemed to regret his former
harsh words. Indeed, he told her that
they had been caused solely by the fact
that he had no hope of possessing her.
Blanca seemed. too. to crave to re
place that love of which she had been
deprived. At least this was the view
Roberto took Of her bearing toward
him. AT first he was chary Of his Wis
its to her. but increased their frequen
cy. She, too, showed warmer vel
come every time he came. One thing
however. he noticed that puzzled him
She did not spend long hours with him
Sometimes she excused herself after a
short time with him by saying that she
was unavoidably called away to some
duty. Sometimes she pleaded indispo
sition and did not receive him at all.
A time came when Blanca appeared
again in the gay world. Her gentle
bearing was replaced by an apparent
recklessness. From a modest maiden
she seemed to have passed to woman
| Of the world. That was time when
the higher classes were profiigate Bi.
anca mingled with the gayeties. but
was not herself dissipated She &C.
cepted no marked attention from any
man except Carancola Some who
knew Of the rivalry that had existed
between him and Brandini were sur,
, prised that she would he satisfied with
the one In place of the other. and a
| few who suspected Carancola Of hav.
| ing put his rival out of his way turned
/, against her. but the general opinion
| was that she had been undecided be-
! tween the two and having lost the one
was ready to accept the other
| A year from the death Of Edgardt
Brandini came round and brought
| again the races on the Corso. Blanca
had told him. out OF respect to opin
! ion, that she would not accept him til
! the twelve months after her bereave
meat had passed. He had intended Il
take no part In the races in Difference
to her feelings, her former lover hav
Ing taken a conspicuous part In then
| the year before. but she urged him Il
do so. Anything she wished was &
! command to him, and he was glad t.
+, obey this one. for colt that he hat
been raising Ind come Of proper az,
| to run and was sure to win
Carancoia on the eve of the race wa,
in high spirits. He was about to bt
betrothed ~ the girl he had so lons
| loved. and since he alone knew Of the
merits of his horse was enabled to pu
out numerous bets with odds In hi.
| favor. II there was gnawing of con
| science within him he did not show 1t
He was busy making his preparations
! and saw but little Of his betrothed.
The concourse was assembling OF
the Corso. and men were discussing
the relative merits Of the horses ant
| making their bets. The stands were
| filling up. and among the parties occu
| pying the seats was one including Bi
| anca Cellini. As admirers looked up a.
| her from below they saw different
| person from the one who had been ii
| her place year before. Her beauty
| had binomcd. but instead of the soft
| cheek, the childlike brow, there was
| that look which no one could under
| stand. In her corsage was single
rose. which would have been more il
| keeping with the girl of year before
| than now
Blanca had told Roberto to come tC
her Immediately before he started In
the race He did so. and with smile
she handed him the rose from her belt
and said
Before the signal to go. inhale its
fragrance, and | promise you it will
win you the race
Promising to do so, he left her and
within few minutes after breathing