The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-07-13


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 q
suspicion. Had she done so it would
have availed nothing, for in those DAYS
the science of obtaining evidence
against criminals was not what it is to-
day. Besides. at that time law was lax
and persons were inclined to take their
differences with their neighbors into
their own hands.
Carancola supposed that even if BIZ
anca did not denOunce him she would
treat him as her lovers murderer.
What was his surprise then when o.,
their first meeting after the murder
she seemed to incline herself to him for
sympathy. His heart leaped with a
! sudden hope. Could it be that in her
innocence she did not lay the crime at
his door? Would it be possible after
all to win her? He spoke kindly to
her, and his words and manner ap-
| peared to give her comfort He did
not see that strange look in her eve
which her friends had noticed, or if he
| did he did not attempt to interpret it.
What he looked for was a reliance on
him for comfort that might develop
into love. Her own manner was al
tered. He seemed to regret his former
harsh words. Indeed, he told her that
they had been caused solely by the fact
that be 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 a warmer vel
come every time he came One thing
however, he noticed that puzzled him.
She cid 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-
sitlon 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 modest maiden
she seemed to have passed to a woman
of the world. That was a time when
the higher classes were prohigate. BIZ
anca mingled with the gayeties, but
was not herself dissipated. She ac-
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 be satisfied with
the one in place Of the other, and 4
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 Edgardo
Brandlni 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 till
ment had spassed. He had intended to
take 40 part in the races in Difference
to her feelings. her former lover hav-
ing taken conspicuous part in them
the year before, but she urged him to
90 so. Anything she wished was
command to him, and he was glad to
obey this one. for a colt that he had
been raising had come of proper age
to run and was sure to win
Carancola Oh the eve Of the race was
in high spirits. He was about to be
betrothed to the girl he had so long
loved, and since he alone knew of the
merits of his horse was enabled to put
out numerous bets with odds in his
favor. If there was a gnaWing of con-
science within him he did not show it.
He was busy making his preparations
and saw but little of his betrothed.
The cOncourSe was assembling on
the COrsO, and men We're discussing
the relative merits of the horses and
making their bets. The stands were
filing up, and among the parties occu-
plying the seats was one including BIZ
anca Cellini. AS admirers looked up at
her from below they saw a different
person from the one who had been in
her place a year before Her beauty
| had bloomed. but instead Of the soft
cheek, the childlike brow. there was
that look which no one could under
stand. In her corsage was a single
rose, which would have been more in
keeping with the girl Of a year before
than now.
Blanca had told Roberto to come to
her Immediately before he started in
the race He did so, and withja smile
she handed him the rose from her belt
and said:
Before the signal to go. inhale it's
fragrance, and I promise you it will
| win you the race
Promising to do so. he left her and
within few minutes after brea thing
in the odor Of her gift was madly
tearing down the Corso with the other
runners.
Something occurred near the goal.
An accident. some said. Whatever it
was,' it threw a chill over the con-