Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-06-22

knew her most intimately-had como .
strange, farsway look that they could
not fathom.
There y,cs no evidence as to who had
kille,. l,randini. though every effort
was made to discover his murderer.
Only ole person knew with certainty
who had stabbed him, and that was his
betrothed. But she never breathed a
suspicion. Had she done so it would
have awaited nothing. for in those days
the science of obtaining evidence
against criminals was not what 1t is to-
day. Resides, ut that time law was lax
and persons We're inclined to take their
differences with their neighbors into
their own hands.
Carancola supposed that even If Bi-
anca did not denounce him she would
treat him as her lovers murderer.
What was his surprise then when OIL
their first meeting after the murder
She seemed to incline herself to him for
sympathy. His heart lenped with
sudden hope. Could 1t lie that i'll her
innocence she did not lay the crime at
his door? Would it he possible after
all to win her? lie spoke kindly to
her, and his words and manner ap-
peared to give her comfort He did
not see that strange look in her eye
which her friends had noticed. or III he
did lie did not attempt to interpret 1t.
What he looked for was Il reliance Oh
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 10y the fact
that lie had no hope of possessing her.
Rilnca seemed, too. tn crave to re-
place that love OF which she had been
deprived. At least this w;s the view
Roberto took of her hearing toward
him. AT first he WAS clary of his Wis
its tn her hut increased their freuuen-
cy She, too, showed Il warmer wei
come every time lie 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 10y saying that she
was nnavoidably called away to some
".
sltion 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
recklcssness. From modest maiden
she seemed to have passed to Il woman
of the world That was time when
the higher classes We're protiigate. Bi-
min Wit l,., In
was not herself uissilated. She ac-
cepted no marked attention from any
man except Carancoa. Some who
knew of the rivalry that had existed
between him and Hlalldini We're sur
prised that she would be satisfied with
the one i'm place of the other. and IL
few who suspected Carancola OF hav-
ing put his rival out of his way turned
against her, but lie general opinion
was that She had been undecided be-
tween the two and. having lost the one.
was ready to accept the other.
\ year from the death Of Edgardo
Rrandini came round and brought
again the races on the Corsu. Blanca
had told him. ont of reSpects to opin-
the twelve months after her bereave-
lnent had passed. He had intended to
take no part in the races in Difference
tn her feelings. liei former lover hav-
ing taken conspicuous part In them
the year before, but she urged him to
do so. Anything she wished was u
command tn him. and he was glad to
oil ,,lt ltnt huA
been raising had come of n proper age
to run and WAS sure to win.
Cafancjla on the eve of the race was
i'll high splits. 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 Il gnawing of CON
science within him he did not show it
He was busy making his preparations
and saw but little Ut his betrothed.
The cuncollrse WAS assembling OH
the colso. and men We're discussing
the relative merits of the horses and
making their bets. The stands were
filling up. and among the parties Occu
anca Ceiiini AS admirers looked up al
hc1 from below they saw Il different
person from the enc who had been IL
her place a year before. Her beauty
had blooned. but instead of the soft
cheek, the cliltlliEe brow, there was
that look which no one could under
stand. In her corsage was single
rose, which would have been more II
keeping with the girl of year before
than now.
Blanca had told Roberto to come tt
her Immediately before he started ],
the race. He did so, and with a smil,
she handed him the rose from her bel
and said:
"Refore the signal to go. inhale IT.
fragrance. and ! promise you it vii
win you the race
Promising tn do so. he left her ant
within few minutes after breatllin,
In the odor of her gift was madl.
runners.
Something occurred near the goa
} An accident, some said. Whatever
was, it threw II chill over the con
. course. Presently horseman cam
. back and. riding up to the stand wher
Rnhca sat. told her that Roberto Can
: ANGOLA had Inllei from his horse jus
before making the goal far IN advahc
} of all other competitors and had bee
killed
There was a relaxation of tina
strange lo.,k on Iiancu's face. and i
It's place came The marks of the gre;l
rlipf which h.l untilnl tllnr1 nftnr fiji