The diamond drill., 1921-01-08

~ scholar, 'tnou VIII rehch
u - the needful volumes-thou
knowest them-on the fifth shelf of
the cabinet"
Tito rose at the same moment with
Romola. saying, 81 will reach them, II
you will point them out" and fol-
lowed her hastily into the adjoining
small room.
"There they are" said Romola,
pointing upward; "every book is just
where II was when my father ceased
TO see them"
Tito stood by her without Fastening
10 reach the books.
al hope" she continued. turning her
eyes full on Tito. with look Of grave
confidence nope ne VIII not weary
you; this work makes him so happyi"
"And me too, Romola--if you only
let me say, love you--if you Will only
think me worth loving little"
His speech was the softest murmun
and the dark beautiful face. nearer 10
hers than II had ever been before,
was looking al her with beseeching
tenderness.
II do love you" murmured Romola;
she looked ar him with the same sim
pie majesty as ever, but her voice had
never in her life before sunk 20 that
murmur. II seemed 10 them both that
they were looking at each other a long
while before her lips moved again;
yet II was bat a moment till she said,
~ know now what IL Is TO be happy"
The faces Just met, and the dark
curls mingled for an instant with the
ripping gold. Quick as lightning after
that, Tito set hs foot on projecting
ledge Of the book shelves and reached
both contented 20 be silent and sep
srate. for that first blissful experience
Of mutual consciousness was all the
more exquisite for being unperturbed
by immediate sensation.
II had all been as rapid as the ir-
reversible mingling Of waters. for even
the eager and Jealous Bardo had not
become impatient.
Whey they told her father. he
wanted time for reflection. "Be patient
my children; yeu are very young"
mo more could be said, and Ro-
mola's heart was perfectly satisfied.
Not SO TitO's. II the subtle mixture
Of good and evil prepares suffering for
human truth and purity. there is also
suffering prepared for the wrongdoer
by the same mingled conditions. AS
Tito kissed ROmola on their parting
that evening the very strength OF the
thrill that moved his whole being AT
the sense that this woman, whose
beauty II was hardly possible 10 think
OF as anything but the necessary con-
sequence of her noble nature, loved
him with all the tenderness that spoke
in her clear eyes, brought a strong
reaction OF regret that he had not kept
himself free from that first deceit
which had dragged him into the dan
ger nf being disgraced before her.
There was a spring OF bitterness min
gled with that fountain Of sweets"
George Enot's magnificent study OF
character concerns itself with Flor.
ence at the time when Christopher
Columbus WAS discovering America,
when Savonarola was prior OF Sain;
Marks and ruled the city by his
moral energy and his fanaticlsm, when
his pious frenzies. his visions. and his
predictions OF heavenly wrath seemed
10 the majority Of his fellow citizens
.as coming from more than mortal
source; when Charles the Eighth Of
France invaded Italy when the plague
brought dire dismay; when the city
was distraught by the struggles Of the
austere devotees of Savonarola and
the Fny partisans of pleasure; when
the mighty ones Of the land were
united against poor distracted Flor.
ence; when Piero de- Medlci was con
Spring to regain the power once held
by Lorenzo the Magnificent; when 1n-
ally Florence turned against SHvon-
nrola, and he met his death 10
igDominy or mnrtyrdom. ar one viewed
n as foe or partisan. Across the scene
there fiit the figures Of Pico celia
Mkrandola. of Fra Barfolommeo, Of
Domenico Ghlrnndajo. Of Cossimo al
F1ero, Of Poliziano. Of Bernardo del
Nero. of Strozzis and Tornahuonis. OF
- ~. - -.