Evening star., 1921-10-02

all toward the intangible. Then each
emerged with start from that deli
cious spell. to remember the staring
servants.
They said good night. Madonna
Gemma ascended to her chamber.
1t was the horse-boy Foresto who.
with curious solicitude and satisfac-
ton. lighted Raffaele Mutt up to bed.
But old Baldo. strolling thoughtfully
in the courtyard, caught a young
cricket chirping in the grass between
two paving stones. On the crickets
back. with a straw and white paint, he
traced the Mutt device-a tree trans
fixed by an arrow. Then he put the
cricket into little iron box together
with a rose, and gave the box to a
man -at-armS, saying:
Ride to Lapo Cercamorte and deliver
this into his hands,
Next day. on the sunny tower, high
above the hillside covered with spring
flowers, Raffaele resumed his song. He
sat at the feet of Madonna Germa, who
with unicorns, emblems of purity. The
crone was there. also, pretending to
doze in the shadows; and SO was Foresto
the horse-boy. whose dark, still face
faeles look of exultation-a look that
came only when Madonna Gemma gazed
away from him.
But for the most part she gazed down
at Raffaele's singing lips, on which she
discerned no guile.
The day wore on thus. The sun had
distilled from many blossoms the whole
intoXica ting fragrance of the SPRING
time. A golden haze was changing Ma
donna Gemma's prison into a paradise.
ing film of tears. Her fingers help
lessly unfolded on her lap. She be-
lieved that at last she had learned
loves meaning. And Raffaele. for all
his youth no novice at this game, be-
lieved that this dove, too, was fiutter-
ing into his cage.
By sunset their cheeks were flaming.
At twilight their hands turned cold
Then they heard the bang of the gate
and the croaking voice OF Lapo Cerca-
morte.
He entered the hall clashing at each
ponderous. swift step, his mail dusty,
his hair wet and disheveled, his dulled
face resembling mask of heated iron.
That atmosphere, just now swimming
in languor, was instantly permeated by
wave of force issuing from this
herculean body and barbaric brain. His
dlsfigured face still unsolvable, Lapo
Cercamorte plunged his stare into Ma
donna Gemma's eyes. then looked into
broke the hush; he said to the young
man:
so you are the sister of my friend.
Count Nicolotto?"
faHaeie, having ncked MS lips, man
aged to answer:
you mean his brother. sir"
Lapo Cercamorte laughed loud. but
his laugh was the bark of a hyena, and
his eyes were balls of fire.
mo! With these legs and ringlets?
says she is a man. What do you say.
hers?"
And with his big hand suddenly he
ripped open Raffaele's tunic half way
to the waist. exposing the fair white
flesh. The troubadour. though quiver-
Ing with shame and rage. remained
motionless, staring at the great sword
that hung in its scarlet sheath from
Lapo's harness.
ter by the elbow. whispered: 'Take
care, Cercamorte. His brother, Nico-
lotto. is your ally. Since, after all,
nothing much has happened, do not
carry the offe"se too far"
Are you in your dotage?" Lapo
retorted. still glaring with a dread
full interest at Raffaele's flesh. do
you speak of giving offense. when all
desire is to be as courteous as my
uneducated nature will allow? She
must pardon me that slip of the
hand; meant only to stroke her
cheek In compliment. but instead I
tore her dress. Yet will be q proper
courtier to her still. Since she is
now set on going home. I myself,
alone. will escort her clear to the
forest, in order to set her upon the
safe road"
And presently Madonna Gemma,
peering from her chamber window,
saw her husband, with a CHASTITY pre-
tense of care. lead young Raffaele
Mutt down the hill, into the darkness
from which there came never a
sound.
x'x X
TT was midnight when Lapo Cerca-
morte re-entered the castle and
called for food and drink.
Now the shadow of the Big Hor-
nets Nest obscured even the glare of
the summer sun. In the air that Ma
donna Gemma breathed was always
a chill Of horror. At dinner in the
hall she ate nothing, but drank her
wine as though burning with fever.
al hn cfi