Evening star., 1921-10-02

the noblewomen, transformed into
tigresses, demanded Lapo's death. Old
Grangioia and his three sons arrived
at the Mutt fortress raving for sudden
vengeance. There they were Joined
by others, rich troubadours, backed
Azzo was forced to reflect:
"Cercamorte has served me well, but
If l keep them from him our league
hard"
Round the Big Hornets Nest the
crows were thicker than ever.
X X X 4
ONE cold. foggy evening Lapo Ger
camporte at last pushed open his
wife's chamber door. Madonna Gemma
was alone, wrapped in a fur-lined man
tie, warming her hands over an earthen
ly before her. Lapo perceived that her
beauty was fading away in this un-
happy solitude. On her countenance was
no trace OF that which he had hoped
to see. He swore softly, cast down
from feverish expectancy into bewilder-
ment.
No" he said. at length. his voice
huskier than usual, this cannot con-
tinue. You are a flower transplanted
into a dungeon, and dying on the stalk.
Perhaps you would fouish again if
sent you back to your father?'
He went to the easement with a
In the oiled linen at the mist, which
cluns round the castle like pail.
Madonna" he continued. more harsh
ly than ever. in order that she might
not rejoice at his pain. Il ask pardon
for the poorness of my house. Even
had my sword made me wealth. should
not have known how to provide ap-
pointments pleasing to delicate wom-
an. My manners. also. as l have
learned since our meeting. are unsuita-
BILE. The camps were my school and
few ladies came into them. 1t was not
strange that when Raffaele Mutt pre-
sented himself you should have found
him more to your taste. But if on my
sudden return ! did. what I did. and
and down LombaIdy of another con-
quest, it was because I had regard not
only for my honor. but for yours. SO
l am not asking your pardon on that
score"
Lowering her face toward the red
embers. she whispered:
"A beast believes all men to be
beasts
well. Madonna. remember this.
From the moment when l first saw you
married YOU promptly. and sought your
satisfaction by the means that I pos
sessed. Certainly / did not expect af-
fection from you at first, but hoped that
that it might ensue. So even Lapo Ger
camorte became a f1abby fool when
he met one in comparison with whom
ali other women seemed mawkish. Let
us put an end to 1t. At sunrise the
horses will be ready. Good night"
Leaving her beside the dying embers,
he went out upon the ramparts. The
fog was impenetrable; one could not
Gnka q n he =
dow.
Damned Arabian!" growled Lapo,
brandishing his fist. He sat down be-
on his hands. Dawn approached. and
Lapo was still doing beside the gate
tower.
With the first hint of light the sem
tinel challenged: voices answered out
side the gate. 1t was old Grangioia and
his sons, calling up that they had COMB
to visit their daughter.
"Wen arrived" Lapo grunted. He
ordered the gate swung open.
Too late. as they rode into the court
yard. he saw that there were nearly a
score Of them. all with their helmets
on. Then in the fog he heard noise
like an avalanche Of ice-the clatter OF
countless steel-clad men scrambling up
the hillside.
While running along the wall Iapo
Cercamorte noted that the horsemen
were hanging back content to hold
the gate till reinfctced. On each side
of the courtyard his soldiers were
tumbling out of their barracks and