Year: 1860

since he came beneath de Castros roof and
his mind was fast expanding beyond the linn
its generally set by the age Of boyhood The
count saw that the boys soul was large. and
that his mind was mature, aud vet he did not
think that the large soul and the matured
mind would go beyond the thoughts Of boy
hood in love, for he still saw the two children
wandering about together, and he seemed only
to derive additional pleasure from their hap
piness.


In the great gallery, where were hung the
paintings which the long line Of the de Cas-
tros had been for years collecting, Luigi Mar
ino used TO wander. He loved to walk up
and down the hall and gaze upon the pictures
which hung there, and sometimes be would
even forget that Irene bore him company


"What makes you love love these old pic
lures SOP asked Irene.


because they re such noble things, return
ed the boy, gazing upon tainted Titan.


Some Of them are pretty, I know" said
the girl; "but surely there is nothing pretty
about that great ugly man you are looking at
now


There is something noble about IT," re-
sumed the boy still gazing at the picture
See those arms, those muscles, those eyes,
those features o. what wonder r.


The boy soon turned away from the Titan,
and taking the girls hand within his own, he
smiled That made Irene happy, and she
soon forgot that Luigi sometimes neglected
her for the pictures


Another year passed away, and during that
time the Count de Castro looked little after
Luigi Marino, save to see that he was well
cared for and that he made himself sometimes
useful, the only manner of use ever required
OF him. being to act as sort of page about
the person of the Count when he was at
home.


But John de Castro was not always to be
blind, though it required other wit than his
own TO open his eyes His wife, the Countess,
was weak, sick woman, confined most of the
time to her chamber She saw Luigi but sell
dom, but she saw her daughter much, and, {
length the idea stole into her mind, that Irene
cherished a dangerous attachment for the
youth. With this thought forced upon her,
she questioned her daughter. The gentle
girl knew nothing of duplicity--she knew not
how TO deceive, and she confessed to her
mother the truth. She dreamed not that her
love for young Marino could have caused the
emotion. But the Countess made no expla-
nation. She determined to trust the matter
in the hands Of her husband


Luigi Marino was alone in the great picture
gallery. He had grown much taller than
when first he came to his present home, and
he looked much older. His face was still
pale, but his black eye was as bright as fire
His hair was wavy in in its jetty gloss, and ms
it lay swept back over his shoulders, it formed
an almost magic contrast with the pure white
ness of the white and expansive brow. He
stood gazing upon of the paintings, when the
Count de Castro entered the gallery


The OOhlnn,ou coNy that b;y o,,t,arao I,I
not been noticed, and he stood some time and
regarded the boy in silence He was more
than ever struck with the strange intelligence
that beamed upon the lads pale features, and
while he stood there and watched him he al
most wished that Luigi were not the son of q
peasant.


AT length the boy noticed that his master
was present, and with a trembling step he
would have moved away but de Castro called
him back


"Stop, Luigi" he said. II have come mp
here to seek you | wish to speak with you.


The count was evidently embarrassed, and
the boy noticed it, He had always felt pleas
ed when his master spoke to him, but now
something made him tremble He saw in an
instant that the count was not in the mood
that usually marked his manner, and he fear
ed that he had been guilty ofsome offence.


"Luigi, said the count, Il have been think
ing that you had better leave this place-that
you had better find some other home"


"Leave here, sir p uttered the boy in pain
ful accents "Have | done wrong2 Have
~


"Stop, stop, Luigi You have done moth
ing out Of the way, but on the contrary, you
been very good, and very kind 1t is for your
own welfare that / speak. You are old
enough now to begin to see something of the
world. Surely you would not wish to be shut
up here all your days"


90, should like to see the world, sir re-
turned the boy with kindness and enthusiasm


"And at the same time be learning some
trade or profession from the fruits of which
you can sustain your manhood, added the
count


Certainly, SIR said Luigi. 81 do notwish
to eat the bread Of idleness'


mo l suppose not And now wish to put
you upon the track of an honest livelihood
| will see some good course for you to pursue


"But l shall not go far off, said the boy.
~ shall go somewhere from whence | can
easily come back here, sometimes,


The count bit his lips and looked down up
on the floor


Il don't know" he said at length as he rails
ed his eyes TO the boys face, ut could do You
no good TO come back here.


Luigi Marino felt an impulse to tell how
much of home the palace had become to him
and how much attachment he felt for the
scenes that clustered about him. But there
was an expression in the counts face that ar
rested his speech. The boy had not studied
the thousand painted countenances in that
gallery for nothing, he had learned from them
something of the art of reading thoughts from
the face and he at once saw that dc Castro
meant more than he said.


II will do Just as you please sir, replied
the boy, after u few moments hesitation.


Then will make arrangements ut once
Tomorrow | will speak with you again !
shall have some point marked out by that
time.


When Luigi was left alone, he was for
while almost stupfed by what he had heard
but gradually dim light broke in upon him
Il was dim at first, but il soon became more
apparent, and he felt assured that he had hit
upon the truth The rest of that day he was
very unhappy He looked around for Irene
but he could not find her


Late in the evening, Luigi was upon the
broad piazza that opened upon the garden
lie leaned against one of the columns, aud
was buried in o wild sea of thought, when he
was aroused by the fall of light foot near
him. He turned aud by the dim starlight he
saw Irene. As she came close 20 him and
placed her hand upon his arm, he could see
traces of tears upon her lovely face


"Ah, Luigi, she said, u was afraid should
not find you---that should not see you again,
before you went away


Then YOU knew that was going, return