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The San Francisco* Sunday Call The Viper of Milan CHAPTEB SUtTEEX— Contlnne* r \u25a0 tm I"" RULT." gasped the soldier. * I looking at him. "thou art no , J ordinary man, and as for thy gems — whether they be coals er no. thoashalt have the lantern." He stepped across the threshold as he spoke, a little fearfully, and placed the lantern In the niche cut to receive it in the wall. "Thou wilt be getting It down and firing thyself with It," he remarked. "For thou art clean distraught, me thinks." Vlscontt made no reply. He had "no ticed that both the inner doors were shut "And as I must answer for. The e," contlnued the soldier, "I will secura thee with this," and stepping back into > the passage v he returned with a rope and advanced toward the prisoner. The duke rose with flashing eyes. "Remember thou art the devil, mc«ser," said the soldier soothingly, "and naught can really hold thee." Viscontl felt for the dagger that no longer hung by his side, then showed the eolfiler his fingers, red and' still bleeding. "The teeth that met there can meet *n thine," he snarled, and his. eyes were like a wolf's. . \ The soldier stepped back, then with a sudden thought pointed to the light 'Stay unbound then and I will take that away again," he said, and again ndvanced.- Vlsconti suffered his arms * to 'be bound together at the elbows, nor did he seem to heed when the soldier left him, and the great door fell to' once rcore In silence. r The storm had 6obbed _!tself away. leaving only the steady, patter «of -the rain. The chamber had light and the sight of a human face had restored- Vifccont!. Once more he felt his hold on life and on reality, and he turned from that closed door with its superstitious hor ror to face real terror and a staggering mischance. ""' - •• Milan: He had left Milan In an hour of need — and with no one to check , Valentine. Only within the last few weeks had he known what she was capable of. -"W^h'at might she not'at trmpt once she realized his absence?' Giannotto. too. and the Duke What 'of their sincerity? He had • left not one man within the city whom he could trust Implicitly. Then, he considered his own plight. <"!earlj^ they did not know him; none the !css~ they/had him. He ground his teeth, at the thought of Delia Scala's triumph. His art of bribery occurred to him, and he remembered with a savage vexation how he had flung a jewel to his Jailer for a light — a jewel that :right have .purchased freedom. Still, it ttm in his madness; he might be thankful he had not shouted «ioud his name — and his crimes. •Suddenlj-. with a start of recollection, it occurred to him anew that he had. been placed apart.* Then Carrara ha.l r^cegrnized hJm. The cords around Vi»iconti'« arms began now to torture him — lie was weak from lack of foM znd mad excitement- Thoughts of Car rara vanished. He saw the face of the Sirl on whose account he had risked liis dukedom. •"Graelosa!" h« cried, but the face looked at him u^nseeingly. "Tou know use!" as if in 'Appeal. "Graziosa. you know me!" The face -suddenly dis torted. /«i:' If with horror. Visconti shrank from it — and she was g-one. "What frightened her? Those othiv faces." Visconti whispered to himself, th<*n roused himself with a hareh iaugl>. ••Will Carrara corner^ He fixed ni* ryes on the lamp, then on the door. And presently he heard the subdued buetle of arrival, the great door clang; the rinpiiie answers of the soldiers: then outside his own door hushed and respectful voices — the door ogened. shut and Viscontl saw his visitor. A man, black cye^U florid, richly dressed in velvet. wpII armed, unat tended and carrying the castle keys — Giacomo Carrara. He stood in amaze ment and shrank back\half afraid, though the guard had warned him. "Visconti!" he cried. "What has hap pened?" The sickly light of the lantern, showed him a wbite, haggard face, u-ith wild, bloodshot eyes, the hair hanging lank and damp about its fore head, the plain doublet gashed and torn, hands and face smeared with Mood. ,~ ;",•.* But. at sight of the man he hopc-d Uv.buy. Vlsconti'a face took on a more human look. "Tou have seen my messenger?" "Hush!" and Giacomo looked around captiously. "Tes, I hav<? seen him and dispatched my answer." *^Iy offer suits you?" said Viscontl grimly. "It suited rae, Viscontl. till juat now." returned the other. "It^ suited me tn such purpose that my men even now await ray orders to desert to Milan." "Ah!" Viscontl said. "And what of It now?" he added, looking around aj?ain. the old subduing spirit in his glance. "What of it? It Khali still be done, only," Carrara smiled, "there is an unforeseen addition to the bargaliv Not only do you need my men., Vis. conti: I think, as well, you need. your" liberty." "And sq the price is higher. Is that what you would say? Unloose my arm.' It shall not be forgotten In the bribe," he sneered. Carrara advanced and undid the rope \u25a0 In silence. He knew Visconti was un- , armed. Vij»contl gasped with relief as the torture was removed. -"And now," he said, taking at once the masterr, "how do matters stand between us? Bo wars': be brief." , Rapidly; Giacomo told him how, with the desertion, half Mastlno's army would be gx>ne; how Padua was.to.be. given Into the hands of Vlsconti's gen erals, and how Count Conrad played at chess.' Visconti hated the , smooth traitor who was waiting to drive a hard bar gain with bis necessity— and his freed hand went to his doublet— the tur-, «juolse gloves had not been lost. "And now, ; your 5 terms ?" s he *aid. The duke of Vadua- hesitated a mo ment — even with Viscontl in his power he hesitated. QHPWSHBBHssSBv>I "Those you refused two years' ago.'' . he eald. "When we ; warred with X*avia.*' \u25a0 j '\u25a0» Viscontl remembered. Two years ago. when'he had been by half not'wT great as be stood now, he. had refused them In scorn-r-they' meant; half his dominions— they .would place-. Carrara on a level with himself. , , "Well/*, »«I said/ "and If I; refuse?*/ \u25a0 "A prisoner does not refuse-— his lib erty," smlled'Glaco'mo. He could to smile." * ;-f, ' Viscontl controlled : himself. _ "And If I-aeeept^-you lake my word,' ell X have'to sive—a 1^ prisoner's word?", "A Vlscontl'aiword." .corrected .Car-; rara. "XayMord.M think; l* shall need » more than that", V •*?What more canil give?'/ he asked. : "You waste the time," Carrara."; Giacomo was playing with the keys in his hand. .}, \\^-[ 4 """ "" "Yourself.-. Visconti." lie returned calmly. , "The. army only, waits for me* to march to Milan., leavlng\ Delia Scala stripped of half his force.' You will; go with it, Visconti. as my. prisoner." My army will conduct you into Milan — where I shall not leave you till the v terms I offer; are / rulfllled. Then. Visconti, but not till then, we will to gether, rule Delia Scala." "-• • Viscontt was silent. "Corae," continued. Carrara, "shall It be so— or will. you wait and meet Delia Seal a and Count Conrad?" : .": • : *I accept your terms." said Gian, and rose to'his feet. -''l accept, Carrara." ;' Giacomo's eyes shone. 'With ' trem bling 1 fingers .lie -^unbuttoned his 'lone black velvet cloakVnd fluns it on Vis conti's shoulders. • "We must hasten: - even -now the trj>sy German may think to visit, the 'castle." And he selected a key 'from the bunch in his hand, and advanced, toward'the inner door. Visconti start ed forward, with staring eyes. "Not that, way!", he cried. _ Carrara turned in surprise, the key in the lock. • " 'Tis the only way. Viscontl. Are you thinking' we could pass unnoticed, you and I together?" . "./ Gian, deathly white, sank back obstl^ nately against- the wall. - "I will not' go that way." he said. "I will not so that way.'\ V * "He Is in his mad fit again," thought Giacomo; aloud he said , soothingly: "Come, lord, this is the only way; will' you rather wait to see Verona's face when he discovers you? What is wrong: with, this way?" he added: in vexation as Viscontl made no movement. "Quick! the moments fly!". Gian stepped forward with an effort. "*TIs my fancy." he said. "Jdle, truly, at such a moment. Open the door, Car rara." \u25a0 .' ,\ - \u25a0\u25a0--\u25a0: \u25a0\u25a0'-. ;,./ .The key ground in the lock— as Vis-. conti had heard it once before that nlght : turned on the other side, v Carrara, paused, however, and hav-. in^ taken the lamp- from the I niche, put it down with a smile, and. drew a parchment from his belt. '"I had forgottep." he said. "I will leave this, else-Verona will miss the point of the Jest; we. will tell him what a brave catch - his lieutenant hath al lowed to escape the snare." . And with the end of his dagger he drove the paper into the crevice of the stoned "I never;- loved Verona," he' added, with an evil smile. • \ But Visconti' had not heard, nor was he heeding 1 him; his eyes were riveted upon the door. . . \ Again Pedua raised the lantern above, his head. \u25a0?<•' ...-..',' \ The glimmering light fell faintly on a dark chamber.- and dimly lit a large black couch from which the tapestry coverlet was half dragged off. Visconti peered . an instant' over his rescuer's shoulder eagerly, th;an ' fell back. "I. cannot"- b e. *aid sullenly. "I /will stay and face Delia Seala — I cannot pass that way." . Carrara turned and looked at him keenly. . \u25a0' '" _ . "What do you know of these cham bers iflat you are afraid to pass them, Visconti?" he asked." ./ " " ' • - " *Tis no matter what I know— l will not pass them!", cried Viscontl fiercely and clutched at the rough wall as if to keep himself from being made' to enter -them even, by force. "Giacomo lopked'lnto the chamber curiously; the lantern^ showed ohly parts of it, and that dimly — -an empty, audience ch'am ber.'stlff chairs "against the wall, the couch, dust on the floor and 'shadows in the, arras— nothing more; .and Car-" rara turned Impatiently. "I - ri»K -ray life for this," said. "What do you think it will mean, Vis conti, if I am found helping you es cape?" > He, stepped across the threshold and flashed the lantern around. \u25a0 * "Nothing;!" he laughed over his shoulder. "Nothing." but as he ad vanced he paused a, moment and lifted up a corner./ of the. dragged coverlet, "save that this coverlet is riddled as if with dagger thrusts," he added. "and the floor seems stained"— he sank ; - his voice— "with blood." ? » . V • He looked back at Viecontl. standing In the, doorway, and with sudden fear ofthim his hand sought his. sword. ." "Whom did you.' murder /here," Vis contl?" he asked, awestruck. "Who ever, it was," he added " presently, "I would not' Jose my, life for fear of them, seeing they, are dead. 1 ' In a second Viscontl .was. by his side, gripping his. arm.' and Carrara, startled, ; shrank ; and kept' his \u25a0•_ hand upon hts dagger. \u25a0 • "I do not fear them," whispered ;Vis cont! in his ear. >"Nor y6u." '/\u25a0 /"* -And he hurried across the chamber, Carrara at his heels. 'J «v , - Room' after, room they ;traversed,'de serted. gloomy, and unopened since that night. * ; :•\u25a0"/ •;..?;• •"«•• "Hurry!" breathed Visconti. -^Shall we never see the- blessed^. aky JLgaln?'!* And snatching the keys he pulned'blir taking; every,. door and turning' with a certainty that" showed he knew^them welL\ \u25a0-. -";'•' ." •\u25a0" '^^^^p l^:'} "At last!" he cried, as. they stepped out into the air. \u25a0 "'" ' ;.: ~. Theylwere at;the: back^of^the, castle, on a ledge overhung with -ivy arid, over-^ looking , a narrow flight of steps, .the" masonry { half ruined - overgrown with "flowers.. . •' '/ '•\u25a0""' The. storm was over, a; few; great clouds tore ;• across the. sky, but, the moon was; clear and 'serene,-, the night calm and 'peaceful. '•\u25a0>.:-;. The cool air blew, around Visconti's damp hair.; andr^ stirred the; dark -ivy leaves.- glistening; with the, raln.*j,Be : , n oat h ; them lay the , tents, a' large: bbtiy of men," half the army/, silently 'and swiftly preparing. for"flight v . \ " *f, •J \u25a0 "Some. have gone, already." said Gia como."- "These wait for me,* and 5 you? Visconti : come," and stepping past \ him he led the way. /'.-, .";/ ;./"-\u25a0> / • There, was -no.one to observe.»them save Giacomo's men that. lie had .been careful to station there: butvwhen they had gained the \ bottom :and~ Carrara would Wave' passed 'on* Viscontl caught at. his, sleeve and drew him behind a clump. of -elder."' "The' German!" he whispered, and they waited. breathle4S?|9^§jjg^p£gpd A soft .voice was; gayly. singing, and the words > of "the ; song, came "clearly through, the "night: V, - , Heinrhrb was my- boiom ' friend, : - '. ""•\u25a0 WLIle, f««tb<r. «vd \u25a0 purpl* cloaV; '* Now' ttaat: folly'* at «d end. :\ HI? Ibf Simp ai;d mlcr the smoke. : '.'He comes "this "way,".- said- Carrara. "If he 'takes' to questioning where 'l am ".*"/'~/ - ':"..-- ' . \u25a0"\u25a0\u25a0 </\ '•. " - '.'"/\u25a0*'.\u25a0%'\u25a0 "If he takes "to "^coming nearer." smiled : Visconti, ' shall? b« ; obliged *to —kill; him.", ; f \ '^V; * \u25a0 : •> ,">"*? o " ; -.. CJ % \u25a0 - ' ,W«' parted for. a sITVeoi knot. * \u25a0White -feather and purple' cloak; Whose fault: it, wac I bin fotsot. His the tame and - mine ' the ' cmoke. "\u25a0\u25a0 - The | last wordstwe're lost In - a ' burst of -\u0084 laughter, ?• as "Conrad § and \u25a0 Vincenzo; each ; mounted on! a white" horse and at-, tended by an escort with !- torches, rode past." back' to. their 1 tents. ,:; fy. 86 -;' close they v came".*;' that ';-; Vlscon t i, s with /gleaming;' eyes, J < leaned longing to Etraiigle the singer^ Vlth ; one of 'jthose'lons:-* curls. %that^hunff« around; his laughing, I " careless face?^ -. ' But Cirrara* was \u25a0 relieve" - : - \u25a0< i "As;long:as he. does; not ! inquire ,ior: • me,';:he: said:, v^But: even then Biyj of-; ficers^ understand." ;*. ; Z." '.-,\u25a0. .*iv|* > '-. .^Vlscontl, smiled:; grimly;, he .wa^to; "pay. for.;tnat',> .. ' : ,^' J \u25a0',' : '\u25a0 'J' - :r' ~~'%-^'^i^ "Now V'i he : said.- and as Conrad's \Ger} . X man ' song and Vinijenso'siwlld ; laugh ter \u25a0 \u25a0 passed, V Viscontrj and i; Giacomo J, stepped \u25a0 out I from -behindl^Kelbushes j and' looked^ 'after, them^the freedom of oneaecured/ \ they treachery \u25a0\u25a0 ot the other; wellnlgli .-accomplished.'" ' v ; \u0084- , m . ' \^_ «*."\u25a0•\u25a0 ' CHAPTER \u25a0 EIGHTEEN . G tacomo . Carrara's - Reward \u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0 • .\u25a0. •»\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 "»HE dawn^wastbreakln^'the Bky_ I '\u25a0'- streaked ,v and : ! barred cold : I gray "light,', and aloni^ the* wind- Ing, road "to 'Mllan^rode the] Vis-;. conti and; Carrara,' tlie I.*1 .* army * before \u25a0/them.' \u25a0\u25a0 '.-'•••'- ;••\u25a0'• \u25a0*.;. ...'.' -..~7', It ; had been': accomplished, without demur, openly and -completely; - be-: hind them they Cleft the ;,Veronese~and Mantiian troops,': ; over ; whom \u25a0 Gtacomo • had no commani-T-and.Count'Conrad, laughing in his' folly. I r / / _ - Qui te - near; to them lay Milan— and > Viscontl :: rode > In^-" silence, c, wonderlns; ; whathad befallen In the city; :rWonder-" - Ing. and '/. fearing .: Valentine ,* had * re vealed -too much; of his own "spirit; he 'i-twaa afraid of: her. J" ; " . -: ':; : Along the distant horizon. the cray, walls of the' city,' began? to be visible': across* the flat plain, and Viscontl's eyes lit at slght^of ;hlS;Clty,/and he turned to Carrara 't impulsively." £\u0084/." . : * riie a sword, Carrara,'^ he said. '"'Tis not fitting -I should .enter, Milan* •-r 'J'-TyJ-'-- .•\u25a0\u25a0"\u25a0;\u25a0?•". '-r'^: :-'-, 'The- Milanese* wilH so •to ace ; you,' my lord,"" returned- Padua; "they '; wiir never; notice— ; — ".;',..<\u25a0 '•- , "That "l come as a prisoner?"/ flashed . • Viscontl^ "' butp the/, next a' "moment £ he" " laughed and furged? on } his horee. ': „ "But what care ' l .' how. » so 1 lon g -as I ; do ' re-, . enter -Milan? • Now, Vr with -'you-'jut'.'.tny - al ly, Carrara, I '^can "crush ; Delia' Scala . without France 'or the emplrei" and \u25a0 to gether, as ye say, we Will:* rule Lorn ;' bardy." :V. "\u25a0 , - : ' '^ . : " '•'*%' . ";'' Carrara "rode abreast of him,' , sjlanc- Ing at him keenly." .:':,\u25a0•; \u0084-.-\u25a0_.;.".';'\u25a0"- ! - "Even now. he; will t-trt -try 'to -,o.utwit me," he thought, and resolved *e, would; not be outdone in "cunQing for the lack ; : of ."care. ! '- : -\u25a0 \u25a0';' ':*\u25a0. -V"*'" /' •" ' ." '•'\u25a0\u25a0• '\u25a0\u25a0; '."Hots'. carhe:;lt;.you were captured?" - he added, "and in-thls guise?!' '•; , • "The chances of war," laughedsVis-' \u25a0conti. "E«olishly X went; myself to de- I fend the,.; gates,: -and '\u25a0'- pursued I Delia ' Scala's men too far." ' v ''\u25a0: ' ' \u25a0•• '";,-• ,\, But. this candor did 'not; deceive Car '"rara.. ' "Foolish'^ lndeed!"./ he smiled. \u25a0'. • "Your hurry 'excelled.; your prudence,' ; lord." And;he ; wono*ered what was the ;\u25a0 truth. '/".'") r. : ' ';:\u25a0,;\u25a0-",; ."\u25a0"\u25a0;\u25a0.\u25a0'\u25a0 \u25a0 "You have cause to^thank heaven no , one knew you,".- he continued... \u0084 : . ,\u25a0 /\u25a0 "They were German boors," answered Visconti, "Count;; Conrad's ."men, and' there wa's nothing 1 : to tell my' degree. Yet, had they .looked a little "closer, they might : have = found one '.thing; that would have \ told ; them"; l ; different from what Iseenjod-^ these."; " " "; / . And he drew^ out- of j, hla '"doublet the turquoise "gloves."" • -" .v> " : ""/;; \u25a0 Even in ,that ; cold,; faint; light ;th,ey showed ,-; brilliant ;i and "beautiful.';; and Carrara gazed at ;them!in;wonder.t;i,V/ / v. "As I was summoned," continued^V*ie-" conti; dreamily,' "I 'f was iSlooking^ at them. - !Are they, not ; beautiful, Carrara? Two years they ; took to* make, and cost more )\u25a0 than \u25a0<. I * care >to s tell. v < ; ! Bach^ tur-. quoise 'is flawless, and ' set" by Antonio FressH himself." :;-; " """ ; . "" ? Vi"And '- : is V this \ a :\ gift '-\u25a0\u25a0 for \ some; one?'.V asked Carrara, and he " looked > keenly into 1 Visconti's ;f ace. "jt;;-; .; ' "f ,>"lt, > "It was one ; of my bridal \u25a0 glf ts^ to the Duke. 4 d'Orleans.'- :-; IJ- must * honor.:, himi CarraraiT' although I ; l \ love i hi m nut," said Viscontl, simply."/ "But jribwillwill'f offer it to one to whom I owe ' m y : 11 f e?h Take the'gloyes.f a; ffiftifromime^ Giacomo.". Arid he :turned r ln > ?the. ? saddie-'and*.;held them- with al winning smile itOiCarrara, who, mistrustful,': looked at " him doubt in grly and keenly. ' ;'. \u25a0 ; i';V.-? : ;VV/ : r > : - ;:-", ;4: ; - .'I-? i{\ j " "Thou ; wilt j, not .ref use- my \u25a0 gif t?"-fand : Visconti; looked ?at' him | proudly. l^ "Let it' seal our/ bargain^ Carrara.^;' Take i lt, for' the sake] of - the~ good ."will^wlth which; it .'ls I offered." i.-^.S" •''* :* "',"?^ T: Carrara's" rulingifquality^ waspprii dence.'\u25a0and all ti's; seeming, guilo ness did not? deceive him;' stlll^helhesl-^ tated, considerlng'.whero the]trap';lay^ : Then, as ;he ; glanced ?dowri l" at";.'* the gloves," his 'eyes : caught -the igleam Son .the'; hilt : of j his • dagger,^ and :a f thought struck'hlmli" "/,;; ";;/./'',; ,;,. ;//.:^ t': ;:>VHe means to, make me put them on,?. he ..thought,", "and "snatch}' the \ sword meanwhile" ; ? and £ lie> sailed /to j think yiscentl;could be. so simple.":- , / 'Thanky the*; for I thy* gift;' Viscbnti; and for, the good/wlir. l that;ofrersjK,*i.'be; said, with'? an . ingenuousness 2 equal Ito Vlsconti's, : and : reaching 2 ou t \u25a0 his | hand, he took the gloves, meaning to have the gif,t* and* outwitiJVigconU^altoy';^";^ / x 1 Gian*s ; manner j had: lost ; - ita -gloom and wUdness.ihelse^ed^light? of; heart -and in'a'pleasant mood. ' ' - ''\u25a0 > ".*\u25a0. > T ."They/are?r;idingi,'glbvrtF,",n«,! cried." /!Wear; theminto'Mllan^Carrara.*.' '?»?; j',? "Ah," 1 thought^Glaconio^'lSsee^the plot.t-; ! ThouJ J wouldstlBna.tch;^a\weapon while' my; hands are '> busy,"/and, ) prldlncT himself "fohlSliisj^ cunning,;-^ he Sjdeftly^ slippedfthernTon 'l hist hands,*? keeping this ; elbo wj on*; his[b word'w ord ' hilt 'and ihls: watch-* f ul { eyes ' ji |i n ii'l'liii" n\iil jTIWrBIBHITinTCT seemingr|t(>|taUe|n6£heeVi|bf JCarrara's clever iiiaVeu^erlQg'rUs^yea^weire^fl^fid' 'on]thesuririse>b^hi|td ! MiJaJ.%!.'AJl r pearl' and/silver.^blushlng^intbyufe>/anbn;! -J about ; the ; time ' when- 1/ shall enter r ; Milan.? 'i ••„/'• -:/>'" i'%..:/i '%..:/- --",;;v-/^/v; J \u25a0 i (And > he \u25a0'\u25a0 fixed , L bis .; eyes on . Giacomo * with. a'st range expression. .' *: v . * . . / ."When" " we" • shall T; enter ±j\ Milan,"' /corrected i tCarrara^v/V'The^ sun" will ; ;;;be*^faiutly/i";shigh:: t ' "these \u25a0 marches ;< ar*j"!^ toilsome." *• .-•/';\u25a0 And ?-~\ hel :" glanced < : down f .x proud I y i ; at vj the i- .beautiful \u25a0 \u25a0 gauntlets > one; his; hands; ?tvhatj the ;pearls:and jturijuoises ; might /be iwortb^r plcked ? off ,f and . vain : at 1 hay- ' :,-.l \p " \u25a0-:' r ; ; . ''The i promise; of -the \ day!"^ said :; Vi- • ; 'and .sadly.; "Hath it f never r; struck ;thee< how/ that; promise* jjnever/isitolflJled?^:-Day4afte>;^ay,*slhcel & the ".world .^ began:/ ; something | ih>; the r \u25a0; mystery^df "thei 'dawn" is;'- 'promised-^-', •fsomethingvthe'suriset smiles^tosee'.uri- 5 >;fulfllled^s*omethirig*/rmen /r/ r been • ofi-somethlngCmen iwill *: never; kriow^— the :Vroriilse;'of the dawn !" • '/ ' The "road 'began; now to \u25a0: be fringed J with. poplars','; andfiri.'the faint" light the ;of 'the wayside <. flowers' were krisible.-/ \u25a0/;.\u25a0;""/.;. ; : ::. ; /'--" \u25a0 /;/\u25a0:;; ; ; : ;' "/:They f ; rode awhile in silence./ Carrara; 111 1 boked \ back ? atf the : ; small } rearguard lin £the (distanc'eii and \ before hliri along the I J?road j to)his [ army 5 blackening } the c plain/ \u25a0" arid I then f again 'at^Vlsco'nti. ."*'. ; l lv^."BlthVr^he]is?always7mad : 'or~ : ~"-^v'' ! '-- : With'a sharplexclamationjhelfell for;* i,ward4oril;hls horse's!; neck^Jbut^recbv-^ tered himself [instantly. 'YViscontlTturnedj & to"; hlm;f still with ;; that ;' far away.' look t S|hihlB^eyei'i ; .c;'4;' : .- ? -;-V:> """-"""":-*'"^--' ; 2"' vT^VThe road* Is- stony,". hejsaid"£"Thy^ "hbrse| stumbled??-'":" :-,/;..;"" '.\u25a0;;; ;/;/;;":.'" g|S^Foolf"6rld€vH?V^, Carrara^^was'^stlllj riWoKderinff,Yarid t *-i:]ooking "i at - facUiihoTalmost. thought; him" a' fool/ " / '; "''Yopfarid I," ctiediViscontlXwith a 'sudden /~ change, irtbgether, " Carrara! . B Lordstof 'Lombardy !'"^ V: "" - i, / " ;^fAndjhe;struck|his\horse;into^aigal^ § lopC \u25a0olunexpectedly^; that /Carrara, bad "dlftlcuHy^olkeepJabreasti>withihin). ; s*M."l : have!been\so^longJaway!'.'4he"cr{ed.i SValentl rie-rra nd ",t other»-~- will 3be a grje vi Ing^ Haste V:;,;;^ 1 ;"*-:' 5 - '?^?i^VsV'' »tUUurg*dfhls;horBe,r; ././v^-'i !$£ Carrara,*^ gal I oping i at Ihls % fide/- sud-' s : denly I reeled %in * the * saddle, {with < a cry ' ;anguisl^v - •;-•*, r.^-" \u25a0 VFasterl'^cricd; Viscontli; "Faster.'.';; I^WUb.':an . effort SCarr*ra's'i kept %fthiil $ hbrs> % tb'lih c % pac«Cv bu 1 1 his % face /was \u25a0 deathlyf pale/? his^ltps^Bet^yiiconUr I never I looked ( at \u25a0\u25a0 him ; | his I gaze ' was ; to \u25a0"wardiMllariiandj!thei(iunrlse.^^A";^ I 6v? Suddenly/ Carrara" cried f albu^'VNit '? so 5 1 astWisconti,^ npt ! »o] fast J'i^g^^ v"<^But Gian! flew. along; the level road." l'0 t {\u25a0:\u25a0'.- Carrara j! swayed y, forward^tdygraspl •iviscontrsHl6alc, i |butthefihook|himfofl| felthTajlaußh:^i^^P^?^^^ ;;^What!ans i you,!XJarrarar^Theiarmyj | waits; youlmust! ride: faster : still i if ; you ) &meah -to riaeJhtoMUaa]tod»^^witli n^M Wtl f S "&\u25a0""' ' : - \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0•-'-\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0': \u25a0--'\u25a0\u25a0 ;i-f.; i-f. But « Carrara '. was : >f clutching " a the j s neck of his doublet with staring eyes." >%"My .heartr'ihe'gasped.y "I suffocate /"Arid the rode: on; blindly. ; yiscontl.. ; drawing-. rein a little.*-; "Do your l treach eries ' stop * 1 ts ; beating? .-.* You " suffocate? /~Do j; your .< lies * choke { you ?" ; -R- A? cry. of ; agony j broke i:from'. ; the J unhappy; Carrara: l^ 'V 1V 1 i , -" A.'^ i.Stop!" .he : gasped; '"I am— -dying— • i stop-^— ":.\u25a0»•;\u25a0\u25a0'. <O s .:..c" : ''';;:' ./•".'. . /. \u25a0'.?:..'\u25a0;-'-- - ; Then "his glazing; eyes fell on' the brilliant blue gloves he ,' wore, 'and-^he; ;sat upright' with^^scream'ofirage. v ; a" "Th e; gloves ! | the ; gloves !";? And Iwi th l ;his remaining strength he tried to tear ': I them; off.^^Oi fool !^AWlscontl! .. . . \u25a0 Iv might-^have >know'hr<<-i«-'*< : " ./ \u25a0:". I Franticallyj he I pulled ! at theroh while ' now ; moving almost'at a walk,'? looked dreamily ahead at the fast aear 'ingicity:";; :' : -" : .; .'/\u25a0.-./:.:.' \u0084y..y_ ;\u25a0:*:': :' ;: . ./ Vi'? "Fiend:" - '• cried. \u25a0/ Carrara';*,' wildly.': •'"Fiend :''-/"/.;;-v ;-"'-:--v ; : ". ,;.:" . '..-\u25a0. .-\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0 '" /I "Arid ;- he" v lurched ; forward, ' falling ;heavilyito the >. road, where -J he lay, fcorivulsedi' the 'turquoise : gloves' still ;on ::hiS'hands;""//i:'V:v".';"-..}/' \-- '.. \u25a0' .*.,?:•: ->V v^Glan^Maria'^drewA rein-: now, /.and looked 'down ; at ] him; >his -face no"; lon ger J' ; indiff erent. v as ; he = looked | into the ; white * ; and; contorted of the dy- Hng'man." ,"\u25a0;\u25a0• "i,"j'-:"/^-^":':" i ,"j'- : "/^-^" : ':- -' " \u25a0' ;;': ; , \u25a0„*.' 'Whom did ? you ', murdeiy, here,,yis i con tl? I*'-he1 *' -he j quoted. t,". f WhoeyerX it'^be. /* Sdoj not ; f ear^him\ now, 'since he ;is; dead*;'; ?and:l! answered,, did 1 1'not^rthattljfearodf I neither^himl nor ? you?i£*And >' now. rara, ** thou .mayst ' tell 'him j what „ I 'said/; t helwhom I murdered • In >that\ room we, ;;pasBed.", > :.-;"\,'-i"v'"-; ; ;./•"\u25a0. : ; \u25a0 - - f - /"Giacomo,"; writhing f; on t~ the ./ground," ilooked/:up,;at -him ilwith'"hatl- equal to; J to pull -off lthefturQuolsetgl6ves.'r \u0084" .' \u25a0':'• ;•'/-.:; •'/-.: vJ ; .yiscontl3leanlng«Jowlfrom^.the i ;sadr' 1 ;:dle,'Sgrlpped"hl3; sivord and thrust' it through his \ belt. * i '<'$$$&&&2&m :'"-."! sball.Ctlot 1 ; ride : In to\ Milan 'sword-. less," ' he i said ; r."thou »;> mlgtita :' : haveT ; , aparedl thy icautJeri, 1 . Carrara;"; I, fshall. rrWe:;JntopMllan^wlth^thy^army,^thy v * towns k and \u25a0X thyjfs word ; s;^ end / 1 $ have - .bough t tbem-^-with: a pair; of. turquoiat* \ gjovo."; ; iC-"t/?-' : y. " '\u25a0'\u25a0: "\u25a0 "- '•""; ': k-', '"\u25a0• : \u25a0"•\u25a0 : te i Ha] looked : euriouslyj at iCtrrara.* who \u25a0; suddenly sat upright; (the • cold llgnt |f«lVion;b!»;face^hJs startlpg,eyes^look/i | Ins? i straight % Into ;*vi scon tl's. f-y^ V" ;u /< i art" not I huraan.^Vtscontl,'*,,; he whispered, ."Yet, remember, even devils {meet * thcU"i PU»lshioent^and^there i will | * l belthelbltterest|of;all;forjsuch!asLthoui lar t^r-f allure-- '# And '; he f ell [back \u25a0 again I p among ; the flbwers,\where he lajr. white. ' , .}*£ssW?s&ZrJ i -*'^-:'*T* .'"-- i looked *back s at) the * advaric-j ?ihg^rearguard, : \wa.vedi\to§it.^polnUiijjrj 5 downward/^ andSthen^beJPore || hlmWtol tMllariTlbrUUarit^irilthelsuftrise.^*^^ ; "f^^^yiper,: /. ."-\u25a0"-.-_ :: -y ; : " Marjorie Bowen A Slso'From .Heaven •— T™ l • HE ' day^ had dawned fair and I v" clear^f ter* the storm, and the I early .sunlight .struck across the ' dark chamber that had held Vi^- : .conti. ;-' - \u25a0 \u25a0•\u25a0/Oy ' > .The stamped leather hunpr before th* high? window; had been torn away. and 'uy, along th^e "ground, but the; room ;.Was • unchanged / save _ that the Inner '•loor/was open, and near it, stuck into ;4 crevice r of /tha stone, a. parchment -hung."-"- ;\u25a0•-"\u25a0\u25a0 •'•'.*•;.. ' k = .'••- \u25a0•'\u25a0- .:\u25a0 \u25a0 Before this stood Count Conrad, with a ; face dazed.- . " * v -, ' -Vincenzo. when he learned 'the news, had ; flown • like : a madman along the >oad to; Milan, ma fury of rage.wlth : some < half - frenzied project of. overtak ing the: traitor.. : - »"\u25a0 V "Outsider, the door .was a group oft sol diers,^ who - peeped through .with curi osity, atf the motionless figure within."- , >-At last i he '.moved dlxxlly to. a seat. V'SalntrHubert.uwhen'- the prince ; re turns!'* he> gasped, and wiped the per : splration.i from '• his forehead '.with " a \u25a0 groan ' of^ woe. V v - \; " . "- ; ;•;,. - He'? looked " a - somewhat sorry figure, ; his peacock crumpled, his . hair . uncurled, * his i- bands » shaking. « - liastlnlght,;only r last night. Vlscontl had been in this very/; room. .\u25a0; a ; prisoner ' in ' his '; power. 1 and : he i had ' reveled ' witn a \u25a0 boy: and quarreled over : a; game!* One , >of Tthe 'soldiers (pushed lthe door, open ; softly I and ; entered.- :.. : ~ /. 1 '\> "The^prince has returned,; my lord." he. said. .-'-"• \u25a0, \u25a0 ' . ,\u25a0 -, i* "So; soon !"« gasped Conrad. \ "So soon!** .* r. '"Tht'i army . is ; moving * from . Brescia; the intention .ia^to/. march pn Milan— 'T \u25a0"."With -the men "who are , not ; here!" f groaned ' Conrad.; - , , ; . ; - "The; duke ; met ) my, lord r^d'Este. - He , knows,'', said ' the , soldier - gruffly,^, and 5 leXt the iroom/;i room/ ; 1 1 ; would i have pleased ~ him ftoT strangle Hhenfoppish foreigner, twho'had,well|nigh. ruined them. . /. Conrad -felt half half; sorry;-' whether A'inccnzu's relation had been* as I kind - to '] ; him^as J his ;have ; 'beenlhefdoubted— he 'felt -a*, wild "desire: i. to! hide * himself till * Delia f Scala's I rage shad blown;a!little'over/'". "- ,; \u25a0< ';. As *he * stood i there, ' miserable, '\u25a0. unde cided, he heard the salutations of the and aiheavyitreadoutslde. '- He; remembered ;that, Mastlno "was 'a , giant-^rh"e";had : once) found ;it « to ; bis 'ad» ..vantageJ'ihe^might ;hcwi find ;it ; ; to :-hI« i^eril : Jbiit ~ It**' was > not I f earV! but '- bitter; shame.;; that* brought .almost \u25a0 to '•ljislknees.* 1^- /. -v. .. .- . ' - \u25a0 ; ; ".IT<; k news, that ' Delia Scaia ; . was there; ; thouKh^he.Vlid notral^e Ihls head. j£i "C^onrad.";^a 1<1 ; Mas ti no. and \u25a0 h is" voice was strangely alteied.\~"Cvrirad."^ //: ; /ThejCountrvwUh" an effort/Uooked . at .^Mastlno.* who ;"itood in , f ron t'of ithe" door. '\u25a0 hel had with •al face' 1 from which" ' all ?colorj bad"; been "struck.^. " ; - / ."Whenldld'youfdlscover-— this?" con ' tinued i Delia*- Scala. and '.> pointed •to \u25a0 the ' parchmentv! All J elaborate /excuses and ? appeals ?;for.| pardon 8 Conrad -'had J!pre-: : pared died away, on his tongue/ ::ki;,' ; . ; ."Anfhour' Mastlno '>?i, walked * across to;the parchment hanging on-the 1 ';'-y- y:-. -;\u25a0\u25a0- ;" Conrad's eyes;followedh!m;;he could iBndfno^worosjtOjbfeak!thefSllence., ; : |," 3 Delia; Scala I first fread.'j then tore the ' tfmUhcv dowiC* airti"* crushed jlt In his ' hand: ' than he looked at th« door, ..^How many.hav# deserted?" b* asked ln»"a> hard, voice. "Vlncenxo:«ald half \u25ba the army." . Conrad could not answer tha truth. "How many?" and Mastlao turned toward him.' \VCarra«i" has taken all hta force.** faltered ,the. ; wretched man. ;. Mastlno ' crushed thfl parchment yet tlghterjln his hand, 'and walked up to Conrad, -who shrank before his face. . "Tour.^ sword, count." ha said. Con rad .hesitated., bewildered. > -;.'frou'are' no longer In my service; as my ; officer' you wear, that «word; as Trhat you are, I demand it from you." And he held out his hand. ~ In silence Conrad drew his weapon. Mastlno took it. broke It, thra^r U oa the floor. W»afail9w - "And now go," he said. : At last Conrad found his votaa. I "Lord!" he cried, "let ma stay." - "Go," said Mastlno. \u25a0-""I will stay." faltered Conrad, "and amend. my fault." But Delia Scala turned his back on him "Go to Viscontl,- ho flashed. Tlslo plays che33 'as well almost as Vin cenzo.", v The taunt mads speech come mor» • easily. "No man can ask more than another's humiliation, that other sums humbly for pardbn-J — •'• "I did not ask so much,*!; said Mastlno. his back 8 till to him. Tou ara un hurt/^ggHESMBBRBg' And the count glanced at Delia. Scala'a ' face, and' saw a Uttl* of what he had done; that speech was useless. Ho moved ; to go, murmuring some thlns with bent head; at thedoor h« turned again. "Delia Scala," h» be gan. "I " ; -I will never willingly sco your fac« . again." interrupted Maatino. "Go and Join my other allies — In' Milan." Conrad drew, himself up. "God helping me. I. will go to Milan,** he said. , "I -win further. your cause In Milan Itself— even though I leave- you with my sword." - » I Still Mastlno stood motionless, an! slowly Conrad passed through tha doors and down the stairs, through tha soldiery that turned their backs—cast out. . As the door clashed to behind the count, Mastlno turned passionately and -strode Into the inner room, not know ing what he did. so great the agony of his helpless fury and despair. A; gloomy window gave a view upon the open country. Delia Scala strode to It; little n* heeded the gloomy couch and th« stained, floor. He saw only the green "plain of Lombardy, and his own dimin ished tents, lessened by the better half. He struck his hand against the window frame violently — Vtscontl had tri umphed! This evening had he meant to jtlza Milan — the evening of this very day: and. behold, now It was all to be done again, the weary, weary waiting, tho ~ watching, the planning, the soothins his allies, the making- good Carrara's treachery; and meanwhile — Isotta! Delia Scala dropped his head into his hands with a cry wrung from his heart. "Isotta! Isotta r* The sunlight fell \too on . the crum pled parchment on the. floor, and.Mas tlno, raisins hl3 head, sa-w It ,lyins there and ground It .beneath his h^el. ' *- "Am I to be forever laughed at and betrayed?** be cried. ' "Ever served hy -traitors and leagued with fools? Shall I never learn I trust- too much?" -He ' looked '.. around the chamber, and thought, with a bitterness beyond ex pression, teat only a few hours before Viscontl had passed through- It Delia Scala. leaned against the wall; the .very sunlight seemed black, tho very, sky hopeless. Tet his spirit rose against his fate.- » He drew out and kissed the little locket he wore around hla neck, the _c pearl locket that always hung there. Then suddenly rousing himself and walking blindly forward, opening ono door in mistake for another, found himself at the top of two steps, look ing down Into a chapel. For a mo ment his brain reeling and sick, ho stepped back, bewildered, doubting what he' saw. The place was nigh and- dome shaped. with plain stone walls, lit by two win dows facing each other, but shrouded in dark hanging* that admitted only a . faint, cofc light '\u25a0-g&aH&S&OBt The air was damp and vault < like. and . the room Itself * bare of any fur niture or adornment sajre a purple has sock and two lamps of rusty gold that hung by long, blackened chains from the ceiling. Opposite the entrance hung against the stone wall a purple curtain, and before it a large crucifix. crudely \u25a0, painted. The dim light just •' struck Us dismal coloring, and to Mas tlno's fevered fancy toe dead Chridt seemed to twist and writhe aloas hla contorted body. ' The .lamps were long out, and the / .sense of Incense on the air faint Delia Scala entered softly, catching ' his breath painfully, the terror of re- Uglob 'strong within htm.' , On the purple hasaock he knelt, with clasped > hands, before the disfigured Christ, his heart rising to bis lips in passionate - prayer. •Xofd. Thou undarstandest! Behold 1 cannot deck thy rfiltar3 with the gold of .victory, thou\wllt not forsake me. Thou \u25a0: wilt have mercy on me and •on - her!"-.:- . •\u25a0;.\u25a0\u25a0;\u25a0- vv" 5 \u25a0•\u25a0 . . r ... * • / And, he stretched out his arms to th* . figure 'in ; an exaltation , of t - trust and hope. "Even as I spare those who be tray, so. wilt thou spare her.'O Christ!" Ha flung . himself \u25a0_ from ihls knees, face .; downward Yon * the stones, - In; a tumult of hope and . trust -Around 'the (olda of Mas tlno's cloak lay the leaves of some dead roses that bad fluttered at bis movement, from forgot. ten wreaths, hanging brown against 'the ii ii n /'Tim tojf i ilMfriiTlPpHii] ltd' .Mastlno .'rose, eager for some an swer—some assent But. the .dead . Christ : was ' silent' , Mastlno . could - see tha cracking paint on ithe .ribs,' ,the ? tawdry gold of the halo, and he came ' \u25a0till nearer. in a strange desperation. r Half hidden in shadow, two . faces .. looked down on him— expression 1 ess. stone, the ansels on the wall. , r ; Mastlno looked from them .to the crucifix, -and 'his fervent' faith *sanlc, -chined. - : - £nBKBtiVSBvRWBQB B £« ."Stone," ,he murmured In his heart "Stone and paint," and , he noticed the 'empty,.' lamps .that' should "be blazimr 'with eternal B re, and he cried aloud in t bitterness, V}**Men, keep those ' allsht : and without,. tb«m tha .eternal t flre dies! Sto'tus. angels and a painted-God! - What; Ifelp In' them?" And 5 he ; dropped "again upon the floor. 4 ;The lamps burn bright : on VlscQnti'3 . altars, land ? his sainu smile— for. the painterilimnlrdthem so." '•-- tHej.<turned :?fromV n the dismantled •^ chapel filnd; rushed? up 'the three , steps, half distraught. . -_c - ; . . \ .. '2 . ;^ln 'the 'outer ; chamber the: sunllsht dropped ,7 strong ; and golden..anJ,-Mas 'tlnd; shut ;\tbe f door lof ' the dark : and k. gloomy.chapel behind him with a shud- ; "Lord!** cried an eager voice. *Xord!" . * *rlt' was^Tomaso and '; h|s father. < "DIU ye; fear for, me, LlgozslAli . said - Delia r%t Scala ki^diy. '',"!\u25a0. have ; been * j'prayinff '.for.; a'* patient heart", .; And jthe two who ; loved" him - looked at him a while, and say •; nothing. \u25a0;\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 ' " ' (To Be ' Continued.)