14
EEDB SXTKBAT QBEGCXNXAJS, POKT3A2Jrm PEBBTJARY 10, 3g9o.
SYMPATHY.
If we should be bo quick of heart.
So keen of sight.
That we could feel each shadow's gloom,
, Each blossom's blight,
: The fairest of earth's blue-sold days
"Would turn to night.
If we should stow so swift to feel
Each human pain
That for each aching human heart
Ours ached again,
life were all weariness, and Joy
Grown poor and vain.
Some sounds are lost in silence, though
"We reverent hark;
Some sights are shut from anxious eyes
By pitying dark.
The limit of the soul's out-glf t
Has finite mark.
Grace Duflleld Goodwin In Harper's Bazar.
. Chicles of
CoilDt fbtoflio
By Aatlionr Hope AuiUor of "X Pris
oner of Zcneln," Etc.
(Copyright, 1E93. by Anthony Hope.)
CHAPTER IIL
COUNT ANTONIO AND THE PRINCE
OF MANTIVOGLIA.
I know of naught by which a man may
better be judged than by his bearing in
matters of love. What know I of love,
bay you? I -whose head is gray and
shaven to boot! True, it is gray and it Is
shaven. But once it was brown and the
tonsure came not there till I had lived 30
years and borne arms for 12. Then came
death to one I loved and the tonsure to me.
Therefore, O, ye proud young men and
laughing girls, old Anselm knows of love,
though his knowledge be only like the
memory that a man has of a glorious red
gold sunset which his eyes saw a year
ago; cold are the tints, gone the richness,
sober and faint the picture. Yet it is
something; ,he sees no more, but he has
seen, and sometimes still I seem to see a
face that I saw last in smiling death.
Now in the second year of Count An
tonio's banishment, when the fierce anger
of Duke Valentine was yet hot for the
presumption shown fcy the count in the
matter of Duke Paul's death, a messen
ger came privately to where the band lay
hidden in the hills, bringing greeting to
Antonio from the Prince of Mantivoglia,
between whom and the duke there was
great emnity. For in days gone by Fer
inda had paid tribute to Mantivoglia, and
this burden had been broken off only some
20 years, and the prince, learning that An
tonio was at variance -with Duke Valen
tine, perceived an opportunity and sent
to Antonio, praying him -very courteously
to visit Mantivoglia and be his guest. An
tonio, who knew the prince well, sent him
thanks, and, having made dispositions for
the safety of his company, and set Tom
maslno In charge of It. himself rode to
Mantivoglia. Here he was received with
great state, and the prince lodged him in
his palace and prepared a banquet for him,
and set him on the right hand of the
princess, who was a very fair lady,
learned, and of excellent wit.
This princess was very gracious to the
count, and spared no effort to give him
pleasure, and she asked him very many
things concerning the Lady Lucia, saying
at last: "Is she fairer than I, my lord?"
And Antonio answered, with a laugh,
"The morn is not fairer than the sun,
nor the sun than the morn; yet they are
different." And the princess laughed also,
saying merrily: "Well parried, my lord!"
And she rose and went with the prince and
Antonio into 'he garden. Then the prince
opened to Antonio what was in his mind,
saying: "Take what command you will in
my service, and come with me against
Forniola; and when we have brought
Valentine to his knees, 1 will take what
was my father's, and should be mine,
and you shall wring from him your
pardon and the hand of your
lady." And the princess also en
treated him. But Antonio answered: "I
cannot do it. If your highness rides to
Fornlola. it is likely enough that I also
may ride thither; but I shall riae to put
my sword at the service of the duke. For
although he is not my friend, yet his
enemies are mine." And from this they
could not turn him. . Then the prince
praised him, saying: "I love you more
for denying me. Antonio, and when I send
word of my coming to Vnlentine I will
tell him also of what you have done. And
if we meet by the walls of Forniola, we
will fight like men; and after that you
shall come again to Mantivoglia," and ne
drank wine with Antonio and so bade him
godspeed. And the princess, when her
husband was gone, looked at the count
and said: "Valentine will not give her to
you. Why will not you take her?" But
Antonio answered: "The price is too
lagh."
"I would not have a man who thought
any price too high," cried the princess.
"Then your highness -would mate with
a rogue?" asked Count Antonio, smiling.
"If he "were one for my sake, only,"
eaid she, fixing her eyes on his face and
sighing lightly, as ladies sigh when they
would tell something and yet not too
much nor in words that can be repeated.
But Antonio kissed her hand and took
leave of her, and with another sigh she
watohed him go.
But when the middle of the next month
came the Prince of Mantivoslia gathered
an army of 3000 men, of -whom 1700 were
mounted, and crossed the frontier, direct
ing his march toward Forniola, by way of
the base of Mount Agnino and the road
to the village of RUano. And the duke,
hearing of his approach, mustered his
guards to the number of S50 men, and
armed besides hard upon 2000 of the towns
men and apprentices, taking an oath of
them that they would serve him loyally;
for he feared and distrusted them, and of
the whole force 1100 had horses. And
Count Antonio lay still in the mountains,
and did not offer to come to the duke's
aid.
"Will yon not pray his leave to come
xuid fight for him?" asked Tommaslno.
"He will love to beat the prince with
out my aid, if he can." said Antonio.
"Heaven forbid that I should seem to
snatch at glory and make a chance for
myself from his necessity."
So ho abode two days where he was,
and then came a shepherd, who said:
"My lord, the duke has inarched out
of the city, and lay last night at Rilano,
and is today stretched across the road
that leads from the spurs of Agnino to
Kilano. his right wing resting on the
river. There he waits the approach of the
prince, and they say that at daybreak
tomorrow the prince will attack."
Antonio collected all his men to the
number of threescore and five. AH the
night they rode softly, husbanding thelr
strength and sparing their horses, and an
hour before the break of day they passed
through the outskirts of Rilano and halted
a mile beyond the village, seeing the fires
of the duke's bivouacs stretched across
the road in front of them, and beyond
there were other fires, where the Prince of
Mantivoslia lay encamped.
Then Count Antonio took counsel with
Tominasino, and they led the band very
sscrotly across the rear of the duke's
camp till they came to the river. Now,
there was a mill on the river, and by the
mill a great covered barn, where the sacks
of corn stood; and Antonio, having roused
the miller, told him that he came to aid
the duke, and not to fight against him,
and posted his men in this great barn, so
that they were behind the right wing of
the duke's army, and -were hidden from
sight.
At 4 In the morning the battle was
joined, Antonio standing with Tommas
lno and watching it from the mill. Now,'
Duke Valentine had placed his own
guards on either wing, and the townsmen
in the center, but the prince had posted
the flower of his troops in the center;
aad ho rode there himself, surrounded by
many lords and gentlemen; and with great
valor and Impetuosity he fluiyj himself
against the townsmen, recking little of
how he fared on either -wing. This care
less haste did not pass unnoticed by the
duke, who was a cool man and wore a
good head; and he said to Lorenzo, one of
his lords who was with him, "If we win on
right and left, it will not hurt us to lose in
the middle."
For awhile, indeed, these stood bravely:
but the prince's chivalry came at them in,
fierce pride and gallant scorn, and bore
them down -with the weight of armor and
horses, the prince himself leading on a
white charger, and with his own hand
slaying Gluika, who was head of the city
bands and a great champion among them.
But when Antonio beheld the townsmen
hard pressed and being ridden down by
the Prince of Mantivoglla's knights, and
saw that the duke would not aid them, hei
grew very hot and angry, and said to
Tommasino: "These men have loved my
house, Tommasino. It may be that I spoil
his highness' plan, but are tvc to stand
here while they perish?"
"A fig for his highness' plan!" said
Tommasino, and Bena gave a cry of joy
and leapt, unbidden, on his horse.
"Since you are -up, Bena," said the
count, "stay up and let the others mount.
The duke plan, if I read it aright, is
craftier than I love, and I do not choose
to understand it."
Then, when the townsmen's line was
giving way before the prince, and the
apprentices, conceiving themselves to be
shamefully deserted, were more of a mindj
to run away than to fight any more, sud
denly Antonio rode forth from the milL
And he and his company came at full
ANTONIO J v
gallop; but he himself was 10 yards ahead
of Bena and Tommasino, for all that they
raced after him. And he cried aloud: "Td
me, men at Forniola, to me, Antonio of
Monte Velluto!" and they beheld him
with utter astonishment and great joy.
And his helmet was fallen from his head
and his fair hair gleamed in the sun, and
the light of battle played on his face. And
the band followed him, and though they
had, -for the most part, no armor, yet such
was the fury of their rush and such the
mettle and strength of their horses that
they made light of meeting the prince's
knights in full tilt. And the townsmen cried
"It is the count! To death after the
count!" And Antonio raised the great
sword that he carried, and rode at the
marshal of the prince's palace, who was
in the van of the fight; and he split helmet
and head with a blow. Then he came to
where the prince himself was, and the
great sword was raised again, and the
prince rode to meet him, saying, "If I do
not die now, I shall not die today." But
when Antonio saw the prince he brought
his sword to his side and bowed, and
turned aside and engaged the most skillful
of the Mantivoglian knights. And he
fought that day like a man mad, hut he
would notstrike the Prince of Mantivoglia.
And after awhile the prince ceased to
seek him, and a flatterer said to the prince,
"He is bold against us, but he fears you,
my lord. But the prince said:
"Peace, fool. Go and fight" For he
knew that not fear but friendship for
bade Antonio to assail him. Tet by now
the rout of the townsmen was stayed,
and they were holding their own again
in good heart and courage; while both
on the right and on the left the duke
pressed on and held the advantage.
Then the Prince of Mantivoglia per
ceived that he was in a dangerous plight,
for he was in peril of being worsted
along his whole line, for his knights did
no more than hold a doubtful balance
against the townsmen and Antonio's com
pany, while the duke and Lorenzo were
victorious on either wing, and he knew
that, if the duke got in the rear of him
and lay between him and Mount Agnino,
he would be sore put to it to find a means
of retreat. Therefore, he left the center
and rode to the left of his line and faced
Duke Valentine himself. Yet slowly was
he driven back, and he gave way sullenly,
obstinately, and in good order, himself
performing many gallant deeds and seek
ing to come to a conflict with the duke.
But the duke, seeing that the day was
likely to be his would not meet him and
chose to expose his person to no more
danger. "For," he said, "a soldier who Is
killed is a good soldier, but a chief who
is liilled. save for some great object, is a
bad chief." And he bided his time and
slowly pressed the prince back, seeking
rather to win the battle than the praise
of bravery. But when Count Antonio saw
that all went well and that the enemy
were in retreat, he halted his band, and
at this they murmured, Bena daring to
say: "My lord, we have had dinner, may
we not have scupper, also?" Antonio smiled
at Bena, but would not listen.
"No," said he. "His highness has won
the victory by his skill and cunning. I
did but move to save my friends. It is
enough. Shall I seek to rob him of his
glory? For the ignorant folk, counting
the arm more honorable than the head,
will give me more glory than him, if I
continue In the fight." And thus, not
being willing to force his aid on a man
who hated to receive it, he drew off his
band; awhile he awaited, but when he
saw that the prince was surely beaten
and the duke held victory in his hand,
he gave the word that they should re
turn by the way they had come.
So Antonio's band turned and rode off
from the field and they passed through
Rilano. But they found the village deso
late, for report had come from the field
that the duke's line was broken and that
in a short space the Prince of Mantivoglia
would advance in triumph, and having
sacked Rilano, would go against Forniola,
where there were but a few old men and
boys left to guard the walls against him.
And one peasant whom they found hiding
In the wood by the road said there was
panic in the city and that many were es
caping from it before the enemy should
appear.
"It is moths since I saw Forniola,"
said Antonio, with a smile. "Let us ride
there and reassure these timid folk. For
my lord, the duke, has surely by now won
the victory, and he will pursue the prince
till he yields peace and abandons the
tribute"
Now a great excitement arose in the
band at these words, for although they
had lost 10 men in the battle, and five
more were disabled, yet were 40 stout and
ready, and it was not likely that there was
any force in Forniola that would oppose
them.
Then Antonio bade Bena and Martolo
ride on ahead, taking the best horses, and
tell the people at Forniola that victory
was with the duke and that Ms higness
servant Antonio, of Monte Velluto. was at
i hand to protect the city till bis highness
should return in triumph. And the two
going ahead saw what amazed them, for
a lady rode alone towards them on a pal
frey; and though the merchants met her
and epoke with her, yet she rode on. And
when she came to the tree where Bena
and Martolo were they sprang up and
bared their heads, for she was the Lady
Lucia, and her face was full of fear and
eagerness as she said:
"No guard is kept today, even on help
less ladies. Is it true that my lord is
near?"
"Yes, he is near," said Bena, kissing her
hand. "See, there is the dust of his com
pany on the road."
"Go, one of you, and say that I wait
for him," she commanded; so Martolo
rode on to carry the news further and
Bena went to Antonio and said: "Heaven,
my lord, sends fortune. The Lady Lucia
has escaped from the city and awaits you
under yonder tree."
Then Antonio rode alone to the tree
where Lucia was; and because he had not
seen her for many months, he leaped down
from his horse and came running to her,
and, kneeling, kissed her hand; but she,
who stood now by her palfrey's side,
flung her arms about his neck and fell
with tears and laughter into his arms,
saying: "Antonio, Antonio! Heaven is
with; us, Antonio."
"Yes," said he. "For his highness has
won the day."
"Have we not won the day also?" said
she, reaching up and laying her hands
upon his shoulders.
"Heart of my heart," said he softly, as
he looked in her ejes.
"The cage is opened, and, Antonio, the
bird is free," she whispered, and her eyes
danced and her cheek went red. ''Lift
me to my saddle, Antonio."
The count obeyed her, and himself
mounted, and she said:
"We can reach the frontier in three
hours, and there there, Antonio, none
fears the duke's -wYath." And Antonio
knew what she would say save that she
would not speak it bluntly that there
they could find a priest to marry them.
And his face was-pale as he smiled ut her.
Then he laid Ills hand on her bridie and
turned her palfrey's head toward Forniola.
Her eyes darted a swift n.uestion at him,
and she cried low. "Thither, Antonio!"
Then he answered her, bending still his
look, on her.
"Alas, I am to learned man, nor a doc
tor skilled in matters of casuistry and nice
distinctions. I can do but what the blood
that is in me tells me a gentleman should
do. Today, sweetheart ah, will you not
hide your face from me, sweetheart, that
my words may not die in my mouth? to
day our lord the duke fights against the
enemies of our city, holding for us In hard
battle the liberty that we have won, and
bearing the banner of Forniola high to
heaven in victory."
She listened with strained, frightened
face, and the horses moved at a walk
toward Forniola. And she laid her hand
on his arms, saying again: "Antonio!"
"And I have fought with my lord to
day, and I would be at his side now except
that I do his pleasure better by leaving
him to triumph alone But my hand has
been with him today, and my heart is
with him today. Tell me, sweetheart, If
I rode forth to war and left you alone,,
would you do aught against me till I re
turned?" And then for many minutes neither
spoke; and Count Antonio kissed her lips
and she his; and they promised with the
eyes what they needed not to promise
with the tongue. And the Lady Lucia
went alone on her way to Forniola.
When Antonio had ridden two or three
miles and came where he had left the
band, he could see none of them. And a
peasant came running to him in great
fright and iid: "My lord, your men are
gone again to aid the duke, for the prince
has done great deeds and turned the fight.
and it is ag-iln very doubtful; and my
Lord Tommasino bade me say that he
knew your mind and was gone to fight for
Forniola." Then Antonio set his horse to
a gallop and passed through Rilano at a
furious speed and rode on toward Agnino,
and It was now afternoon; and presently
he saw the armies, but they seemed to be
still over against one another. And, rid
ing on, he met Bena, who was coming to
see him. And Bena said: "The prince
and his knights have fought lile devils,
my lord, and the townsmen grew fearful
again when you were gone; and we, com
ing back, have fought again; but now a
truce has sounded, and the prince and the
duke are meeting in conference between
THE PRINCESS OF MANTIVOGLIA
the armies. Yet they say that no peace
will be made, for the prince, taking heart
from his sudden success, though he Is
willing- to abandon the tribute, asks some
thing in return which the duke will not
grant. Yet perhaps he has granted It by
now, for his men are weary-"
But Antonio, thinking nothing of his
own safety, rode full into the ranks of
the duke's guard, saying: "Where does
my lord talk with the prince?" And they
showed him where the place was, for the
prince and duke sat alone under a tree
between the two arrays. And the duke
looked harsh and resolute, while the prince
was very courteously entreating him.
"Indeed," said he, "so doubtful has the
day been, my lord, that I might well re
fuse to abandon the tribute, and try again
tomorrow the issue of the fight. But,
since so many brave men have fallen on
both sides. I am willing to abandon it,
asking only of you such favor as would
be conceded to a simple gentleman asking
of his friend. And yet you will not grant
It me, and thus bring peace between us
and our peoples."
Duke Valentine frowned and bit his lip,
and the prince rose from where he had
been seated and lifted his hand to the skyi
and said: "So be it, my lord. On your
head lies the blame. For tomorrow I will
attack again, and as God lives, I will not
rest till the neck of the city of Forniola
is under my feet or my head rolls from my
shoulders by your sword."
Then Duke Valentine paced up and
down, pondering deeply, for he was a mar
that hated to yield aught, and beyond all
else hated what the Prince of Mantivoglia
asked of him. Yet he feared greatly to
refuse, for the townsmen had no stomach
for another fight, and had threatened to
march home if he would not make peace
with the prince. Therefore he turned to
the prince and, frowning heavily, was
about to say: "Since it must be so, so let
it be," when suddenly Count Antonio rodo
up and leaped from his horse, crying:
"Yield .nothing, my lord, yield nothing.
For If you will tell me what to do and
suffer me to be your hand, we will drive
the enemy over our borders with great
loss."
Then" the Prince of 'Mantivoglia fell to
laughing, and he came to Antonio and put
his arm about his neck, saying:
"Peace, peace! thou foolish man!"
And Antonio saluted him with all defer
ence, but he answered:
"I must give good counsel to my lord,
the duke." And he turned to the duke
again, saying, "Yield nothing to the prince,
my lord."
Duke Valentine's lips curved in his slow
smile as he looked at Antonio. "Is that
indeed your counsel? And will you swear,
Antonio, to give me your aid against the
prince so long as the war lasts, if I fol
low it?"
"Truly I swear it," cried Antonio. "Yet
what need la there of an oath? Am I not
your highness servant, bound to obey
without an oath?"
"Nay, but you do not tell him" began
the prince angrily.
"Well, I will tell him,' said. Duke Val
entine. "This prince, Antonio, has con
sented to a peace, and to abandon all
claim to tribute from our city on one con
ditionwhich is,, that T, the duke, shall
do at his, demand what of ray own free
and "sovereign will I would not do."
"His demand Is not fitting nor war
ranted by his power," said Antonio; but
in spite of his words the Prince of Man
tivoglia passeclhis arm through his and
laughed Tuefully, whispering, "Peace,
man, peace." "
"And thus L. the duke, having bowed
my will to his,; shall return to Forniola
not beaten Indeed, yet half-beaten and
cowed by the power of Mantivoglia."
"It shall not Ije, my lord," cried Count
Antonio. ("
""Yet, my lordduke, you do not tell him
what the condition is," said the prince.
"Why, It is nothing else than that I
should pardon ya.uand suffer you to wed
the Lady Lucia,", said Duke Valentine.
Then Count Antonio loosed himself from
the arm of the prince and bent and kissed
the prince's hand"; but he said:
"Is this thing to come twice on a man
in one day? For it is but an hour or more
than I parted from the lady of whom you
,speak, and If her- eyes could not move
me what else sljall, move me?" And he
told them briefly of. his meeting with the
Lady Lucia. And. Duke Valentine was
wroth with the shame that a generous
act rouses in a heart that knows no gen
erosity; and the prince was yet more
wroth, and he safd'to Duke Valentine:
"Were there any honor m you, my lord,
you would not heed my prayers to pardon
him." '
At this the duke's 'face grew very dark,
and he cried angrily: "
"Get back to your own line, my lord, or
the truce shall-not save you." And he
turned .to Antonio and said: "Three hours
do I give you to1 get hence before I pur
sue." t
Antonio bowed" Jow to him and to the
prince, and they three parted, the two
princes in bitter Wrath and set again on
fighting to" the end, the one because he
was ashamed andyet obstinate, the othen
for scorn of a rancour that found no placo
in himself. But Count Antonio went back
to his company and. drew It some little
way off from both armies.
Now the night fell dirk again and foggy,
even as the night .'before; and none In
either larmy dared-to move, "and even the
sentries could see no mote than a few
yards before them. But Antonio's men,
being accustomed to Tide in the dark, and
to find their way through mists, both in
plain and hill, fitfola see .more clearly; and
Antonio divided ,them into two parties,
himself leading one- and giving the other
Into Tommaslno's charge. And having
very securely tethered their horses, they
set forth, crawling on their bellies through
the grass. And Antonio, with his party,
made for the camp .of the prince, while
Tommasino and his party, directed their
way toward the duke's bivouacs. And
they saw the fires very dimly through the
mist, and both parties passed the sentries
unobserved, and made their way to the
center of the camps. Then, on the stroke
of midnight, a strange stir arose In both
AND ANTONIO IN THE GARDEN.
the camps. Nothing could be seen, by
reason of the darkness and the mist; but
suddenly cries arose, and men ran to and
fro, and a cry went up from the duke's
camp: "They are behind us! They are
behind us! We are surrounded!" And in
the prince's camp, also was great fear;
for from behind them, toward where the
spurs of Mount Agnino began, there came
shouts of: "At them, at them, charge!"
And the prince's officers, perceiving the
cries to be from men of Forniola (and
this -they knew by reason of certain differ
ences In the phrasing of words) conceived
that the duke had got behind them, and
was lying across their way of retreat.
And the duke, hearing the shouts in his
own camp, ran out from his tent, and
he was met by hundreds of the towns
men, who cried: "My lord, we are sur
rounded!" For Antonio's men had gone
to the townsmen and showed them how
they might escape more fighting, and
the townsmen were nothing loth; and
they insisted with the duke that a body
of men on horseback, had passed behind
them. So the duke sent out scouts, who
could see nothing of the hosemen. But
then the townsmen cried, some being in
the secret, others ndt: "Then they have
ridden past us and are making for For
niola, And they wilL do heaven knows
what there. Lead us after them, my lord!"
And the duke was very angry, but he was
also greatly afraid, for he perceived that
there was a stir also In the prince's camp,
and heard shouts from there, but could
notdlsUngulshedwhatwassaid. And while
he considered what to do, the townsmen
formed their ranks, and sent him word
that they were for Forniola; and when he
threatened them with his guard they Te
joined that one death was as good as an
other; and the duke gnawed his nails and
went pale with rage. But Count Antonio's
men, seeing how well the plan had sped;
crept again out from the camp and re
turned to where they had tethered their
horses and mounted, each taking a spare
horse. And before they had been there
long they heard trumpets sound in the
duke s camp, and the camp was struck,
and the duke and all his force began to
retreat on Rilano, throwing out many
scouts and moving very cautiously in the
darkness and mist. And all night long
they marched across the plain, covering
the space of 18 miles, and just before the
break of day they came to the city. But
the Prince of Mantivoglia had been no
less bewildered, for when he sent out men
to see what the cries behind the camp
meant, he found no man, but he still
heard scattered cries among the rising
ground, where the hills begin. And he in
his turn saw a, stir in the camp opposite
to him. And, being an impetuous prince,
as he had Shown both in evil and in
good that day, he snatched up his
sword, swearing that he would find
the truth of the matter, and bidding
his officers await his return, and not he
drawn from their position before he
cdme again to them, and taking some
of his younger knights and a few
more, he passed out of his camp and
paused for a moment, bidding those with
him spread themselves out in a thin line,
in order, the better to reconnolter and
that, if some fell into an ambuscade, oth
ers might survive to carry the news back
to the camp. And he, having given Us
order, himself stood resting on his sword.
And In an Instant before "he could so
much as lift the point of his sword from
the ground, silent blurred shapes came
from the mist and were In front and be
hind and round them, and they looked so
strange that he raised his hand to cross
himself, but ihen a scarf was thrown
over his mouth and he was seized by eight
strong hands and held so that he could
not struggle, and neither could he try out
by reason' of the scarf across his mouth.
And they that held rim began to run rap
Idly, and he was ca-rledout of the camp
without the knowledge of any of those
who were with him and who, missing
their leader, fell presently into great
consternation. And when the prince was
nowhere to be found they lost heart and
began to fall back toward their own
borders, skirting the base of Agnino, and
their retreat grew quicker, and at last
when morning came they were near the
border, but the fog still wrapped all the
plain in obscurity, and, robbed of their
leader, they dared attempt nothing.
Now the Prince of Mantivoglia, whom
his army sought thus in fear and bewil
derment, was carried very quickly up to
the high ground, -where the rocks grew
steep and close and the way led to the
peak of Agnino. And as he was borne
along, some one bound his hands and his
feet, and still he was carried up till at
last he found himself laid down gently
on the ground. So he abode another hour,
and then he heard a step behind him, and
a man came, but whence he could not
see, and the man stooped and loosed the
scarf from his mouth and cut his bonds
and he sat up, uttering a cry of wonder.
For Count Antonio stood before him, his
sword sheathed by his side. And he said
to the Prince of Mantivoglia:
"Do to me what you will, my lord. If
you will strike me as I stand, strike. Or, if
you will do me the honor to cross swords,
my sword is ready. Or, my lord. If you
will depart in peace and in my great love
and reverence, I will give thanks to heaven
and to a noble prince."
"Antonio, what does this mean?" cried
the prince, divided between anger and
wonder.
Then Antonio told him all that he had
done, how the duke was gone back with
his army to Forniola, and how the prince's
army had retreated toward the borders of
Mantivoglia; for of all this his men had
informed him, and he ended with saying:
"For since it seemed that 1 was to' be
the most unworthy cause of more fighting
between two great princes, it came into
my head that such a thing should not be.
And I rejoice that now it will not, for the
townsmen will not march out again this
year at least, and your highness will
scarce sit down before Forniola with the
season now far gone."
"So I am balked?" cried the prince, and
he rose to his feet. "And this trick is
played me by a friend!"
"I am of Forniola," said Antonio, flush
ing red. "And while there was war I
might In all honor have played another
trick and carried you not hither, but to
Forniola."
"I care not," said the prince, angrily.
"it was a trick, and no fair fighting."
"Be it as you will, my lord," said An
tonio. "A man's own conscience Is his
only judge. Will you draw your sword,
my lord?"
But the prince was very angry, and he
answered roughly:
"I will not fight with you, and I will
not speak more with you. I will go."
"Iwlllleadyourhlghness to your horse,"
said Antonio.
Then he led him some hundreds of paces
down the hill, and they came where a
fine horse stood ready saddled.
"And where Is your horse?" asked the
prince suddenly.
"I have no horse, my lord," said Anto
nio. "My men and all my horses have
ridden back to our hiding place In the
hills. I am alone here, for I thought that
your highness would kill me and I should
need no horse."
"How, then, will you escape the scout
ing parties?"
"I fear I shall not escape them, my
lord," said Antonio, smiling again.
"And if they take you?"
"Of a surety I shall be hanged," said
Count Antonio.
The Prince of Mantivoglia gathered his
brow into a heavy frown, but the corners
of his lips twitched, and he did not look
at Antonio. And thus they rested a few
moments till suddenly the prince, unable
to hold himself longer, burst in a great
and merry peal of laughter, and he raised
his fist and shook. It at Antonio, crying:
"A scurvy trick, Antonio! By my faith,
a scurvier trick by far than that other of
yours. Art thou not ashamed, man? Ah,
you cast down your eyes! You dare not
look at me, Antonio."
"Indeed, I have nought to say for thte
last trick, my lord," said Antonio", laugh
ing also.
"Indeed, I must carry this knave with
me," cried the prince. "Faugh, the traitor.
Get up behind me. traitor. Clasp me by
the waist, knave! Closer, knave! Ah,
Antonio, I know not In what mood heaven
was when you were made. I would I had
the heart to leave you to your hanging!
For what a story will my princess make
of this! I shall be the best derided man
in all Mantivoglia."
But the Princess of Mantivoglia heard
all that had passed with great mirth, and
made many jests upon her husband and
again, lest the prince should take her jest
ing In evil part, more upon Duke Valen
tine. But concerning Count Antonio and
the Lady Lu:la she did not jest. Yet one
day chancing to be alone with Count An
toniofor "he stayed many days at the
court of Mantivoglia, and was treated with
great honor she said to him with a smile
and half-raised eyelids:
"Had I been a man, my Lord Antonio, I
would not have returned alone from the
gate3 of Forniola. In truth, your lady
needs patience for her virtue, Count An
tonio!" I trust, then, that heaven sends it to
her, madam," caid Antonio.
She answered nothing for a moment;
then she drew near to him and stood be
fore him, regarding his face,- and she
sighed, "Helgho!" And again, -"Heigho!"
and dropped her eyes, and raised them
again to his face, and at last she said:
"To some faithfulness is easy. I give no
great praise to the Lady Lucia." And
when she had said this she turned and
left him, and was but little more in his
company so Ions as he stayed at Man
tivoglia. And she spoke no more of the
Lady Lucia. But when he was mounting;
after "bidding her farewell, she gave him
a white rose from her bosom, saying care
lessly: "Your color, my lord, and the best.
Yet God made the other roses also."
"All that he made he loves, and in all
there is good." said Antonio, and he
bowed very low, and, having kissed her
hand, took the rose; and he looked into
her eyes and smiled, saying: "Heaven
give peace where it has given wit and
beauty," and so he rode away to join his
company in the hills. And the Princess of
Mantivoglia. having watched till he was
out of sight, went into dinner and was
merrier than ever she had shown herself
before, so that they sard: "She feared
Antonio, and is glad that he is gone."
Yet that night, while her husband slept,
she wept.
(To he continued.)
TO HER.
SVouldst thou praise her as a rose.
Honeyed and fair?
Beware!
Beware!
Sweetest flower In garden close
Just buds, and goes.
.Wouldst thou praise her as a star ,'
In heaven's blue.
And sue
Morning and night? Too far
Such starlights are.
Selwyn Image. In N. Y. Tribune,
ft FortifoB ii) a Kis?
By Otto Greenliood. i
PART I THE KISS.
It was' during the alleged halcyon period
when the bulls and bears of California
street yet alternately enriched and im
poverished the sanguine speculators in
Comstock mining shares, that the hero
of this romance in actual life (in which
a sense of delicacy dictates the substitu
tion of fictitious names for the real), at,
the age of 20 years, returned to his home'
in San Francisco, after a sojourn of 2&
years in Europe. His home was, at that
time, In one of the elegant mansions on
Nob Hill; and from his earliest boyhood
his every wish was most generously ca
tered to before he expressed it, figurative
ly speaking.
He had indeed been a pampered, gilded
youth; his one year's career at Heidelberg
university, and his subsequent 18 months
association with the flower of the aristo
cratic youth in France, Germany, Austria,
Italy and London, with more than ample
means to gratify his limitless desire, were
not conducive to curb his extravagant
spirit.
Among the retinue of servants in the
household of young Mr. Hero's parents
was Annie Green, a young chambermaid
from the North of Ireland, with a ravish
Ingly beautiful face, made radiant by a
brlllant complexion that would have been
the envy of an Olympian goddess. Her
figure was suggestive of the form of
Venus, and her voice was as enchanting
as that of the siren of the sea, whose
melodious tones, according to tradition,
lured all to death who listened to them.
Annie, though, was unconscious of the
magnificent attributes with which boun
tiful nature had endowed her; and a more
modest and diffident young woman than
she cannot be pictured.
One morning, six months later, Annie,
in - conventional chambermaid fashion,
was coming from an upper floor of the
mansion, carrying a pail in her right
hand, a towel carelessly tossed over her
faultlessly shaped forearm, and the taper
ing fingers of her No. 5' left hand en
circled the handle of a broom she prac
tically was defenseless. Young Mr. Hero
and she met face to face on the staircase,
where a devilish impulse seized him to
embrace and kiss the beautiful girl.
"Oh! how could you?" stammered the
astonished domestic in a chiding tone, her
face growing crimson with a blush of em
barrassment. Before the self-willed youth could make
an apologetic reply, he heard a, voice from
upstairs:
"My son, I want to see you!"
It was young Mr. Hero's mother; and
he began formulating an excuse that he
was required down-town without delay.
A subsequent and imperative command,
however, at once ushered him into his
mother's private sitting-room.
"Are you a gentleman?" asked Mrs.
Hero, surveying her son with a glance
full of reproach.
"You always said I was," replied the
youth.
"I know," continued the lady; "but gen
tlemen do not make it a practice to kiss
servants in the house."
"What! Do they kiss them outside of
the house?" flippantly and interrogatively
replied young Mr. Hero, essaying to divest
his offense of its seriousness.
Mrs. Hero's indignation at her spoiled
son's misconduct would not be mollified
by his levity, and she then decreed to give
poor innocent Annie her conge. At this
unpleasant turn of affairs, young Mr.
Hero gave evidence of his manliness and
chivalrous nature, notwithstanding he was
a spoiled boy. He pleaded strongly and
eloquently for the retention of Annie in
the household, on the truthful grounds
that the pretty domestic had not given
him the slightest encouragement for the
commission of his indiscreet act, and that
he solely was responsible for the theft of
the kiss. But he pleaded to deaf ears;
Annie's doom had been pronounced, and
there was no appeal from aristocratic
Mrs. Hero's judgment.
The youth was conscience-stricken over
the outcome of his Indulgence in stolen
sweets; and on his way dawn town that
morning he called at the residence of a
friend, Mr. Bond Plutocrat, near his own
home, where he related his matutinal ad
venture to Mr. Plutocrat's eldest daugh
ter, who, by reason of her mother's death,
was mistress of the menage. He knew
that an additional servant in the Pluto
crat household would not cut much of a
figure In the domestic expense budget, so
he begged Miss Plutocrat to take Annie
Into her service. Miss Plutocrat told
young Mr. Hero that he was a very
"naughty boy" but not in a serious tone
and at last promised the luckless cham
bermaid a place, providing she pleased
her. This pledge unburdened the youth's
heavily laden heart, and he retraced his
steps, finding, as he expected, that Annie
had received her dismissal. She was In
the servants' quarter, sitting on a little
hair trunk that had come from Ireland
with her the preceding year, and weep
ing as if her heart were broken. Young
Mr. Hero took her small hands into his.
expressing sincere contrition for his con
duct which had brought about her unhap
plness. And at the same time he apprised
her of his interview with Miss Plutocrat.
A bright smile at once illumined the girl's
pretty face, and a few minutes later she
and young Mr. Hero were en route for
the Plutocrat mansion, like Paul and Vir
ginia, hand in hand. Annie's face won
Miss Plutocrat's favor; she was engaged
on the spot, and from that time dated her
phenomenal good luck and cloudless mun
dane happiness.
PART II THE FORTUNE.
Years rolled by, and contact with the
sterner side of practical life had long
since effaced the foregoing episode from
matured Mr. Hero's mind, and but for one
circumstance, perhaps, it would not often
have recurred to him as a subject for
pleasurable reflection.
It was a week before Christmas, 1SJS,
that Mr. Hero accompanied by two other
gentlemen, was strolling along Kearney
street, in San Francl'-co, after again hav
ing been absent from that city a long
period, when he espied a magnificently
appointed brougham, with a liveried
coachman and footman, roll up to a large
dry goods house on Post street, at th
intersection of the above named thor
oughfare A richly attired and remarka
Vlv TinTirlsnmft Iadv steoDed out. and for
I two seconds, perhaps, she smilingly
stared at Mr. Hero, with an expression!
of astonishment; but she immediately;
dropped her eyes to the sidewallc and en
tered the store.
"Who is your handsome friend?" asked!
one of Mr. Hero's companions; but era
he could make answer, he felt a hand
upon his shoulder, and wheeling about,
he observed it to be that of a liveried
lackey, who removing his hat. Inquired,
"Beg pardon! Are you Mr. Hero?" An
affirmative reply being given, the servant
said, "My lady wishes to see you." Mr.
Hero's chivalric nature prompted him to
obey the summons, and he repaired to the
dry goods house, where the lady of the
brougham greeted him with outstretched
hands and an agreeable smile, remarking-,
"I suppose you do not remember me?"
"Your face is. quit- familiar." responded
Mr. Hero, "but pardon my inability to call
your name."
"Is it possible you do not remember;
Annie Green?"
"Heavens!" almost shouted Mr. Hero.
"It Is not possible that you are Annis
Green?"
"No; not now. I am Mrs. Silver Croe
sus, thanks to your thoughless stolen
kiss, of so many years ago. I am glad to
hear you say that your time Is at my dis
posal for an hour or two, for I have much
to tell you."
A few minutes later. Mrs. Croesus and
Mr. Hero were being wheeled away from
the bustle of the busy mart, and durlnff
the drive he was regaled with a story
almost characteristic of those encountered
In the perusal of the "Arabian Nights."
"Shortly after I went to live with the
Plutocrats," said Mrs. Croesus, introduc
ing the history of her good fortune, "I
met my present husband, in the Pluto
crat's service as a coachman. Mr. Croesus
is a liberally educated Englishman, whom
temporary misfortune had placed In that
menial position. He and I soon grew quite
fond of each other, and a marriage en
gagement followed. My affianced was of
a speculative turn of mind, and he gam
bled successfully In the shares of the
mines controlled by Mackay, Fair, Flood
and O'Brien, the bonanza kings, till, 6ne
year after our betrothal, he had accumu
lated $50,000 from his investments. Both
of us were yet quite young; he then sent
me to Mills seminary to complete the
education I had begun before reverses
overtook my family at home; and Mr.
Croesus quitted the Plutocrat's services.
I remained at the seminary 3 years,
during which time Mr. Croesus fortune
reached the comfortable figure of $500,000,
when we were married in Grace church
by Bishop Kip. We have a beautiful resi
dence on Van Ness avenue and a darling
boy, named after you, dear Mr. Hero.
No, indeed, Mr. Croesus did not fare as
badly as most outside stock speculators,
for he now has almost a million invested
in a manner forever secured against loss.
By the way, dine with us next Friday
evening, for my busband has often ex
pressed an ardent wish to see you. Da
come, will you?"
A promise was made, and Mr. Hero
parted from his fair companion, musing
over the strange mutation wrought In
Mrs. Croesus' career by that thoughtless
kiss given her some years before. The
Croesus residence was one of the stateli
est palaces on the avenue, furnished and
fitted in a style that could have been sug
gested only by the most refined and culti
vated taste even to the selection of the
library and paintings.
On that Friday evening Mr. Croesus
greeted Mr. Hero with uncommon cor
diality, expressing his delight at meeting
him in unmeasured terms of enthusiasm
for a millionaire. At the table, the par
ticularly honored guest met a party of
well-bred ladles and gentlemen, without
an apparent trace of the parvenu in their
conversation or etiquette. And at the end
of the repast, Mr. Croesus surprised Mr.
Hero by relating the story of that mem
orable kiss, concluding:
"As Mr. Hero's good taste during the
period of his comparative adolescence,
was productive of much good fortune and
great happiness for Mrs. Croesus and my
self,. X herewith commanaVhtm to bestow
another kiss upon- my wife in the hope
that it may perpetuate our earthly bliss."
In obedience to the agreeable command,
Mr. Hero gently imprinted a resounding
"buss" on her pretty lips, amidst the ap
plause of the witnessing ladies and gen
tlemen. Thus terminates a true story of
a stolen sweet that did not entail moral
dyspepsia.
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