THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9648, 13 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER XIV.-Continued

"We learned our art from the custom officers of his grace the granp duke!" "Be careful and not lumple the clothing of our lovely guests," said Arriano to the bagsage searchers. The duchess lips had shut her jewelled left hand, and placed her right hand on some baubles at her neck. Dugald saw the "collector of souvenirs" touch Granitto's elbow as he passed him. The leader turned. "Ladies, we are loatN to delay your journey. As you go down these hills you take our sunshine with you. Still your hearts are set on Florence, and we must endure the parting as heroically as we may." He drew near the duchess, and softly took in his own her left hand, on which blazoned like a star a magnificent diamoi d ring.

"Ah, siinora,'/ he said, with a preternatural sign, "so lovely a hands needs not ornaments." There was in spite of his gracious speech an ii.flexible decision in his air. Ih'i shut hand unclused, and Granitto Marie Arriano, gazing with subdued admiration on the face of the lady, slipped, with an air of entire abstraction, the ring upon his own fourth finger. The transfer was made as if unconsciously, a mere ac cident, the exchange of a rose petal. Then he looked down on the white, plundered hard, he sighed again, like a weary leviathan,and as if his whole soul was overflowing with devotion, he lifted the hand a little, and bent down and placed upon it a most respectful and lingering kiss, as of one both subject and lover. "Convey my homage to your illustrious brothe", the grand duke," he murmured. He fixed his eyes upon the right hand which covered the bauble at the breast. A light chain held a locket set with emerahis. "It is the portrait of my mother!" cried the duchess, a purple flu»h of anger and shame mounting to her brow. "Precious lady," said Arriano, "I would shed my heart's blood to pre serve it to you. Would your condescension allow me to look at the .honoured face of so noble a dame'" The duchess slowly op.;ued the locket.

"Beautifu mother of a more beautiful daughter," he said, admiringly. "Tell I er grace from me, that the hand of 11 Mattino knew better than even to give a bold look at her child's face. Now, ladies, let me hand you to your seats'. Where is the gentleman of the household?" A greatly alarmed elderly mun presented himself. "Signor, I fear, in your benevolence to my young men, you have deprived yourself of money needful for your noonday rest. Ac cept from my lieutenant the sum of one hundred lire. Signor, I hope your finger will not be troublesome," he said to the slightly wounded man. "Dear iriends, allow my retinue to brush your coats; your capitano will remain my guest until I receive a little matter of two thousand lire to console me for the loss of his company. A a the way is rough, and the vettura must go slowly, it will not incommode two of you gentlemen at arms to leave your horses in my care while you walk to the city. Corporal, take the horses of those stout gentlemen; unless they have exercise they will die of apoplexy! Lieutenant, hold my cart de visite, to present to any other collectors whom yuu may meet. I wish you all a speedy and happy return to Austria!" He raised his hat. the discomfited procession fell into order, and passed through a double line of men, standing on either side of the road, with arms ready. As the last man filed from between the rows of men in green, a loud cheer rose up, "Vive Italia 1 Vive Vittono, Emanuel! Down with the J Austrians! Vive young Italy ard the sons of the hills!" "A merry morning's work," said Granitto, as he walked beside Du> gald back to Torre del Pocco.

CHAPTER XV,

A PLOT TO CAPTURE THE SECRET. It was noonday in the Palazzo Ridolfi. Jn a fcunny little room at the top of the grand stairway sat Lady Lina at her easel. With catlike step the son of Barbary came up the stairs bringing a basket of flowers. His crafty eye swept the adjacent apartments and vestibules, and saw that they were alone. U "My lady," he sain, "there is in our garden a most lovely and uncommon flower. If at eight o'clock tomorrow morning you should look into the garden, you should look on this crown of all flowers. But my lady does not rise so early." "I can, and I will," said Lina, suddenly pleased with the notion of visiting at an unearthly hour, the dewy garden "Yes, Madzo, I will be there at eight." "And if my miserable fortune has doomed me to be sent on an errand at that hour, my lady will readily find the flower; it blooms near the olives that shadow the small rear gate of the garden." Accordingly next morning Lady

V BY DUNCAN MCGREGOR 1 C Author of "Kennedy's Foe," '•lshmaol Eeforme y "A Game of Threo," "Edna's Peril," / Etc, «ta.

Lin i tripped alone into the garden. Through the paths the ran, ar.d soon found Maclzo's boastful flower, before which she stood in seme 'ndignation. A figure in bla.k vol e'een, redsashed, and wearing a read fez cap, the daily uniform of :Vadzo, entered the little gate and <a c along the walk. Lina would repr ve this rascal for his ignorance. "Madzo, you stupid!" she cried, without deigning to turn''her head, "this is quite "a common flower. I have seen it a thousand times." "What flower," said a dulcet voce behind her, "can look lovely to one who sees daily so fair a face in her mirror?" The girl turned suddenly about "Oh, Granitto!" "My beloved! my star! my flower!" cried the enamourerl Italian, seizing her hands, "once more the soul of Granitto lives." "Oh, Arriano, how could you come here!" murmured LaJy Lina, "and disguised in Madzo's uniform. I see, he beguiled me out here knowing you were coming. Oh, Granitto! remember what misfortunes came before of our secret mee!ings." "But, my angel! that was a mere misadventure—a leading of fate to divide me from my selfish indolence and put me into the zealous service of my country, and send me to be a son to a bereaved old noble ; and, loveliest Lina, I was starving, perishing for a sight of your face. Besides, if more is needed, your gallant cousin, Probyn, is visiting me at my retreat in Torre del Pocco on tha Apennine, and I feared you might be disturbed in mitid, unless assured cf his welfare."

"You have not made our Dugald your prisoner?" cried Lina hotly. "If I had, one such glance would break his chain," said Granitto meekly. "But, on the contrary, he is my guest, getting change of air, variety in life, and a proper view of our mountain men, In a few days he will return to you as my friend." The light of Lina's eyes fell softly on Granitt", her heart relented at sight of the factt she loved so well. She laid her hand on his shoulder. "Let us be happy for a few minute?," she said, "but you must not come again—it id very wrong." The few minu'ey grew into an hour, while Granitto one while explained his mountain life, its vievvs, and whereunto it led, pleading ils excus.es in the tyranny that hound his native land. Meanwhile he failed not to make love by look, word, and tone, and stirred in the heart of the thoughtless girl, all ign -rant of the soberer sido t-f manifold Ci>res of life, a vague desire to share his wild retreat and the romance and excitement of his experience.

The hour passed, an.l Gfdnitto with a parting embrace and a prayer tor safe keeping for bin love, saw Lina turn toward the palazzo with her hand full of flowers, btfore he softly stepped from the little olive-shaded gate into the narrow street behind the Palazzo Ridolfi

A pair of eager eves watched from an opposite window for his coming, and swift steps gliding down a narrow stairway kept pace with the disguised bandit j s he, walked away, although he strode lightly along, as one intent on his owit affairs.

Granitto did not fail to perceive that he was followed, and otce or twice he cast hia eye backward, and then moved on, meditating on the brief glimpse thus obtained. At length he stopped, and began to cut and trim a branch from a wayside shrub. The woman who followed him reached hh side, and stooped as if in search of something which she had let fall. She said, softly: "Has the signor forgotten me? I was useful to him at Villa Pazzi." "I never forget ray frionds," said Arriano. "And I am a friend, and also a friend of th* young lady—but of her secretly, as these proud families fancy themselves contaminated by friendship with the poor. Signor, there is a great danger, menacing that young lady. You would ward it off?" "Yes, if I could understand what it was, with all my heart." "Well, signor, count upon me to help you I can see that you love the young lady very much, and she has been honourably brought up, and you Contemplate marriage. I am a friend to you both, and will do all that I can to aid you, and when I see that the threatened danger draws near I will warn you." She turned away and retraced her steps to the city. Granitto stood looking after her. "A lady, by her manner and speech," he said "A friend or an enemy? Thci-e was a sincere tone to her voice. It is necessary to describe her to Lady Lina " It was a pood excuse for writing, and a few dnys later Madzo secretly handed to Lina a letter. The letter described with a painter's care the woman who had spoken to him on the Via Roma. Lina at once recognised Mrs Berni.■". "It is necessary to reply to this. I must find out where my darling Mrs Bemib is," ssid Lina to herself. She replied: i TO BE CONTINUED, i