THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9651, 16 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

v by duncan McGregor ? L Author of "Kennedy's Foe," ♦•lshmael Eetorme V "A Game of Three," "Edna's Peril." / Etc, etc.

CHAPTER XV.—Continue!

She felt so triumphant in her success thus far that she did not doubt that the remainder of her plans could be carried out. If she had known that II Mattino had made up his mind that she should go to Torre del Pocco, she would have seer her way yet more clearly. It was a pleasant sunny day toward the last of February, and the mild reign of winter seemed nearly over along the Val d' Arno. Madzo came creeping up the stair of Palazzo Ridolfi immediate-ly after dinner. The illness of Lord Harcourt had for the time banished gue3ts from the Palazzo. Lady Antraea had gone to sit with her son. Dugald had affairs at the legation that evening. It was Saturday evenine, and the two girls, tired of the succession of the pleasures of the week, wt=re sitting in an alcove that jutttd over the garden ; the curtains of gold-colored brocade were but half drawn behind them. Madzo saw them both, and after examining the fire, went for coals. On his return one of the girls had passed into the conservatory; it was Miss Percy, Madzo knew that by the scarf of common India silk which she had thrown about head and shjuL ders, and because the damsel remaining in the alcove was enveloped in the fleecy white shawl which Lady Lina delighted in wearing when removed *rom the vicinity of the fire in the chilly Palazzo. He crept softly to the alcove with much looking over his shoulder at the figure in the conservatory, and then dropped a note over ders covered by the white shawl. Having thus carefully performed his erraid he slipped away, full of self-gratulation. Pauline, who at the whim of Lina had exhaneed siiawls with her, finding herself secretly put in possession of a note, set wondering whence it might have come. Her thoughts centred on Mrs Bern is and the mystery surrounding her; she lived in expectation of news from tars Bemis, or of her appearance. After a little she rose and drew near the light; the sealed note was undirected. Lina went to the piano and began to sing and play. "Her letter, makes her happy," said Madzo, as her clear voice floated down to the porter's lodge. Meanwhile Pauline opened the note—in a plain, unfamiliar hand. "I can live no longer without seeing you. I know you do not wish it. I knew you think it not safe for us to meet I run no risk, for lam here in Florence. Before daybreak I must be away. I have so much to tell you—to reveal to you. I will beat the olive tree gate at eleven o'clock. If yju do not come out I shall wait there all night. Gracious heart, can you endure the thoughts of so long a vigil unregarded! Meet, then, Your Adori'g GRANITIC-, M.A."

Until the very signature Paulii e read on, thinking it mieht*be from Mrs Bemis, and was for herself. Then the truth flashed on her —it was from Arriano, pleading for a meecing that it was against Lina's conscience to grant.

•'My poor darling!" said PaulLe. hard as a rock to Gramttj, in her J tender love of Lina. "Let him wait. ; I will save her from him and her-1 self," and without further thought j sne dropped the letter in the fire. Then her heart smote her. "It was hers, and ft urn her lover. Suppjse it had been mine, from Dugald, and she burned it. But Dugald would rot ask any such sacrifice. Suppose I let him wait? He may send his messenger again to her, and she would go out. Suppose he stays all nighi, and is caught by the police, and hung or shot. Oh, me!" She walked about in much agitation, thinking what she should do. Finally she made up her mind. ''l will meet him myself. I will take Ted and Lucy with me. I will appeal to Arriano's honor and love, if he has any. I will warn him. I will threaten him. I will save my Lina." Pauline found Ted and communicated to him her enterprise, and hade him await her in the arbor, then she bound Lucy over to secrecy, and bade I her wait upon her, and at eleven o'clock let herself out by a rear door, and glided to the olive tree gate. Near the arbor bhe chec.ktd her steps, and signed to Ted and Lucy to stand in waiting. Then she moved on a few paces, and a cloaked figure sprang from the shadow of the olive trees.

"Camsima! do we meet again?" "Stay, Ser Granitto," aaid Pauline, repelling the arm extended to infold her. "I am Miss Percy." "Signorina, you overwhelm me, accept my salutations." "Thanks. Ser Granitto, your messenger put your note into my hands, by mistake, it wi»s read uefore l knew it belonged to Lion!"

"A million maledictions oh his blundering head," moaned Granitto, in a smothered tone.

"Then, signor, I resolved to come here myself, to appeal tD your honor, not to aak Lady Lina to grant you interviews, which, if discovertd, would bring on her discredit, and iier father's wrath. The English look on

such things with severity. If you really love Lady Lina you would avoid all that would be to her detriment, you would not take advantage of her kindness."

"Signorina," said Granitto, "I have not looked at thii affair in the light of your eyes before. I confess you make me seem unjust—as one who would sacrifice the idol of his soul. On the other hand, cignorina, we two shall suffer forever the wo s of separation, of loneliness, of unsatisfied love. Oh, Signorina, the fate is hard."

"Signor Arriano," said Pauline, "true self-sacrifice is always lull of pain, and true courage is to face a real evil. In your present circumstances, signor, it seems to me that you should cease your pursuit of Lady Lina, considering her own good. But, signor, Mr Probyn has told of your hopes for Italy, and of your i allegiance to Vittorio Emanuello. Some day Italy may be redeemed. Then in the new government you might have a place worthy of you services, your abilities, your ancjstry. And it might be that with honor you could claim the hand of Lady Lina, and her father would sacrifice his wishes and give her into your keeping. Until then, delay." "Signorina," said Granitto, "I fear that you are right, and that I am wrong. Farewell, I will try and pursue a path for the happiness of Lady Lina." Perhaps Granitto would have accepted Pauline's views of what was safest for Lady Lina Harcourt, and he might have delayed pressing his suit until he had found a better opportunity for advancing it, had he not received two letters. Mot having heard from her lover for some time, the tender heart of Lina became distracted, with fears for his safety, and her dreams presented hnn to her suffering or in danger. The dream had a realism which terribly impressed the lmpuisjve child; she reproached herdelf for having been too cold to Granitto, and in the tumult of her feeliner dispatched to him, by grace of Madzo, a letter, devoid of her usual coquettish reservations, telling him how miserable she was when she did not hourly know of his well being, and among other kind admissions, telling at lt*et the longconcealed story of his portrait, painted and cherished before she had ever seen his real face. This tender tale carried away the safeguards of common-sense from the enthusiastic Italian. No more third party prudence and hesitations for him; here was evid.mly hU heaven destined bride.

Madzo was also, a tew days later —about the third of March—the bearer of the other important kttcr —it came from Mrs Be.ins. I'hus:

"The danger of which I told you will culminate about April Ist. It can only be avoided if I am on the hills with you. Rely on me to devote myself—even my very life—-to the safety and ' happine&s of the girl whom you loVe, and to you, as you are hononured by her affections. Be brave ana take her with you to the grand life ot the hills, where I will care for her Hke a mother."

OHAPTEK XVI. ! THE SECRET CAPTURED. What could be expected after* these letters? Ot course they were promptly answered. The one for Lady Lina set the third evening thereafter for a meeting by the little gate, and the one to Mra Bemis prayed her in the guise of a rioctress to leave that evening with Baptiate.. Maozo, under terror of awful threats lately heaped upon him Dy Arriano, was carerul to give Lina'n letter into right hands. He next met Mrs Beniis at'the usual hour in the cafe, and gave her the letter, telling her that witnin an hour liaptiste would call at her. ruom, under piea of selling chestnuts. Guided by ihe advice uf Baptiate, Mrs JBenns tacked !;er room, paying two months' rent in advance. She intrusted 10 Madzo certain articles which he should soon send to her by a careful me senger, and then making up a bundle of things immediately needful, she disguised herself as a lay sister given to the practice of meoicine among the poor, and set out with Baptise, and before , dawn retdened the skies she had reached Turre'del Pocco. Granitto met his gue&t with hospitality. He lad seen Mts Bemis only in disguise; he had set her in his mind as a person of low extraction, as he knew that she had met Madzo in a cafe, thougn he did not know for what purpose; hit. when he saw her dressed m her own garmentp, he was overwhelmed with amazement to see a most ,queenly woman. H« fairly caught his breath as she btood awaiting him. "Signora!" he cried, "my late poor castle has become a royal abode by grace of your presence. I, tiie outlaw, live in a palace." He couched her hand respectfully, ar;d bowed profoundly. TO BE CONTINUED. 1