THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9654, 19 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTEU XVII. —Continued. j Mrs Bcriiis .•! iii wrung her hards, and her face v;a.-* contorted. , "No, no! i>. shall not be—l forma ; the banns. "There are e'"> banns, cried ufanitto. "AMI who are yon, to talK of: ; forbidding jviarriagt 1" ; "The packet! the packet sha.i cell | who I aili, ami why I can forbid your j marriage." . , "The packet in in ray keeping, aiui it shall not be ousned. 1 will burn it up," retorted Granitto. "No, no, don't burn it, it may be our only way " Mrs Bemis fell to the floor on ner face in a convulsion. "She is dj/imr!" screamed the terrified Linsj dropping beside her. "Oh, ray dear, my dear, do not die! Comoback!" "It is only hysteria, my troasuie. ( said Graintto; "she will bii better soon. I will call the women to wait upon her."' "Miss dear," said Lucy, don tby frightened. Mrs Bemis was always queer. I thought stie was a bit crazy, and shtj has been up >ill night; s.ie wili get over this soon. See, here are three women, let them undress her, and rub her, and get her into bed. Come away and rest, or you, too, will be will." The women carried Mrs Bemis to her own room, and Lucy to undress Lina. Presently Granitto knocked at the door, and said that Mrs Bemis was better, and Lina must not trouble herself on her behalf. Again he came and told Lucy that it was now five o'clock, her lady s breakfast would be sent at ten, and at eleven Canon Arnolto would await them in the chapel.

Returning to tne Jihll Granitto undertook to get a nan in a large chair by the fire. Between seven an.i eight one of his men arouseu him.

"Captain, we delayed a carnage going toward tlorence under iin escort of ten. We supposed that it was the sister of the grand duchess, who was in the carriage, but after we had seized it we found that it wsa an English lady. What shall we do?" , "I will go down and aee, said Granitto, springing to his have time, bet'are eLven. An English lady: this will he one more witness to our marriage. Go hold the men in their places until I come." He knocked at the of Allan Bird, and being to enter, seated himself on the foot of his otd. "Signor, pa p don the intrusion, Lut I have business 10 lay before you. I am this morning to he married to an English lady. I have my uncle the Canon Arnolfo on hand to perform the ceremony, but I desire the marriage to be &U'.'h as will be valid in England, and satisfactory to tne lady's family." "Very honourable, certainly," said Allan Bird. "Evidently we cannot be married before an English consul on account of my little difficulties with the Tuscan government. Sir, I think a civil ceremony nteds to be added to the church ceremony. Are you in your country a magistrate, or empowered to perform a marriage?"

"Yes, lain." "Then will you favour ua, and add your ceremony to the canon's?" "Who is Ln* 3 lady." "She is Lady Lina Harcourt, daughter of Lord Thomas Harcourt." "Zounds!" cried Allan Bird, springing up in bed, "is she here of her own free will? Does ahe wish to marry you?" "Sir, I should scorn to force myself on any lady. Lady Lina and myseif are most devoted lovers. she came here last night." "But, s-ir, with her father's knowledge and consent?" "Not at all. We eloped." "By George! and you dare ask me to perform'ths ceremony?" "But, signor, you must perform ths cereirony." i "Cut .off my head 'first!" quoth I his back.

"And leave your countrywoman less than legally married' 1 " "True; that does look badly. But I won't do it. However, get a notary of, your own, the syndic of some town, to come and pertorm the civil ceremony. will make it legal everywhere." Granitto shrugged his shoulders and left the room, and Allan Bird heard him shouting: "Carlos! take five braves and run down and capture me the syndic of JWintclla, and have him up here not one minute later than eleven." Granitto - now bounded down the hill to the turn road where the captured carriage was standing. Az the open window' of the carriage, what wa*. apparently a ball of white wool was raising a sharp, reiterated noise, which redoubled as Granitto appeared. Granitto thought he knew that tound, once ominous to him of defeat. He looked into the carriage, and there mentally, morally, and phjsically supporte.i by her maid, a fan, a bottle of brandy, and a bottle of smell.ng sails, was Mrs Vilthorpe. She did not recognise her former victim. "Oh, illustrious signor," she criei', "do treat me with courtesy. I will

BY DUNCAN McGKEGOR. ,\w f i 'I'oE "Kennedy's Foe," ''Tslnnael Keforroe "A Game of Throe," "Edna's Peril," Etc , etc;.

send you back eight thousand pounds from him if you will let me go on. Oh, mercy 011 1112! I had been offended by my brother-in-law, and I made up my mind tiiut it was qiiit'J unChristian to be living in mean Loudon lodgirgs while I might be looking after his uil'.iirs. So I unoived to return and forgive him. And this is what I get for an act of holy charity. lam made a prisoner. Ah, but 1 promise you eight thousand good puunds if you let me go on."

"Sigriorina," said Granitto, "I should be loath to make a man pay so dear for a sister-in-law, even if ntie does mind all his atlairs for him. I shall deal more gently with you. I invite you to my castle to a wedding and afoast; those over, I shall give you an English gentleman of repute as a travelling companion, and send you back on your way to England. Florence just vow is no place for foreigners. You gentlemen of the escort will corije to my castle until this marriage is over, and then conduct the lady to the French border. Drive on now, as my men direct you."

The carriage drove as near to Torre del JPocco as a roadway for wheels extended. Granitto gallantly gave his £arm to Mrs Vilthorpe for the rest of the way.

Thus brought near to him Mrs Viithorpe recognised Senor Arriano. "Oh, Senor Arriano.she cried, "is it you, I am delighted to see you once more. I was always a friend to you, and though I may have seemed offended at some little things, it was only for the sake of propriety and examples, for i always relish a young man's little «pranks. Have you seen my dear niece lately? She admired you immensely. 1 will take her any message which you may choose tto send "

Arrived at the castle, Granitto sent for Lucy, who reported her young lady dre3sed and about to eat her breakfast.

"Teil her," said Arriano, "that I beg her to admit to her table an English lady who has come as a witness to the marriage. Go on, Lucy, and 1 will ser,d tne lady up with old Carola, and the maid of' whom you must take care."

Lucy tripped off, and Granitto be-fit-li coweriiig in one corner a terrifies specimen of humanity. "Hless my life, Syndic of Mintella, is this you? Don't be alarmed, I have only borrowed you for a few huurd to perform a marriage ceremony, and shall send you home safe before sunset with a couple of hundred francs in yO'ir pocket, and my urcle, ihi Canon Ainolfo, for your companion." In the meantime Mrs Vilthorpe had been led up to the room of Lady Lina, and great was the mutual astonishment of aunt ui>ii i.iece. And now it is eltven o'clock and Baptiste, dreesed in all the splendour of the mountain men -knee buckles and shoe buckles, and silk sash and cock's feathtra—appears at Lina's door to guide the bride to the Hall of Arms, to go thence to the chapel. Down comes Lina, fair as that Aiaril morning; after her, ftlrs Vilthoroe; behind her, the two maids; behind them, two smiring Italian contadinas, dressed in white, Bcarlet and green; their mother is waiting on Mrs Bemis, who is yet half -conspicuous", though Lina is told that she is better.

Here is the Hail of Arms; behind the remainder of the wedding party Old Conte' Latrtlli, dressed in the garments of wherein in his early manhood he shone in camp and court, gives his arm to Litia, and Granicto duteously presents his to Mrs vi!« thorpe. Canon Arnolfo and the syndic go first Allan Bird, in solitary discontent follows ivjrs Vilthorpe. Baptists escorts Lucy, but she thinks he is not one half so nice as Ted. The bewitching contadinas find cavaliers among the- men-at arms,

a«d so does Mrs Vilthorp's awestruck maid. A dozen braves close the procession, which enters the long abandoned churct:. There is a great break in tae roof directly above the altar, and thtre tt.e sunlight pours down in glory over this young pair, as t!?ey sttand facing each other. His suit is green velvet, hrjideil with silver, buttoned witn captured Austrian silver coins. His hose and sash are white silk, and the hat lying ori the floor beside him has a white plume. Her suit is also green velvet, fastened with arrows in Genoa silver filigree, a large silver arrow shining on the piled masses of her hair. She wears no veil, no bridal fan, nor bouquet; but, soft laces fall about her throat and harida, and a scarf of costly lace, passed over one shoulder and held there by the mate to the arrow in her hair, floats down in filmy waves over ihe lustroos train of her robe. Lucy and the contadinas, in thtir quaint costumes, are bridesmaids. Mrs Vilthorpe has /alien to the lot of Allan Bird. • TO BE CONTINIfED. i