The Net

ied them-it seemed he went everywhere with Martel-following at a distance which allowed the young men freedom

s it was evident that he had completely forgotten his serious talk at the breakfast table. His

farms, in haphazard fashion, past vineyards and gardens and groves of mandarin, lime, and lemon, finally toiling up over a bold chestnut-studded shoulder of the range, where Blake drew in to enjoy the scene. A faint haze, impalpable as the memory of drea

and quite densely wooded with thickets which swept upward into the interior as far as the eye could reach; bu

ous grounds and into a courtyard behind the house, where an old man came sh

. "What do I see? The rheumatis

parted over his toothl

the accursed aff

hese capers? My dear Al

me leaping

nly in the sun. It is like the tortures of

the hours go by. It is well we are not rivals in love or I should be forced to hate h

he chin and the nose seemed to meet like the points of calipers. When he moved his jaws his whole countenance lengthened magically, as if made of some su

the ladies?" Sa

watery eye at the

onna Teresa will have a book." He squinted respectfully at a small

t is yours for

hanks." The old fellow made

supports him in idleness. There is a Mafioso for you! He has been a brigand, a robber. He is, to this day, as you see. Margherit

d dignity, however, and drowsed upon a commanding eminence fronted by a splendid terraced lawn which one beheld through clumps of flower

or covered gallery, a delicate, white-hair

boy! We have been exp

looking up, saw him bowing low over a girl's hands. Her back was half turned toward Norvin, but although he had not seen her features clearly, he felt a great surprise. His preconceived notion of her had been all wrong; It seemed, for she was not dark-on the contr

and came forward to give him her hand, thu

ints that were in her hair were likewise present in her cheeks, her neck, her hands. It was like the hue which underlies old ivory. Her skin was clear and of unusual pallor, yet it seemed to radiate warmth. Something rich and vivid in her voice also lent strength to the odd impression she had given him, as if her very speech were gold made liquid. Except for the faintest tinge of olive, her cheeks were colorless, yet they spoke of perfect health, and shone with that same pale, effulgent gl

d his eyes had turned once more to the aunt, some irresistible power swept them back to the young woman's face. The more he observed her the more he was puzzled by that peculiar e

ermined effort to re

the girl with ardent glances under which she thrilled, a

ess at last, turning to the American for a second time. "Martel

gno, lightly. "We hav

ess," the aunt explained. "But we know him to be jes

retend to look back in horror? It is the only past he will ever have, so why spoil it for him? On the contrary, I am pr

Count with an air of i

shall begin for him

ly declares that I

the laughter at this, a

et you then,

marriage would end our friendship, arguing that suprem

question the certain

spoke u

ink it will make us selfish. It seems to me that such-love

lashes swept her cheeks, but no flush of embarrassment followed. Norvin real

riend under such conditions," he told her, "for he covers his chagrin at

d him with a most disturbing self-consciousness. He was relieved when the Donna Teresa engaged him in conversation

ia? The authorities will not admit poor P

ed the Donna Teres

said. "He is at least safe, for the time being. Here is somet

out

kill Paolo," said the Co

ty, Kentucky. You talk of murders and outlaws as we discuss the cotto

accustomed to them in time. It has been so ever since I was a child-we do not seem to

tly, and yet the law holds him in prison. It is necessary, of course, to be severe with robbers like this Galli and his brother-in-la

her?" exclaimed Mar

rry the man was killed,

oubtless f

the vendetta?" Norv

is full of tricks. Ther

the poor, justi

sa," cried the s

yings. He has lived a life!

rtel declared. "I fear his advent

ckoning from your enem

ghe

dinarily obliged to kill people in order to protect our property, and wives don't go about thre

be so peaceful for old pe

, to be sure, like yo

rd

e," said the girl.

rtel, Blake said no more, and the tal

r constant motion, could not long remain inactive, and now, having pour

fireworks from Messina. Norvin will remain here while Ricardo and I complete the arrangements. I tell you it will be a celebration to a

y. "He is like a child; he cannot remain seated. He co

festa?" Blake obse

works. Oh, it will be a celebrazione. My cousins from Messina will be here, the bishop, many fine people. I-I am more excited than Martel. I can scarcely wait." The girl's face mirrored her emotion and her eyes were as deep as the sea. She seemed for the moment very far away, uplifted in contemplation of the great change so soon to occur in her life, and Norvin began to suspect her o

You have some

himself wit

so different fro

more agreeable; I like you immensely, and

inted; it was as if they had known each other for a lifetime. He never ceased marveling at her beauty and his ears grew ever more eager for her voice. Martel

ave early, but they were scarcely out of hearing before Martel drew his horse in

ther of mine! You know

ay? The truth, bet

him with an o

say-except that she-she is like a golden flame. Sh

ed with keenest contentm

p at once, for he was troubled by a growing fear