The Secret Power

aze of colour and the sea below reflects every vivid hue as in a mirror,-when the very air breathes v

isfied,-while he, to whom unlimited means had been entrusted to carry out her wishes, wondered silently as to the real extent of her fortune, and why she should have spent so much in restoring a "palazzo" for herself alone. An occasional thought of "the only man" she had said she was "disposed" to like, teased his brain; but he was not petty-minded or jealous. He was keenly and sincerely interested in her intellectual capacity, and he knew, or t

an, who for four or five years past had wintered in Sicily with his wife, a frail little creature always on the ve

towards him over the top of the soft fea

hat is that?"

usba

sm

he most perfect environment! Though the Marchese Rivardi DID ask me to-day what was t

ing a cigarette in his slim brown fingers and h

ooked at her kindly-"Even a fairy palace and

matrimony-and there exist so many that ARE,-eminently fitted-we can surely allow a few exceptions!

yd laughed

said-"Such a charming little wom

his fragile invalid wife, "

to a sitting posture and looked round h

the dear elusive poets write about, is simply brain,-that is to say, an impulsive movement of the brain, suggesting the

Boyd, still smiling broadly-"It fou

e should be continued at all!" said Morg

l figure of a man clad in the everyday ecclesiastical g

to greet the newcomer, Morgana receiving him with a profound revere

t the view of the sea and the dying sunset. He was a very striking figure of a man-tall, and commanding in air and attitude, with a fine face which might be called almost beautiful. The features were such as one sees in classic marbles-th

sion of loveliness, have you not? Our friend

a-"Or will be when it is finished. T

Don Aloysius, tranquilly-"And nothing is ever

paled under his

she murmured-"

vardi offered him. The other guests in the loggia looked at him with int

she said-"And of cours

same! I have been telling this lady, reverend father, that maybe she will

ed round with a q

elf think about it?

ickly, "I can always fill it with friends. N

for YOU or YOUR happiness?" su

na la

ness but their own. Besides, I shall be much too busy to want company. I'm bent on a

said Don Aloysius, slowly-"And in th

h as he spoke. He went

is close to us as our very breathing! Ah!" and he sighed-"I am sorry for all the busy 'discoverers

Morgana spoke, in a very

say-and naturally you mistrust all seekers of sc

ised a depr

all science! The greatest mathematician that lives did not i

-"But la Signora Royal means that the dogma of the

d comes to every worshipper whose soul is 'in tune' with the heavenly current; that is one of your 'scientific discoveries'-and there are hundreds of others which the Church has incorporated through a mystic

eyes and noble expression, A bell rang slowly and sweetly-a call to prayer in some not far distant monastery, and the firs

of the sunset and the perfume of the flowers!-and you, Don Aloysius, talking beautiful things!-why then

us smiled

take the liberty to go on speaking I would tell yo

from all present assured him

er do-only you have an effect upon ME which is not very

Don Aloysius-Do you mind that? S

d away as she caught the Marche

s to a woman, reverend father!" she sa

tened and he laughed

ow!-as you all give me permission-let me tell you of certain people who once 'went with the time'-and decided to stop en

ther enquiringly, but wi

believed by many, that deep in the as yet unexplored depths of the deserts of Egypt-miles and miles over rolling sand-waves which once formed the bed of a vast ocean, there stands a great city whose roofs and towers are seemingly of brass,-a city barricaded and built in by walls of brass and guarded by gates of brass. Here dwells a race apart-a race of beautiful human creatures who have discovered the secret of perpetual youth and immortality on this earth. They have seen the centuries come and go,-the flight of time touches them not,-they only a

tory if true!" s

ving shut up in a city with nothing to do,

ed intently,-her e

undred years or so"-she said-"One would have test

archese Rivardi-"With youth nothing coul

listeners to the c

s the very children are 'bored' and ever looking for something new-it is j

" said Don Aloysius-"We expect-we hope! We believe

d Morgana, suddenly-"so tired that even the H

a moment

s, hardly above his breath,-but s

for a ramble among the flowers and down to the sea! Nature is

he loggia for the garden. Rivardi remained a mom

ealth, and all her gifts of intelligence she is not

ith a touch of passion in his voice,-"But who will convince her of that? She is satisfied with her b

She has made your fortune. And no doubt she expects you to stop at that a

under the quiet gaze of the

o your eyes so desolate a picture with its crumbling walls and decaying gardens beautiful in their wild desolation!-yes, I know all this!-I know how you would like to rehabilitate the ancient family and make the venerable genealogical tree sprout forth in

ows expressively with the sli

e really 'fitting' for marriage nowadays. They want somethi

oysius

And God alone will de

sband and children!" said Rivardi a trifle bitte

a gentle hand

d an entrance to a woman's soul it is love-but the woman must be capable of lovin

st words slowly a

im a quick sea

a certainty"-he said, "H

straight ahead of him with a curio

ltogether flesh and blood, but possess other untested and unproved essences mingled in their composition, of which as yet we can form no idea. We grope in utter ignorance of the greatest of mysteries-Life!-and with all our modern advancement, we are utterly unable to measure or to account for life's many and various manifestations. In the very early days of

d listened with s

h woman, Morgana Royal, is hardly a woman at al

mysterious as life itself. But come!-we might talk all night and arrive no closer to the solving of this little feminine problem! You are fortunate in your vocation of artist and

nd on the Marchese's shou

ge of the gardens overhanging the sea where for the moment Morgana stood alone, a small white figure bathed in the

thrill in it, and Giulio

father!" he said, with a touch

ius, composedly, "But only as a

nd seemed about to say something further, but checked himself,-a