Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/236

 ONCE A WEEK.

'2^

ami her remarkable beauty attracting the heart became of tli. &rquu of Bonaglieri, she I

ana of gratifying

i

which her birth had imbat in which poverty had fornce. Possibly the more menta of her nature were not

and personal possescertain that on attaining so high utellectual

}>ut it is

.



ion she devoted herself to

pleasure more freely, perhaps, husband might have sanctioned. But that which was the staple of conversation he city was not likely to be canin the vassed in the Palazzo Bonaglieri, and therelection of the Marquis remained

her

I

i

unaltered. avail herself of the

me

did

iarchioness frequently

honour to

the

church to which

most frequently alone, I was ldom leaving without company. therefore but slightly surprised when, as I rose my seat in the confessional, on the evenattached, coming

ing

the

of

first

day of the

carnival,

my

being always extraordinarily numerthese times, I heard her voice near the


 * its

"

'

The Via dei Bardi

is

so far.'

"The

import of these words was not very obscure, but it did not interest me. My hand the lock, when, to my inexpressible asI recognised the voice of Giuseppe,


 * i

sent,

[Fbb. 20, 1S64.

market delinquencies, when two

figures that I

instantly recognised passed before the choir. Leaving my penitent astounded at the severity of the penance which I imposed upon him, I reached the porch in time to hear the address that Vetrano gave to the driver of a hackney I

coach.

remember

it

It

perfectly.

was No.

The next day, meeting the young painter alone on the same spot, I presumed on the privilege of my profession to make inquiries respecting the mysterious lady in whose society I had twice observed him. To my surprise, knowing the timidity of his nature, and prepared as I was for blushes and confusion, he became deadly pale, and darting 1236, Via della Scala.

a look of defiance at me, hurried away without a word. " Two months after this, I was one day crossing the Piazza near the Campanile, when

boy follow me for some distance, now and then doubtfully into my face. At length he asked my name, and on my telling him, said I was indeed the holy father Sign or Vetrano had sent him in search of the Signor desired most urgently to see me would I come ? Of course I expressed my willingness to do so, and followed my guide to the Via della Scala, No. 1236. The shutters of the house were half closed, a restless crowd filled the street, and the shop was thronged. The landlord, a tailor, rushed to me eagerly, and exclaimed " The saints be the poor young praised I observed a

glancing every







'

"

instantly. '

The place

is

!

as nothing,' he

said,

ear-

'

say only that you will come, and I the distance shall not trouble you.'



_je

rot there ?'

signor I ' '

still

asks for you.'

was strangely

agitated. I asked, fearfully.

" What is the matter " He is dying.' '

asked the Marchioness.

V

'

"I

took a few steps further from me. spoke next, and I caught her

"They.

difficulty. I

willconie.'

"'Truly

inquired no more, but hurried up the and on entering my poor young friend's room, I found that the landlord had but spoken too truly. Giuseppe's hours were numbered. He seemed to have aged at least twenty years since I had last seen him, and though he tried stairs,

as I opened the door, the effort was a sad one. The doctor stood at the bed-side, and I addressed myself to him in a

to smile

lit

I

'

find

you ? to-morrow at please you?'

•ill

this

time

—

whisper.

" 'What is it?' I asked. " A bad sword-wound.' " 'Mortal V " ' I will not deceive you. " I At the same moment sighed deeply.

then.'

'

'•r.'

The Marchioness .

and

left leisurely

by the

Giuseppe opened his eyes, and beckoning the e

followed

kly.

surgeon nearer to him, murmured feebly " ' You can hide nothing from me, doctor it is not your face alone that tells me there is no



it

on the

hope.

1

knew

it

from the

first



and as

my

momenta

arc precious I must not lose them. >nly business now is with Heaven and friend. thank you for your kind n<

my

<>ld

1