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
