Dragoni's Daughter.

enthroned on her hundred isles , and standing where you daily stepped from the marble stairs into your noble sire ' s velvetlined gondola , I gazed my fill upon your face . The half had not been told me .

From that hour a wild , mad love took possession of my soul : I vowed to win you and your love , or die . I doffed my mountain garb ; I , who had always hitherto been free , ay , a king among his own people , clad myself in the attire of an humble artizanand apprenticed myself to

, the jeweller who fashioned trinkets and baubles for beauty ' s fingers ; I , whose mountain home was richer far in its hoarded gold , its massive drinking cups , its sumptuous gems , than any palace in yonder city . But enough . The rest is soon told .

1 was bidden b y my master to take a casket of jewels to the Palazzo Dragoni . They were the birthday gift from a noble count to his only daughter ; that noble count himself bade me carry them into her presence Elena , you know the rest : First ,

my wild , mad pasion , that glance that first shot from uiy eyes to yours , and fired our souls ; our midnight meetings—our mutual love . But alas ! Elena , bell' idol moi ? you do not know all . I have deceived you . I am not Pietro Baptiste , the

citizen ; I am Carlo Trevorra . the bandit captain !" in silence had Dragoni ' s daughter listened ; her very breath seemed suspended ; no word of reproach , no scream of surprise smote the air . That very silence itself was more eloquent than any uttered reproaches could have been .

" Elena , ' said Carlo Trevorra , and the lover came nearer and took her hand , " Elena , for the Virgin ' s sake , speak to me ! At least , say you forgive inc . For the past I have no excuse save my mad love ; but I am not the villainous man I seem .

At this hour , if you but wave your white hand toward yonder city , the jirow of my gondola shall be turned thither . Much as I worship , Elena , I would not force you away . Now , Elena , shall I turn again toward Venice 1 "

Dragoni ' s daughter paused ; but it was only for a moment . Perhaps it was undutiful ; but it was like a weak , yielding , loving woman , who must live in him she loves , or have no life . The grief of hei parents , her pride of birth , the scorn of all Venice , were as naught at that moment :

for , though her cheek was deadly pale , her lips wavered not as she said , in a low , firm voice : " I risked all for the citizen , and I can do no more for the bandit ; row on ?" And silently they sailed down the

Adriatic . It was a wild and gloomy cove , belted by a hedge of olives , where they landed . Drawing a small silver whistle from his belt . Carlo applied it to his lips , and at its shrill peal ten of his bravest followers

sprang from the shelter of the olive grove and stood about their chief . Ere two hours had fled , Dragoni ' s daughter , borne thither on a litter of velvet cushions by the sturdy men , gained the mountain cavern , and an aged priest , "whom the bandit chief had gained over to his purpose , performed the rites that cast her fate and fortune with her outlaw lover ' s .

CHAPTER IV . Throe years had passed away in Venice , but still no tidings from Dracmvi ' s daughter . Terrible was the woe that fell like a thunderbolt upon the old count , when late on the next morning after the carnival he

scut a page to his daughter ' s apartment , summoning her to his presence . She was not there ; and presently , pale with affright , the waiting-maid came with the sli p of folded parchment which she had found lying upon the toilet among her mistress ' s

jewels . " Some trick of my child ' s , this high carnival time , niethinks , " muttered the old count , receiving the missive from the hands of the trembling girl , who , wakened late by the page , knew not how to account

for her unwonted sleepiness ( for Elena , fearing pursuit , had mixed a slight sleeping potion in her waiting-maid ' s drink . ) " Go hence , Cattina , " said the count , " and seek thy mistress in the garden of the plaza . ' '

But when the old man ' s eyes glanced over that slip of parchment , for a moment all the fire of his patrician blood was up in his veins ; then staggering feebly to the countess' room , with a low moan he sank down . " What is it ? " exclaimed the coutessa , taking the paper from his trembling fingers , and reading like one in a dream ;