The Duchess's Revenge or The Three Warnings — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OR, THE THREE WARNINGS. Au, Stalin Story. sit was a beautiful night: the stars that semmed the heavens seemed hanging out of the sky, so clear was the atmosphere. A gentle, southerly wind stole through the tall trees, making their branches wave and tall heads bow with a pleasant rustle. But there was more music in the air than that caused by the murmuring of the wind and the rustle of leaves. The sweet tones of many well-tuned and ex- quisitely-played instruments came pouring forth from the open windows of the ducal palace of Vergellesi, whilst the sound of merry laughter might have been heard echoing from the shady groves of the garden. The palace was a tall, massive. building, built, ‘like many others in Italy, of white marble. In front of the palace ran a broad terrace, over the balustrade of which was trained beautiful creep- ing plants. Long flights of stairs led from this terrace down tothe garden beneath, wherein the most exquisite flowers grew in wild luxuriance. Beyond this were groves and dells, forming charming, secluded walks for lovers. In these bosky dells poets might have dreamed their songs, for usually all was calm and still on evening’s fall; but such was not the case on the evening on which our story commences. The darkness was banished from the ducal grounds by the twinkle of innumerable little different coloured lamps that had been tastefully placed amongst the flowers and suspended amidst the branches of the trees. The soft silence that generally reigned in the grove was dispelled by » the sweet: tones of music, or the still sweeter sounds of women’s voices. : In all the spacious grounds of Vergellesi mirth and laughter seemed to reign, save in one dark, secluded path which led fron the park to a small wood. From there no sounds of music or of song was heard ; no lamps relieved the gloom: now and then the night wind swept mournfully amidst the fallen leaves, and then died away in a gentle sich, leaying the stillness more intense than before. bitterness P—I—I who am-—— But even this secluded spot could not escape visitors on such a night of festivity, although to the usual light-hearted guests its stillness offered but little temptation ; yet to one person they seemed to have a peculiar charm. | This was a young man of about five-and- twenty, tall and well-made. His hair, unlike most Italians, was of that rich, golden colour for which the Saxon race is noted; his com- plexion fair as a woman’s; his eyes a deep violet blué, speaking at once of deep but unsteady passion; a light moustache hung over his small and effeminate mouth, whose parted lips just showed a row of small and wonderfully white teeth. He was clothed in the richest apparel of silks and velvet; rare jéWels sparkled on his breast, fingers, and sword hilt, whilst a splendid aigrette of diamonds held the feathers in his cap. As he entered the lane his head was bent upon his breast, and his hands clasped as if he were in the deepest anguish. Now and then he would cast his eyes upwards toward heaven, then, uttering a sigh of the deepest despair, would turn his glances once more towards the east. At length, throwing himself on a mossy bank, he burst forth in a passionate complaint against his misfortunes. oat “Miserable wretch that [am!’? he commenced: “‘what have I done that I should lose my only hope on earth? People call me happy, fortunate —I who am the most wretched creature in the world! What have I done that fate should thus crossme? Why am i doomed to lead a life of 33 “The Duke di Vergellesi! ’’ said a deep voice ; and standing up the duke beheld a tall, dark man standing close by his side. The intruder was a handsome man of about forty-five. His figure showed considerable strength, whilst his graceful movements proved that he was well accustomed to manly and ath- letic sports. In spite of all these advantages, there was a peculiar, sinister look in his face that would have repelled a close observer of human nature. ; 200k Ane ee (Ele) mee, THE DUCHESS’S REVENGE,