Show V THE PEEP “By all the Saints” broke in the Benedict “ ’tis the fellow pupil of the fair Terese !” What tht? young mentor of the prlma donna to whom I presume I am much indebted I" asked Count Orsini “Yes the handsome cousin who the gifted peasant” the ' jj- Mar-qui- d replied s' ':i“The solution of your Or$ini” said another of the gallants “And the secret of the priina doima’s J fustic V‘c'usion” added Cariati “ Gentlemen’ said Orsini ‘fwe re-- ! lease Sir Herbert from his wqger Doubtless the affair will be repeated to the lady” “I never repeat to a lady the disgraceful conduct of libertines everr though it (t should concern herself I would not bring a blush to her cheek by a tale of liberties taken with her fair uaintk” “ Libertines !” ejaculated the gallants in surprise and rage “ Beware young nian!” “ But I would guard her person and chastise an offender at the first approach of outrage to her personally” The young Englishman had answered "the revellers without appearing to ad- dress them Seemingly he was continuing a conversation with hisnotcompanionbeheard which the gay company had cause of their our clamor yet of course tho dissipated young nobleman knewthafc the remarks off the stranger were shaped for them ‘“We are insulted gentlemen!” ex- -' claimed a passionate young noble starting to his feet “ And by two adventurers !” added an- other “Artists — fellows who live 'by their brains” said a third “ Of which that noble of Dame Fortune lias but a small portion for his inheritance” said the other young Eng- - j lap-do- g lishman “ By ” exclaimed the Bene- diet half admiringly “the fellows have As I’m a soldier : mettle to beard us thus I think the artists worthy our swords” “ Peasants — hot worthy ’a moment’s notice of these noble gallants Marquis” put in Sir Herbert with a desigu to save his iuprudent countrymen as lie conrid- o red them from the fury of the fiery - ' Italians “ Countrymen of yours Sir Herbert and if peasants exeelleut fellow pupils of the haughty Terese” “Your true plebeian is ever haughty apd arrogant if possessed of talents or favored by fortune” he replied “ The baronet is an excellent example our true plebeian” observed the of) youngest of tho Englishmen to the fellow' pupil of Terese “ l)id you address your remark to me sir”' said Sir Herbert furiously ap: ' ! proaching Ills countryman b r “My friend” answered the elder of the unknown Englishmen”' “was refer- ingrne to the family of a rich plebeian who: tricked his noble patron out of his estates but the story can be of no interest to you siri” ‘‘None in the least” replied Sir Her bert much annoyed and embarrassed “ j ijog your pardon young gentlemen for taking up a link of your story to which wo have not been sufficiently a- ttentive” “This has gone too far gentlemen” the passionate Orsini broke in “ YWaro all designedly insulted by two low born adventurers” “ Let them leave the society of noble- There are plenty ruou for their own- O’ DAY— A of the artist crew in Home” added J an- other “Yes 28 LITERARY MAGAZINE yes! Let tlieiri leave and at once” shouted the company threateningly of the primes “And if the Mow-pupdonna presumes on liis avor with the Star the Orsini will knight him' by breaking his sword across liia back” The young artist if such ho was left his seat and walking up to tha Italian noble said with flashing eyes “ Count long centuries ago when the Qrsini's held up a princely head my ancestor knighted the chief of their proud house!” “ Nameless boaster” shouted the now maddened noble drawing his rapier “defend yourself!” g ' The young Englishman showed no sign of fear nor hurry’ but with provoking calmness tapping his own rapier continued “I have taken lessous from the best swordsman in Italy as well as music lessons from the illustrious Spoutani” '“Another Admiralble Crichton I” sneered the Orsini “ At your service Count” “ Perhaps it will not be wise to tempt your Skill” replied the young Italian Count still sneeringly and then he haugh- tilv added ' “As noblemen are not accus- turned to fight with adventurers it does not become an Orsini to cross u words to bear no with one whom Pome knows higher title than the fellow pupil of the prlma donna” “As you please Count I am not wonderfully desirous to claim tho honor of il -' Te-re- knighthood from youv sword nor wish unless tempted bv a mOre serious cause to run you through with mine” said the young ’Englishman witlrprovoking good nature and exquisite politeness “A braggart— a stage walker in heroics” shouted the gallants “At your service gentlemen if any of this brave company wish it stilly not myself eager for the honor Sir Herbert Blakely the story my friend was relating in which you have manifested some interest is of a certain baronet of title very modern who holds lands not his own but lent to his father — a monev-iisurThe sequel noble sir is that the heir may some day redeem them from the son of ” and the two young the pawn-broke- n Englishmen left the revellers much chagrined “By Lucifer Sir Herbert there is hidden meaniug in all this” observed Count Orsini to the baronet who was pacing the room venting his rage and mortification in muttered curses Once or twice the’Englishman wa3 about to follow the daring strangers but prudence forbade The sequel which he had in his revenge already more than half determined on was a very different one to that which his young countryman had prophesied Tn view of such a result he deemed it for wise not to make public the future to discover “By the infernal powers ! vou are right Count The young bravo bore himself as haughtily to the Orsini as though ho had been that same ancestor rating for the chief of your some insubordination whom he knighted long Xroud house centuries ago Ha ! ha ha ! you did not expect such a clear unhorsing as with that Count in your tilting-matc- h the unknown Let me sec gallants the order of the day’s tornameut — thus it runs : The herald of tho day outefs the challenge of the Orsini is proclaimed-the black knight bounds into the ring visei down-n- ame upon his warlike-chai-gergiven — the Unknown — the Orsini is unhorsed — visor of the Unknown is raised— the conqueror of the Orsini is oC his own Sovereign By upiter ! quite a romantic adventure noble friends !” Sir Herbert was evidently aiming to turn tho- sharp thrusts given by the from himself to tho young Englishman Count and he also designedly sought to enflame the fiery Italian against tho strangers but tho rhapsody of the baronet rather amused than eii raged him for he took it as a mere display of Sir Herbert to hide his own mortification at the references mado to what lie keenwas a secret chapter of ly suspected the baronet’s family history “Como do not come Sir HerbertReheal your wounds on my body his turn thrusts with a sharp sword tut no man Tut they had point for the Orsini” “ I tell you proud Count his thrusts at you Were pointed for you Unless I 'much mistake centuries ago long when the Orsinis held up a princely head his ancesfcers did knight the Chief of their proud house” “By the Pope! Sir Herbert you are dealing in offensive riddles” exclaimed the young noble in rage u The founder of the house and name of that dark haughty young stranger was long centuies ago Sir Count Grand Master of the renowned order of Ivnights of the Temple of Zion” “Then by the Temple of Zion ! if thy suspicion be not groundless Sir Herbert” exclaimed the Count “ thy countryman’s words were not those of a braggard for a chief of the Orsini house was a Knight Templar of that proud order whose Grand Master swayed his baton over even princes” “ I much mistake Count if I am not right in my surmises as to the identity of that haughty young Englishman of the prima dona— The fellow-pup' the favored lover— the successful rival — the descendant of the Grand Master that knighled your ancestor— Sir Walter Templar is no unworthy match for an Orsini either in love or knightly prowess” said Sir Herbert pursuing his object to inflame the vindictiveness of tho revengeful Italian “ Gallants we meet after the opera tonight at the palace of the Orsini Come Again to the queen of song pledge again the divine Terese noble friends” Thus tho young noble wilh an assumed lightness and indifference sought to hide from his gay companion the black demon of revenge that his soul called up by the designwho had discovered ing Englishman in his young countrymen two men whom he instinctively felt he had moat occasion to fear in a future reckoning which for twenty years he had hoped would never come As the revellers separated Count Orsini whispered to Sir Herbert Blakely that his private box at the opera house would not offend the most fastidious friend The wily Englishman understood The Italian ami as they separated his face wore a dark smile of wicked triumph - ' X (TO I3E CONTINUED) MH — V A man’s troubles are born and grow with him by habit he bc- comes able to endure them They who go out of the common track to speculate upon happiness not only have but deserve a larger share of misfortune than they who beaten keep on the track contented with being moderately happy well-kno- v r |