An Italian Count.

written from his dictation ; and as for my brother—bah ! it was easy enough to procure a finger or two without injury to us . The cold , almost polished brutality of the man made my blood run fire , but I concealed my aversion and wrote the letter to his satisfaction .

"' Signora , said he , ' pardon me for saluting your hand ; you would rule well . ' With these words he left . " Jack thought at that moment it would be no hard task to kiss her hand , she looked so beautiful , so spirited . " On the third day we were blindfolded

, and marched for hours over the strange , rocky road . On each side of me was a brigand . Then we were seated , threatened that if we removed our bandages we should die . There was a long silence , then a loudclear whistleand presently

, , the sound of horses' hoofs . How long we sat there before the bandages were pulled from our eyes I had no means of knowing —probably from three to five hours . Of course we were ransomed and at liberty , and now you have the true story . "

Miss Louwin drew a long breath and shivered a little . ' It don't sound much in the telling , " she added , laughing nervously , " but really I can give you no idea how very dreadful it was . " " Almost equal to an Indian fight , "

said Jack . "No , not quite so bad , for sometimes the brigands are merciful . And I could account afterward for the mutilation of the poor women . A finger was actually sent to our friends , purporting to be Hod ' s—the heartless wretches !"

A servant entered bearing cards on a silver tray , and a note , which Miss Louwin asked permission to read . Looking up a moment after"An invitation from Fanny herself , " she said brightly . "Miss Regis receives on Wednesday evening . I am to bring

a cavalier . Horace is away , Jack "—and her dimbles were bewitching at that moment—" take pity on my unprotected state—be my most devoted for that one night , I am dying to wear my Paris seagreenmade by Worth himself ; and then

, you know the pleasure of escorting me We shall be the lion and lioness of the evening . Isn ' t that tempting ?'' Her eyes danced with mischief .

For a moment Jack wavered ; then he entered into the spirit of the thing , still wondering why he had never before admired the peculiar graces and loveliness of his old friend and former playmate . She was witty , handsome , rich and distinguished . Jack waked suddenly up to

the fact that he should enjoy himself remarkably in her company , at the same time that he should not feel compelled to pay her strictly lover-like attentions . Her story had imparted a new charm to their friendship . Jack thought of her all the

way home , and was continually making comparisons between her and his unfaithful love . She had suddenly become of new importance ; her unromantic friendship seemed strange to him in the light of this late experience . Fanny was pretty ,

but beside this woman , with her expressive eyes and her hair almost black , Fanny ' s blond beauty seemed quite insipid . He began to think of the count with complacency . He could also recall Fanny in her pale blues and pinks without internal sighs . That night he dreamed that Fanny

brought him a covered basket ; out of the basket flew a bird with a bright plumage , and lo ! when he had secured it after some trouble , it turned into pretty Miss Louwin . Punctually at half-past nine Miss Louwin entered the handsome parlours of Papa

Regis , leaning on Jack ' s arm . Her first exclamation on meeting him had been : " Jack , how well you look ! " and he longed to tell her that she was absolutely radiant in her dainty laces and delicate shades of colour .

" You don t know how proud I am of our friendship , " she said , later . " It proves that a man and a woman may be really attached to each other without any of the sentimentalities of love . " ¦

Jack shrugged his shoulders . A queer sensation travelled electrically from nerve to nerve . " Good heavens ! " he theught , " am 1 really going to be so foolish as to fall in love with an old friend 1 "

" Are you not in the least romantic , then 1 " he asked . " What a question ! Romantic ? yes . No girl in her teens can beat me at castlebuilding . Jack "—and the sweet face grew thoughtful— " I am growing old . " "Very , " said Jack demurely . "I feel aged myself . "