An Italian Count.

" Oh , twenty-nine is not old for a man , but twenty-seven for a woman ! Deal me , Mrs . Regis has on a new wig , audoh , Jack !" He looked round at her startled cry . She hung almost a dead weight on his arm , and seemed to breathe with difficulty . " What shall I do ? Where shall I take

you ? ' he asked quickly . " Some seat , Jack . I never fainted in my life , and "—giving a little gasp— " I won ' t now ! There , I ' m better—only T should like to sit down . " He led her into a little side-room , quite empty . " Only not to see him ! Oh !"—she

averted her face . Was Jack jealous ? There was a sort of fierce feeling toward the unknown him . " Come closer , Jack ; let me whisper—that horrible brigand —• the chief of them all—he was talking with Nelly De Mot . Good Heavens ! what does it mean ? I am not mistaken—it

was he " Talking with Miss De Mott ! Why , Miss Louwin , that was Fanny ' s count Good heavens ! and you are sure ? " " Let me have only a moment ' s speech with him—nay , only let me meet him face to face . I will not flinch but you'll

; see he will . Why , of course , it is he ; double eyelid , cleft chin , and all . Oh , Jack ! dear Jack ! Fanny is saved to you , after all . "

Jack bit his lip . " We won ' t talk of Fanny , " he said , dubiously , his pulse fluttering , his heart beating , with a new , strange sensation , as violent as it was for the moment entrancing . " But about this count "

" Count ! " she said , with sarcastic emphasis . "Yes ; he may be a count , but I know him for one of the most terrible of the Italian banditti . Rich , is he ? Yes ; I shouldn' wonder . He has plundered enough to be the possessor of millions . Count , indeed ! ' Won ' t Fanny be ashamed of

herself now ? No doubt her heart is as much yours as ever ; she was only taken b y the title . I ' m so glad for you ! " "Thank you , Miss Louwin , " said Jack stiffl y ; « oniy auow me to a ( 1 ( j thafc you natter me b y the acuteness of your penetration . " V She looked at him with wider opened eyes , then her glance fell , and a quick

crimson overspread her cheeks . She had read something in the eyes that looked in hers . She was startled , astonished , overwhelmed , unmasked . She had made him her idol all along , and didn ' t know it till that moment revealed the knowledge to

her . " You were my little sweetheart once , " Jack murmured , in accents almost inaudible , " but , by heaven ! I never knew what love was— "bill to-night . " "Oh Jack—and Fanny . "

" Fanny may—find another count , " he said with vehemence . * She has proved herself selfish and soulless , and the man who wins her may wear her , and welcome . She is shut out of my heart for ever—and , Bessy" he added "you are shut in . May

, I keep you there ?" She looked up with swimming eyes and quivering lip . It was a peculiar sacred moment to her , having just discovered where her own heart had been all these

years . " Oh , Jack , if you had married Fanny , I should never have known—but now , now ! No , no ! I could ' nt spare you to Fanny now . " " ITien we will go together and see his banditship" said Jack , passing her arm

, through his . " I am curious to know what he will do first . " The count has just brought an ice for Miss Fanny , and was making his way toward her with great dexterity , when his eyes fell upon Miss Louwiuwhose

re-, mark , addressed in his own language to Jack , had arrested his attention . At si ght of her he started , his hand described a rotary motion , and a part of the cream fell on his scrupulously smooth and delicate shirt-front . He stepped back a paceas

, well as he could , and seemed endeavouring to hide his agitation . "Signer , we have met before , " said Miss Louwin , fastening her eyes upon him . "You were then in the character of a host who compels his guests . I hope

you left your comrades well . " The man turned white to his very lips . There was clearly no escape for him , as he had recognised the woman who had been his prisoner . He did , however , make a showy denial , but it was too late . "You evidently mistake me for some one else , " he said , with recovered dignity ,