The Heir of Mondolfo Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ludovico were riding together,
when the Prince said:
    "Tomorrow, early, my son, you must go to Naples. It is time
that you should show yourself there as my heir, and the best
representative of a princely house. The sooner you do this the
quicker will arrive the period for which, no doubt, you long, when
the unknown Princess Mondolfo will be acknowledged by all. I cannot
accompany you. In fact, circumstances which you may guess make me
desire that you should appear at first without me. You will be
distinguished by your sovereign, courted by all, and you will
remember your promise as the best means of accomplishing your
object. In a very few days I will join you."
    Ludovico readily assented to this arrangement, and went the same
evening to take leave of Viola. She was seated beneath the laurel
tree where first they had made their mutual vows; her child was in
her arms, gazing with wonder and laughter on the light of the
flies. Two years had passed. It was summer again, and as the beams
from their eyes met and mingled each drank in the joyous certainty
that they were still as dear to one another as when he, weeping
from intense emotion, sat under that tree. He told her of his visit
to Naples which his father had settled for him, and a cloud passed
over her countenance, but she dismissed it. She would not fear; yet
again and again a thrilling sense of coming evil made her heart
beat, and each time was resisted with greater difficulty. As night
came on, she carried the sleeping child into the cottage, and
placed him on his bed, and then walked up and down the pathway of
the forest with Ludovico until the moment of his departure should
arrive, for the heat of the weather rendered it necessary that he
should travel by night. Again the fear of danger crossed her, and
again she with a smile shook off the thought; but, when he turned
to give her his parting embrace, it returned with full force on
her. Weeping bitterly, she clung to him, and entreated him not to
go. Startled by her earnestness, he eagerly sought an explanation,
but the only explanation she could give excited a gentle smile as
he caressed and bade her to be calm; and then, pointing to the
crescent moon that gleamed through the trees and checkered the
ground with their moving shades, he told her he would be with her
ere its full, and with one more embrace left her weeping. And thus
it is a strange prophecy often creeps about, and the spirit of
Cassandra inhabits many a hapless human heart, and utters from many
lips unheeded forebodings of evils that are to be: the hearers heed
them not--the speaker hardly gives them credit--the evil comes
which, if it could have been avoided, no Cassandra could have
foretold, for if that spirit were not a sure harbinger so would it
not exist; nor would these half revealings have place if the to
come did not fulfill and make out the sketch.
    Viola beheld him depart with hopeless sorrow, and then turned to
console herself beside the couch of her child. Yet, gazing on him,
her fears came thicker; and in a transport of terror she rushed
from the cottage, ran along the pathway, calling on Ludovico's
name, and sometimes listening if she might hear the tread of his
horse, and then again shrieking aloud for him to return.
    But he was far out of hearing, and she returned again to her
cot, and, lying down beside her child, clasping his little hand in
hers, at length slept peacefully.
    Her sleep was light and short. She arose before the sun, and
hardly had he begun to cast long shadows on the ground when,
attiring herself in her veil, she was about to go with the infant
to the neighboring chapel of Santa Chiara, when she heard the
trampling of horses come up the pathway; her heart beat quick, and
still quicker when she saw a stranger enter the cottage. His form
was commanding, and age, which had grizzled his hair, had not
tempered the fire of his eye nor marred the majesty of his
carriage; but every lineament was impressed by pride and even
cruelty.