The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-04

pass by, heard suddenly door or window closed
hurredly. | turned round and found myself face
to face with person unknown
| :" What say you ~
At sight of me he suddenly paused-made a
movement as if to speak, then appeared to change
his mind, turned his back upon me, and disap-
| pared
Did you see his features %
g As plainly as ] see yours; it was a beautiful
moonlight night
g You think, then, that you would be able to re-
| cognize him %
8 have already done 500
g This morning l encountered him among the
bathers''
" Do you know his name 90
He is called Marano."
| The count rose quickly from his seat
All you sure that he came out of the pavilion?''
| exclaimed he
s cannot affirm it, but it appeared to me so.''
And it was exactly at the bottom of the garden
near TO the Poplars, that you met him O.
Under the windows of the Marehioness of AL
canzo.''
Alferi became pale; his lips quivered convul-
slvely but he soon controlled his emotion and re-
seated himself
:. You see that have not lost my time,' said
Celini; who, wholly absorbed by his recital, had
not observed the trouble of the Count. 8 am upon
the track of an amOrous in,br0ghO, which will fur
nish me with some excellent scenes. had noticed
this Mariana before account of his supreme ug-
Illness he has somewhat the air of bad thief. In
seeing him follow the MarchiOness eVerVVyb here who
seemed unable to endure him. thought at first
that he was her husband but have been unde-
ceiVed this IS a mystery which you must aid me in
enlghtening.'
There was indeed mystery in the matter; but
It was not OF the transactions of this day alone that
the Count sought to explain CeIini was far from
suspectlng the deep interest which the Count had
In the affair, and how much anguish his recital had
caused him. 1t was nearly three months since the
Narchioness of AlcanzO had arrived at Alamo, sick
and alone. Alfier had then fled from her presence
and allowed opportunity to escape him of testify
ing to her that he wished to avoid her but the
young widow seemed to be resolved to destroy
these prejudices against her, of the motives of
which she was Ignorant. In process of time the
GOODNESS of the Count gave place to friendly po-
likeness, to which succeeded an intimacy which
became daily more and more familiar. It was the
first time that he had found the graces of woman
ennobled by an intelligence of which she herself
seemed perfectly and unaffeetedly unconscious.
Pleasant relations were those established between
the marehioness and him. He began very soon to
experience that she entering into his existence,
and was becoming the most precious part of it. He
was just on the eve of telling her so, when Mar
lano arrived. At sight of him Blanca appeared to
be troubled she welcomed him with a fear which
she endeavored to disguise there took place be-
tween them mute combat from which she retired
vanquished and submissive. From that time Al
ieri perceived that she avoided him. One would
nave SdlQ b1db LIllS mariana exercised over her
Jealous control to which she unWillinglV submitted
herself What were the rights of this man Alfieri
knew not If he was the lover of the Marchioness,
why did she seem to be afraid of him The Count
had in vain asked her some questions on the sub
ject; she refused all explanation. During the ff-
teen days that Mariana had been at Alamo, moth
ing had been revealed Of his position in regard
Blanca The recital OfCelini therefore first ap
peared to remove all his doubts, but by blasting the
character of the young widow the Count, however,
only entertained the idea for moment His heart
VOTED at the idea OF an injurious suppOslon, and he
preferred rather not to comprehend the mystery than
to suspect her. And yet heart-rending anxiety |
remained to him believe in the purity of the be-
loved object Is not sufficient; it is necessary that
the mind should never reason upon the matter |
Then who was this Marliano? What was to be |
hoped or dreaded from him A first examination
o, him revealed only ofthose vulgar idlers pass
ing their lives in the frivotes and disorders of the
world ; but when he examined him more attentive |
ly, he detected beneath this common interior vio-
lent obstinacy; he evidently of mediocre in
telligence, and there want of genuine nobility
Of mind about hm-but he had most tenacious |
will. Alfer had in vain attempted to sound deeper
this obscure soul but the Geonese hah wrapped |
himself in kind of icy polileness, which arrested
his endeavOrs. The Warehouses, also, rarely per-
mtted any conversation TO take place between |
them, and that which did take place, she had suf- |
fcentaddress soon TO interrupt Things were in |
this condition, when one day, entering the garden |
usudls the GOullL GAME SuQQ6llY upon
the young widow, sitting beneath some elm trees.
1t was the first time since the arrival of Mariana
that he had found her alone, and Ne resolved to |
profit by it. On seeing him, Blanca blushed, and |
Alferi excused himself for breaking in upon her |
solitude. The conversation was at first very Ian |
gushing; but at length, after some embarrassed and
rOund-abo shiftngs of the subject the Count |
paused abruptly, and taking the hand of the Mar
chioness.
''What have you hgainst me % suddenly asked
he, +" and why do you avoid me %
The MarchiOness started
i avoid you p repeated she " what can make |
you think so 20
8. Do you imagine that am blind, Madame For |
fifteen days this is the first time that have been
able to see you and to speak to you"
The Marchioness was for a moment disconnected, |
but she soon recOected herself
Are you very sure that the fault lies with me %
asked she, smilingy; frequently people meet only
those they seek"
All, madame, you cannot doubt my earnest
ness"
Why then? know how much my arrival at |
Abano put you out at irs after some days of init
macy, you have returned to your former prejudces.
The Count blushed, and wished to defend himself.
Oh! deny it moi" continued the Warehouses, |
you have been denounced to me- know that |
the necessity of waiting for some letters, which you
expect, has been the only thing that detained you
here, and has forced you to endure my presence.
50 | know not who has informed you Of these de-
tails, SAID Alflerl, win dignhed simplicity |
g but can no more deny my faults, than conceal /
my thoughts. 1t is true, that your name at first
awoke within me the most painful emotions, which /
did not seek to conceal But if that, madame, is |
the cause of the GOODNESS which has for some days
taken the place Of your usual frendlness, you pun
ish very cruelty those preudices which your pres
ence suificed to dissipate"
g And may inquire what these prejudices were,
sir . said She
To refuse to explain them TO you would be to |
make you believe that they were of an injurious |
character; when you arrived, wished to depart /
because the sight of you awoke within me some
very painful recOllectOns.''
"What were they
"They were connected with an old school fell |
low. madam, with whom | had been brought up, /
and whom loved as people only learn to love in |
childhood for then we are joyous and Of the same |
age we were separated for long time, without
forgetting each other. knew that he lived hap
pily at Genoa mutual friends, from time to time /
brought me news of him Nearly year ago / /