The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-28

me-"
'sI promise nothing" said she,
with another burst of laughter, sex
cept that will not marry Matteor'
Except that she would not marry
Matteo Only that. Not word of
hope for myself. Nothing but my
friends condemnation. 1 might get
comfort, and selfish triumph, and
some sort Of base assurance out of
that. l could. And SO, to my shame,
[ did. l grasped at the vain encour-
agement, and, fool that L was! let
her put me off again unanswered.
From that day, gave up all effort ut
self-control, and let myself drift
blindly Onto destruction.
At length things became so bad
between Mat AMI myself that il
seemed as if en- open rupture must be
at hand. We avoided each other,
scarcely exchanged dozen sentences
in day, and fell away from our old
familiar habits At this time-T
shudder to remember it!-there were
moments when I felt that I hated
him.
Thus, with the trouble deepening
and widening between us day BY day,
another month or five weeks went by;
and February came; and, with Feb
ruary, the Carnival. They s,lid in
Genoa that it was particularly dull
carnival; and so it must have been;
for, save flag or two hung out in
some of the principal streets, and
sort Of festal look about the women,
there were no special indications of
the season. 1t was, I think, the
second day, when, having been on
the line all the morning, I returned
to Genoa at dusk, and, to my sur
prise, found Mat Price on the plat
form. He came up to me, and laid
his hand on my arm.
s'You are in late," he said. sI
have been waiting for you three
quarters of an hour. Shall we dine
together to-day ?''
Impulsive as am, this evidence of
returning goodwill at once called up
my better feelings.
"With all my heart, Mat" I re-
piled; "shall we go to Gozzoli's?''
1No, no." he said, hurriedly.
t'Some quieter place-some place
where we can talk. [ have something
to say to you"
/ noticed now that he looked pale
and agitated, and an uneasy sense of
apprehension stole upon me. We de-
cided on the ''Pescatore, a little out
of the way trattoria, down near the
Molo Veccino. There, in a dingy
saloon, frequented chiefly by seamen,
and redolent of tobacco, we ordered
our simple dinner. Mat scarcely
swallowed morsel, but calling pre-
sently for bottle of Sicilian wine,
drank eagerly.
"Well, Mat" I said, as the last
dish was placed upon the table,
''what news have you?"
s'Bad.'
81 guessed that from your face"
'Bad for you-bad for me. Gia-
netta.''
"What of Gianetta?''
He passed his hand nervously
across his lips.
s'Gianetta is false-worse than
false" he said, in a hoarse voice.
"She values an honest mans heart
just as she values a flower for her
hair-wears it for day, then throws
it aside forever. She has cruelty
wronged us both"
I'm what way? Good Heavens,
speak out. p
SIN the worst way that woman
can wrong those who love her. She
has sold herself to the Marchese
Loredano.
The blood rushed to my face and
head In a burning torrent. / could
scarcely see, and dared not trust my
self to speak.
Il saw her going towards the ca
thedral, he went on, hurriedly. cit
was about three hours ago / thought
she might be going to confession, so
/ hung back and followed her AT
distance. When she got inside, how
ever, she went straight to the back Of
the pulpit, where this man was wait
ing for her. You remember him
an old man who used to haunt the
shop month or two back. Well, |
seeing how deep in conversation they
were, and how they stood close under
the pulpit with their backs towards
the church, 1 fell into passion of
anger and went straight up the aisle,
to say or do something, I |
scarcely know what, but, at all events.
to draw her arm through mine, and
take her home When [ came with
in a few feet, however, and found only