The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-09-17
SrlrrtrN StSrB.
rnE MYsTERY on Wis. BROWN.

From the Galaxy.l
1t was my habit every morning during
the six months | spent IN Rome IN the
wears 1862 and 1863, 10 taEe q short Walk
before breakfast. Generally / went from
nv LODGINGS TO the Piazza III Spagna,
through the Via Condotu md the Corso, TO
Inc dinRv shop OF an old bookseller stu
ated in the Piazza Iii Nlontecitnrio. had
seveml reasons for going by that peculiar
place. which II IL not my purpose 10 dis-
close at present there was one reason Why
If had been perfectly free, / should have
walked through any other streets, to any
other place in Rome. Yes, l verify believe
that for certain overwhelming motives, !
sbould have preferred a daily walk through
the hateful catacombs with no other com
panion than the learned but tiresome anti
tuarian who conducts professional sight
seers through these subterraneau vaults.
Even he would have been far less,shocking
70 my sensibilities than the individual who
was always waiting for me at the corner OF
the Via Condotti and the cOrso, and who al
ways went with me- to the Old booksellers
shop.
lam not romantic, and am no particular
admirer Of q woman. If / were l should
probably nave been delighted with the great
opportunities for intrigue which were
afforded by the association thus forced up
on me. Tor my companion was q woman,
voung. pretty. well. dressed and well-brad,
except that she would persist in forcing an
mountaineering upon me which she must
have perceived was disogreeable.
l have tried many ways of avoiding her.
short Of altogether giyingupmyaccustomed
exercise. / even went 80 far as Ia intimate
In very significant language, that / prefer
red takiugmy walk without being accom-
panied by her. / could not omit II often
or defer il to another hour without incur
ring the risk of greater difficulties than any
she was likely 10 lead ms into, II finally
1 accepted my fate with resignation, aud
submitted 10 a gpdsi companlonsllp, which
was anything but pleasant.
From the hrat noticed that there was
something strange about the lady, aside
from her very singular behavior. There
were certain appearances, which to my not
inexperienced eve, indicated great emotion
al disturbance, and there was mt times an
underlined air Of WEAKNESS and sOrrOwi IN her
bearing. which would have excited my
sympathy II / had not AZ u very carly period
Of our intercourse formed strong suspicious
as TO their cause.
She always came IN her carriage, Hlight-
cd, and sending It away, babe me good
morning aud joined me; walking by my
side with her arm Ia mine, she always kept
up a continual conversation, always on one
topic, until we reached our destination,
then she entered the shop withme, and be-
coming intently engaged with the books,
left me 30 myself, TIL, her cafriuge, IN about
an hour, called for her; then with % few po-
lite words 10 myself and the old bookseller,
she stepped lightly into tue vehicle, and
was driven away, taking with her the vol
mo oh. NAV ltuW4 EFIrsIta.fl IlfAA4
books were always such as related to the
subject OF her morning conversation.
AT last the time came Tor me b. leave
Rome. As 1t approached l noticed that
her demonstrations towards mo increased
and that, moreover, there wl3 % degree or
anxiety manifested by her c]ouutenauce and
demeanor which convinced me That the de-
movement of her singular conduct waG OF
hand. AN tins tended 10 rouse my curlos-
ity. There was a mystery connected with
myself that / was anxious TO conceal, and
10 do which had required my strongest
efforts, This had prevented ne from
taking any interest in the aifiirs OF NY ma
tutinal companion; but the peraistency and
determination which had characterized her
actions at length began to impress me, and
80 on the morning before ] left Rome,
when, with "A hesitating manner, ~ II not
sure Of doing right, but as If irresistibly
impelled, she invited me 10 dine with her
that day. ! accepted, not only with great
promptness, but really with II good deal OF
pleasure.
Perhaps some Of the wiseacres who read
this fragment may think me a fool, or at
any rate deficient in ordinary force Of char-
acter, TO allow myself TO be prosecuted by q
woman whose attentions / might readily
have shaken of by calling the nearest
policeman. They are Mt perfect liberty 70
think what they please. 1 have long since
passed that point Of my existence when ]
cared for the opinions Of mankind. shall,
therefore, make the explanation Of my
course. / will however, say that / was
never regarded by those who knew me as
being lacking in sense or strength OF mind
On the contrary, | was, and am, II man o
strong will, accustomed 10 have my owl
way, and perhaps somewhat inclined 10 b.
tyrannical. | thoroughly detested that wO
man, andn l could have kept her AVA
from me / should not have hesitated TO OK
ert my power, or nave been very scrupulou
AZ to the means. Suffice il 10 say, there
fore hat | could not free myself from her
and that / was obliged TO treat her with
certain amount Of consideration.
Az the hour approached for dining wit
herI began forming suTmises as to WIN
lAlkAl oNtuls# 1 uil NOW hlbWu utI hlhu
four months. had met her first at tn
old booksellers, and observing that sh
was in search of a rare treatise of which
had heard, had offered her my assistance
TWAS a difficult undertaking TO attempt I
find anything there, and the old ptoprietc
himself having lost the RIM Of his book
and being feeble with age, was unable I
give much aid, Practice had rendered N
perfect in such work, and in a moment
thoughtless polteness | had offered u
services. Az she turned toward me an
thankfully accepted them, | had a goo
view Of her e0untenance, which the darl
ness of the dingy room had hitherto pre-
vented me obtaining. Isaw that she wa
very beautiful and young -about twenty,
suppose. Al first / took her to be English
but she had a delicaey and refnment G
features and expression which are YER
rarely seen 10 women Of that nation, and
very soon made up my mind she was a
American. Her hands and feet were fault
less. ltook special pains 10 satisfy mysel
IN regard 10 them, and though the frs
were gloyed, and the latter as much as DOS
sible concealed by thick boots, / knew the,
were more perfect than any ideals forme,
by the sculptor's chisel.
AS / have said, / was no particular ad
mirer of women. 1 had had ample oppor
tunities for becoming thoroughly acequaint