Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-08-26

lips. "Well, Alice, the end was,
/ resolved to leave for Rome the
next day.
81 was determined, though, TO see
Nina once more, to say goodbye,
and with that object in view / rode
to the Villa de Salla.
~ saw her, and at last rose to say
farewell, after telling her that l had
come for the sole purpose of doing
SO. Poor child. she tried hard to
keep back her tears and appear
womanly and dignified. / saw from
her manners that she cared q little
for mellow much | did not then
know-but, relying upon the assur-
ance Of the Duke that she was be-
trothed to his son, honor kept me
silent. Her agitation nearly broke
my resolve, but ] succeeded in com
handing myself, and at last babe
her farewell.
81 went to Rome the next day, and
tried to cure my hopeless passion by
an interest in artist life.
"l'wo weeks from my arrival
there, read an extract from Flor
ence paper, stating that the Duke de
Salla had died suddenly at his Villa,
and his beautiful ward would retire
to a convent until the period Of her
mourning expired, when she would
spouse the new Duke de Salla. ]
cannot tell you, Alice, how l felt on
reading that paper. | almost re-
solved to leave Immediately for
home. One week more passed, and
] heard nothing further. During the
close Of sultry afternoon | sought a
solitary thinking-spot in the vast
gardens which surround the Villa
Coiona. | had been reading, and
must have fallen asleep, for l was
suddenly aroused by the sound Of
voices in thiCket close besides me
one loud and COMMUNICATIVE 9TH
cr soft and pleading, and so low that
| could not understand the words.
The tones Of the male voice seemed
familiar, rs it angrily spoke; Il tell
you there is no alternative; you shall
wed me, or you shall enter convent
for life. a young lady of your posi-
ton must see the necessity OF what
urge. Ii is vain to suppose that the
young American whowas prcsuming
enough to seek your friendship will
dare offer you his hand.
81 think | must have felt an intui-
tive impression Of who the persons
were, cor ~ enc moment / nni made
my way through tho labyrinth Of
cypress, and was confronting no 9th
or than tho Duke de SaIIa and my
darling. Nina was half leaning
against q rustic seat, her checks wet
with tears, and her little white hands
claspcd in an attitude Of suppiica-
tlOn.
"Thc instant she saw me She gave
a glad cry, and, regardless Of all else,
sprang to my arms, where she lay
sObbing as If her heart would break.
"IittIc more remains to be told,
Alice. had the courage then, be-
fore the duke, TO tell her Of my love.
! learned that she had never been
betrothcd to him, but By the will of
her guardian, who had sole power
over her. She was either to marry
his son, and thereby inherit an equal
share in the immense estate Of the
De Salla, or be pennilcss. Then,
having no alternative but that Of
entering Il convent. Thcdukc 5ncer-
imgly told me that, unless She mar
ricd him, she would DC bcggar.
What cared !? | felt rich in the dis
cOvery Of Nina'5 love for me, and !
told him 50. Taking her my arm,
/ assured him that that was the
happiest day in my memory, as !
"ouid injury MN" ''i"' s''3 mum
never ~" '"H' anu ie'o"E' ~
expressed III " co0'''e'' IL before, Il"
WAC III HIS WIN wv ir'' ''''''' I>'n"
i'i'ofl'le" ii'e 'iia1 'ho '"'IF'"' H'''
was " e"''i W,,o S''''"'." " ~" "I''''
NUN i''ii'o. nv ''iise' ',''', way