Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-03-12

there was nothing for her TO do In the
world but 10 die of his cruelty.
He did not known how to answer her
He reproached himself now for the mis-.
take into which he saw he had led her,
and as he looked down on this exquisite
woman keeling before him In such utter
shame and selfabsndonment for mo-
mcnt nc asked himself II IL would be Inn
possible to return, In some measure, the
love she had betrayed for him.
And yet IL was relief to be prevented
from answering, to hear quick footsteps
approaching, coming nearer and nearer
so near now that Giulia was forced to ac-
knowledge their presence, and to rise TO
her feet.
AS she arose che face the garden, inter
posing herself between Stretton and the
front of the verandsh. She saw several
persons coming up from the water terrace
and something irresistible seemed to fssci
nate her eyes on their movements. She
saw one small, slight figure sign to the
rest to stop and then turn round hastily
toward the villa.
The light was fading every Instant but
as this fiSure--a woman-reached the foot
of the steps, her face was raised toward
the verandah and Giulia recognized 1t.
round desperately, as we do in danger for
| a weapon to rid us of something whose
presence we fear; then she swiftly passed
Gilbert and was out of the Sdld before he
had aroused from the surprise her
strange change of manner had caused him.
But when he reused, II was not to think
of Giulis. He heard his name called in a
voice that quivered through him with a
joyful terror, for 1t was Lilian's and then,
when she had called his name twice or
thrice, so as to assure him of her presence,
Iilian's arms were round his neck, Lilian's
lips.were pressed to his, and he held her
no impalpable vision of his imagination,
but warm with love and hope and thrilling
with happiness-a real Lillian in his arms!
1t took some time to make Gilbert under
stand the fraud that had been practiced,
for Lillian was too full of happiness to
vouchssfe any coherent explanation OF her
sudden appearance f; but little by little, and
with the assistance of the friends who had
accompanied her, he learned all. How
Just week ago, on the very day when
Lillian had at length resolved to make her
request to be received as a probationer to
the Superior of the Milanese convent, she
had been summoned to the parlor to sec
visitors. These were two English ladies,
her aunt and her cousin, who had recog
nized her at vespers In the convent chapel
on the previous evening. From them
Lillian learned the story of her own sup
posed death, and, to her unspeakable
amazement, read her husbands reply tc
her aunts letter of coincidence, dated q
| full week after that of the Marchesa an
nouncing his tragical fate.
Fortunately, her aunt was a clever, en-
! nd I,a af c1Ionant al
the Marchesa, and decided on seeking
Mr.. Stretton at the Villa Burcano.
1t was difficult to convince Lillian of hel
friends treachery. On the morning wheI
the Marchesa returned to the villa, af
ter destroying Mr.. Stretton's letter, sht
told his wife that he had sent news by {
spy that he had joined the Garibaldians
and when Lillian asked to see the messen
ger, Giulia told her the man dared not en-
ter the grounds, as he was liable to be al
rested, being a known patriot.
At first Mrs. Stretton had been inCredu
lous; but whole day passed away with
out news from her husband, and she grey
anxious Giulia told her that If she pei
sisted in remaining at the villa, her hu'
band would certainly attempt to join he
there, and would as certainly be arreste
aud shot; the only chance OF escape both fC
her and for Mr. Stretton was to go ava
quietly northwards and await the al
proach of the Garibaldians on their wa
to Rome. Meantime the Marches
would try to find peasant who shoul
carry Lilian's letter to her husband in tn
rebel camp Lillian had yielded again
her better judgment to the strong wi
and adroit management of her friend.
Giulia dismissed her secretly with
guide, who had private instructions t
convey Mrs. Stretton to Milan instead {
taking her towards Rome; and the MAJ
chesa and Francesca spread the alarT
of fever, and frightened the ignoral
Italian household into flight. Then, SUI
rounded by her own dependents, 1t wa
! easy for Giulia to carry out the plan OF
mock funeral and burial.
81 will never have likes or dislikes thI
f you don't approve, darling; perhaps"
. the sweet brown eyes sparkled mirthful
for an instant" If had been day j
+ ter, Gilbert, l might have lost my hu
. band as we'll as my friend"
. "God forbidp Gilbert Stretton shu
{ dered, even while he held his wife clos
/ to his heart, at the thought of the beau'
/ full fiend from whom he had escaped.
| The Marchesa never reappeared
: Naples; she sold her place, dismissed h
servants, and went away, it was said, to
= grim castle among the Apenines, whe
her fathers brother lived in solitu
h more suited to q monk than q noblema
Temple Bar.