The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-03-13
srleftsa alistrlloup,
MRs. sTRETTON,s FRIEND.

You are such generous little darling
LILY, there is no getting you to see faults
IN others"
"0hl Gilbert, it is not that" She held
up her sweet mouth 60 kiss him, standing
almost ON tiptoe II find plenty Of fault
with other people-only not with Giulia
Ahl II you only knew her as | do--she is
SO loving, SO fond; but you will find cut
her goodness Ii time; you canthelp It, for
you viii let me have her here ofteni won't
you, darlingl"
But though Mrs Stretton's brown eyes
were very tender as she spoke, her hus.
band said "Yes,n against his will He
could not help II, but he had taken a great
dislike, at arst sight, to his wife's beauti-
ful friend.
He and Lillian had scarcely been mar
ried a month they had just decided to
spend some weeks longer in the charming
Neapelitan villa they now inhabited, and
only that very morning, while they still
fingered over their late breakfast, the
Marchesa di RiYeredo had been announc-
A ed, and Gilbert Stretton had seen his wife
rise impetuOusly, and throw her arms
around the lady who entered,
at is Giulia, Gilbert; my own darling
Giulia Larintp
And then Mr. Stretton remembered to
have heard of 3 SignOra Larini and her
daughter, whe had spent six years of eX-
lie in England The daughter had been
Lilian's dearest friend, and after her return
to Italy had corrssponded with her till
she married an Italian nobleman much
older than herself.
But the Marchesa was widow now
She was living on one of her estates, few
miles from Naples, and had Just learned
that Mr. and Mrs. Stretton were resid-
ing at the Villa Burcano. She had heard
of hilian's marriage, and she had come to
claim revival Of friendship.
Lillian was full Of delight she could
talk of nothing but Giulia. e.
''She is more beautiful than ever, and
her manners are perfeet so soft and yet
sometimes so full Of charming HGi0ete.
really am so happy don't know what to
de- said the young girl TO herself
Lillian had never seen Italy till now all
was new and delightful The weather had
been glorious; deep blue sky reflected
its own depth Of color into the broad ex-
panse of sea. From the verandahin which
she sat, festooned with grape and fig vines,
she could follow the windings Of the coast,
dotted with white villas, here and there
groups OF cottages clustering together, in
front Of them broWnlimbed, haleelothed
children at play.
"I thought yesterday it was impossible
to be happier when sat here with Gil
bert; and yet it seems as if Giulia' 5 return
to me had made life still brighter
Gilbert Stretton listened quietly to his
Wife's raptures; but that night after she
left him, he fingered out in the verandah,
and, while he watched the moonlight, he
asked himself what could have given him
this strong repugnanee to Lilian's friend.
She was very beautiful, tall and stately,
With the fully-developed form Of a true
Roman woman; her like head was
nnagnifcently set, and crowned win mas
siVe coils of shining black hair; her COM
plexion had that wonderful mate white
ness one seldom sees in English women,
and her eyes were marvellous, There was
thought in them, an almost regal dignity
but, overmastering these expressions,
there was depth Of passion that had at
tracted Mr.. Streiton's attention.
hate vehement women," he said to
himself, as he watched the reflection Of
the moon on the water, broken BY each
rippling wavelet "they are always rest
less and exacting; this Marchesa viii be
sure to tyrannize over sweet, gentle
creature like Lillian besides / don't want
any one to come between me and my daf-,
ling. Why do we stay here away from
England, IL it Is not to be all in all to each
other He went on smoking his cigar /;
he had given two reasons for his dislike,
but he had not given the true one. He
would have called himself co1comb for
owning it. In bis heart, Gilbert Stretton
had shrunk from the intense, unfeigned
admiration the Marchesas first glance at
him had expressed.
Weeks passed on, and still the fine hol
iday weather lasted. The Marchesa drove
over more than once week to see her
friend but although the journey was
fatiguing, she invariably refused Lilian's
invitations TO stay at the villa.
I do believe, Gilbert, il Is because you
never Join ininyiting her" Lillian said half
sadly.
And the next time she came he strug-
gled against his disinelination, and second.
ed Liiian's invitation,
Madame al RiYeredo accepted at once
very graciously, and she arrived next day
at the Villa Burcano.
In the evening the Marehesa had gone
10 her room and Stretton and his wife
were sitting In the yerandah Of the sald.
HThere IS no limit 70 happiness, see, y
said Mrs Stretton Bbetried to look very
wise as she spoke, but irresistible delight
peeped out Of her soft brown eyes. edo
You know, Gilbert, she clasped both
hands round bis arm that can hardly
contain myself when / watch you and
Giulia beginning To like each otherY You
aee now the truth Of what l have always
said about her --sheonly wants a littlelo love
and kindness, and che is ready TO give her
whole heart ia return.
But I don't want her whele heart
EMO, because you hage got q silly little
wife % love you. But think of poor
Giulia, left alone In the world do yon
know, darling, that she has not one near
relstiOn, except some old tiger Of an uncle
in the AppeninesR
she fiss your love, Lillian, and that 4
enough to content any man or woman
either
re bent doWu his head 10 hers
Neither Of them heard the window above
them Ciose; II they had heard IL, they
must have remembered that the Alarclie.
sae bedroom overlooked the same proB'
pect e their lay0Tite Verandah.
Next morning bEoneht letters.
@Don't you think letters ste very tire
some thinge aiulia7 II there Is any
thing horrible ia this world It IA the hay
ing 10 write d letter never know wha,
10 say Of how to say itn
The MarBhesa smiled she had such a
exquisite smile, 4 mixture of uielaneholg
and hgightness
You are naligning yeulasll, ss usual
dear child You must once surely have
found 4 pleasure "A answering letters 4
And she glanced slightly 81 IiilianA hua
band.
HAhl no, yoa ore quite nisbaken 4
she not GilbertY ono 81 The gree
ohsrns 81 our enlargement Wes thai Fl
aew each other % of,en There VA
uo cine for correspondence ana AZ NJ
ere never, never going TO be separated, ~
shsll probably not exchange g lovelettel
D uuf lives
6luHs smiled again bit she locked e