Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-07-11
SEC, SaE Vol. II, No. Al.

"If you will accept them, the seats 0
my friends and myself are at your ser
vice." l said.
"But you will have to walk back t.
Rome"
"That is trifie," 1 replied.
"The distance must be four or fiv
miles. But for my aunt l could no
think of accepting" She hesitated
81 suppose there is no other alternative
How can we ever repay you?" Sh,
gave me her hand in parting, smilin!
bewitchingly.
The long miles back to the Lateral
gate seemed but a few steps, l was 81
intoxicated with happiness.
Intoxicated with happiness and will
dreams that L soon found to be, alas
hopeless ones. For, calling the mex
day at the Palazza Goldona, the frs
person l saw in the saloon was Prime,
Borgia, to whom Miss Vonberg intro
duced me. He had heard of the even
of the day before, and he scowled at m,
as if had interfered with him. Mis-!
Vonberg herself was ill at ease. Sh,
watched the Prince so anxiously, tina
in little while rose to go.
l think never was so angry. Mis-
Vonberg was evidently engaged to thu
Prince, and, moreover, was afraid o.
him. She was as different in his pres
ence from the bright, frank, enthusias
tic girl of the Campagna as it was pos.
sible to be. ''Another sacrifice to rank
L said, wrathfully. 'What fools oul
American girls make of themselvesp
You see, 1 had gone there expecting 6
warm welcome, dreaming impossible
dreams and this was my revenge.
Now came days and weeks of intoler.
able misery. Angry as L was, I could
not get rid of Miss Vonberg's image
Her bIushing, eager face, as she thank
ed me on the Campagna, was rising uI
before me constantly; and at every re-
currence of that seductive vision wa:
more madly in love than ever. More
this: Whenever 1 happened to find heI
alone, she was graciousness itself, nat
ural, frank, sympathetic and charming
beyond words, But if the Prince hap
pened to come in, she froze toward me
at once. Was she flirt? Everything
contradicted this idea. No, she was
pledged to the Prince and was afraid OF
awakening his jealousy. Yet l loved
her in spite of all.
The reader will say it was insanity
Perhaps it was. Perhaps all love al
first sight is. Again and again had ]
laughed at such a passion; had called
it boyish; and said it was impossible
for man of sense; yet here l was, at
eight and twenty, as much a slave to
love at first sight as the veriest lad OF
seventeen. Night and day 4 thought
only of Miss Vonberg. 1 haunted ey-
cry place thought l might meet her
the Pincian Hills, the Bergeese Gar
dens, the Vile Pamphelia, the opera,
the Corso. Her sweet low voice, her
enchanting smile, her divine face and
figure were always in vision before me.
At last came crisis. The Princes
originally cold hauteur deepened into
almost surly insolence. Once or twice
Miss Vonberg, l thought, feared an ex-
plosion. shall never forget the i'm
ploring look she gave me at a ball,
when the Prince, finding me at her
side, quite forgot that he was gentle
man. That look was the last drop in
my cup of bitterness.
She is grateful to me for that day on
the Campagna," said to myself, "and
has not the heart to refuse me an occa-
sional dance; but she throws me on my
mercy; she begs me, by her looks, not
to incense the Prince. Why do stay
here to complicate matters? cannot
trust myself much longer, if the Prince
continues to be so rude; there will be
an affray and a scandal, for her name
will be dragged into public gossip. Had
1 not better leave Rome and so relieve
her from anxiety?" .
1 lay awake all night revolving this
sacrifice, and fell asleep in the early
having resolved upon it.
There was train at midnight by way
of Civita Vecchia-I would take that,
and put the Atlantic, as soon as might
be, between me and my hopeless love.
Gone last glimpse" said, "is all 1
ask, l cannot even trust myself to fare
well. Mrs. Townsend told me they
were going to concert at the Barber
mi palace this evening. am not asked
there, but 1 will go to the Golden, about
the time they will return, to catch, un-
seen, look at her as she descends from
the carriage" -
The Palazza Goldona is one of the
smallest of its rank, and has not even
a courtyard. 1t is situated on side
street that runs at right angles with the
Corso. Up and down this narrow street
1 paced between 10 and II O'Clock that
night. Once or twice l fancied that
another cloaked figure was engaged on
the same errand; as once or twice be-
fore when watching for light in Miss
Vonberg's window l had also fancied l
was not alone. At last the rumble of
wheels was heard, and l
had just time to conceal myself behind
one of the huge columns that flanked
the portal when the coach came rattling
up, In another moment Mrs. Town
send, followed by Miss Vonberg, had
descended; the great entrance swung
wide open, and the elderly lady disap-
peared under the glowing archway.
But her companion paused for mo-
ment, and looked up and down the street
as if expecting some one. Had the
Prince promised to follow them home?
Or had he been prevented from attend
ing the concert; and did she hope that,
even at that late hour, he would pay
her visit? As she stood there, her
rounded white shoulders CLEANED, like
Parian marble, in the doorway, never
had she looked more dazzlingly beauti-
ful. ....
A jealous pang shot through me. 1t
was only for moment, however, that
she waited. After hasty glance up