National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-11-29
VALERIAN'S LAST GIFT.

My darling stepped out from the littl,
inn-Window on the wooden balcony
draped with vine leaves and heavy bunch
es ot halt-ripened grapes, which overhunl
the door OF the oS'er'id. II was u lapis,
laznli night, such as only known in Italy
Below Us lay n great water, calm as the
bay Of ccntentment whereinto our live.
had now gid-d. Stars tremhled there,
and the moon swung her fulfilled lamp
on the very edge Of the ripple that wa, II.
ed the shore. There came heavy odor
OF orange blossoms from the gardens
above Us, blent with the less rare odor OF
tobacco from the pipes OF ostlers and
wayfarers seated around the door below.
The murmur of their voices was all that
broke the silence.
Between the astoria and the lake ran
the dusty high-road, where the diligence
half an hour ago had passed, and stopped
there to change horses. But there was
not much traffic saving cart or two,
oxen drawn and laden with maize, and o
curious old vehicle, half gig, half chaise,
bearing a notary from the neighboring
town to the bedside of some village
Dives numbered in his last hours with
H.
informed me Saving for these the dust
had slept undisturbed in layers several
inches thick, upon the road. during all
the hours we had been there. And now
the night had come, an even such un-
frequent traffic would cease.
But, contrary to our expectations, as
We stood there hand-in-hand upon the
balcony, listening to a cicaa in the dusty
roadside grass and frog in the water
weeds, and the hum of the smokers
voices below us, there fell on our ears the
distant cracking OF a post-poy's whip.
with tile familiar accompaniment of ing
ling harness. \ minute more, and in the
white moonlight we saw an open travel
ing.carriage coming rapidly toward US.
There was a rush among the smokers to
the front; the position worked up his
whip to state of frenzy as he neared his
goal, and finally swung imself lightly to
the ground, as he pulled up exactly un-
der our window. The carriage was occu-
pied by two persons--a gentleman and
lady. The head of the caleche being
TIN own back, could see the mans face
very distinctly in the moonlight, which
was as clear as day, l thought re-
cognized II; so, perhaps, did my com
panion, for she drew yet closer to me,
and felt her little hand tremble in mine.
The doubt, if it was one, lasted but a
minute the lady threw back her vail;
the small black lace bonnet framed
it did not shroud-that carved ivory face
on which the moonlight flooded. God
forgive me had reasons to know It
toe well; and so had she who stood be-
side me. My poor little darling nestled
close to me like frightened dove, and
she pulled me quickly back under the
shadow of the vine-leaves. as she mur.
mnred-" Q Nalerian that woman again,
That woman heye!n
MY darling, what are you afraid of?
She can do us no harm. Depend on it,
she is not troubling her head about me-"
why does she come here2 Oh, yaler-
inn, we were SO happy!n
Hush Let us hear what they say"
Bring out the ljcre drs etraagers. We
will see who has been passing this way.n
1t was the gentleman who spoke.
Just the romantic spot for a love.sck |
couple laughed the lady; and her fine |
musical laugh fell on my ear like dis
cordant peal of bells Il should not
wonder if there was some one STAYING
here"
We saw the greasy strangers book |
handed to them by their courier, and the !
lady, by the light of the moon alone, |
turned over the pages and read the names
written there. A dear little curly head
was hidden on my breast, and a small |
voice whispered, plaintively:
NJ
won't see her. Promise me. She'll try
to take you from me, as she did before.
| shall die if you go, Valerian,"
"Never fear, df Ring. She bewtched
me once; | was ma 'hen, believe But
have not something better now While
| hold my treasure here in my arms, what
to me are all the farest women in the
world'"
"Ah you didn't think so once" she
sobbed; land l know nothing can resist
her-nothing! Even now, you cannot
take your eyes off her. All! Valerian, if
she drags yon away from me this time"
l put my hand across her mouth, and
listened with hungry eyes and ears.
" Non Dieu!" cried the lady, clasping
her hands and laughing. "Look here |
what a rencontre read this: Mons. |
laterian, joeintre Paris. dree sa femme
Only think of h's being here, l have
not seen hlm since he threatened to blow
out his brains.'
. Poor devil You treated him very
badly, Cora. Who lid he marryl"
q, some little English model, to whom
ne had been engaged for years-ever since
ne was child. / wish her Joy of him.
have you a mind to see theml Shall we |