Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-07-11

ior my pencil case, tnln, golden one
with my name engraved ON it. coul'
not lind it anywhere. "Where had
left it?" l had quite forgotten that
had used it in the spring house ant
might have dropped it there.
| never returned to the old farm
house. The next winter l went abroat
for had competent fortune, and
wished to finish at German Universi
ty. Afterward 1 became an attache
and subsequently travelled extensively
Ten years in Europe had only made mt
love the institutions of my own coun
try the more. But before l returned tt
America went to Rome on a farewell
visit. To me, as to many others, tina
.wonderful city was the one city of tn,
world, to which to go back, again ant
again, with ever increasing affection.
The morning. after arrived walked
to st. Peters to hear, in the canon.
chapel, the music of the Plestrina
While listening to the chanting, hap
pened to glance up at one of the pri
vate galleries OH the left, and saw there
woman's face, so wrapt, so exalted
that 1Or the time she looked like one Of
Fra Angelica's angels.
1t won't do," said my friend, Char.
ley Hargrave, putting his arm into
mine, when the congregation was dis
persing' 81 saw whom you were look
ing at, but she's aboveyour reach. She:
been the belle of the season, my deal
fellow, and has had lots of earls and
counts disputing her smiles. Stop, here
she comes, and Prince Borgia is with
her, to whom they say she is engaged .
We had by this time reached the aisle
outside. As the lady passed she looked
up as if some instinct had told her she
was the subject of our conversation
For one moment our eyes met. A thrill
went through me. Never before had
known what love was, but from that
moment was hopelessly lost.
"Who is she?" / stammered, when
she and her escort had passed out OF
hearing.
"Miss Vonberg, a great heiress."
"German?"
"No, American, though of German
descent, as the name shows. The gos-
sip Of the last week, that she has finally
made her choice, must be true; for that
was Prince Borgia, as said before and
only some influential person, one of the
Pope's guards, as he is, for example
could have got a permit to that gallery.
The stately old dame with them, too,
was his mother; the other was Miss
Vonberg's chaperon, for she is an or
phan. You'd have known all this if
you had been here through the winter
as have been. Why, the young Eng
lish swells used to crowd to the table d.
hote at Miss VOnberg's hotel in the Cor
so Just to catch sight of her at dinner.
At last she had to move to private apart
ments in the Palazza Goldeno, to avoid
being stared out of countenance."
Why was it that, Notwithstanding
this friendly warning, l went back to
my hotel to think of Miss Vonberg
Was l mistaken in fancying that, in
passing, She had looked at me with evi-
dent interest? All that day her image
was before me. At night dreamed of
her; dreamed that she had made me
happy, and woke to find out my delu-
sion, and to wish l could have slept on
forever, with dreams so blissful.
But sleep would not come again. Be-
sides, l had an engagement with an old
diplomatic friend to accompany him,
his wife, and his wife's mother on a
drive out on the Campaigna. There
had been some remarkable excavations
made lately at the Scava which he
wished me to see. So dressed, break
tasted and Joined my friends.
We had finished our investigations,
and were about to reenter our barouche
when l heard shrieks and the rush of
wheels, and glancing up the road saw a
carriage approaching at full gallop. In
vain the coachman tugged at the fright
ened steeds. On, on they tore, the bar
ouche bounding from side to side be-
hind them, threatening the lives of the
two ladies who seemed to be the only
occupants of the carriage, and from one
of whom came the shrieks.
1t was but the work of an instant for
me to rush forward, seize the nigh horse,
twist the bit until it threw him against
his fellow, and stopped the carriage
with lurch that snapped the pole and
sent the coachman reeling from his seat.
In another instant my friend had come
to my aid, the traces had been cut, and
all danger was over. ..........
1 stepped to the door, hat in hand, to
assist the ladies to alight. The one
nearest me, an elderly woman, whose
shrieks had rent the air, fairly tumbled
into my arms. 1t took both my friend
and myself, she was so helpless, to car
ry her to the bank by the roadside,
where we put her down. Then leaving
my companion and the ladies of the
party to attend her, l hurried back to
the barouche.
But before l could reach it the other
occupant, springing lightly out, had
met me half way. Apparently she was
as cool and composed as if in her draw
ing room at home. As l began to apol-
ogize for my delay, she threw back her
veil and smiled, revealing the face of
Miss Vonberg.
/ felt as if walked on air.
"sHow can we thank you sufficient
ly ?" she said, in the softest, most musi-
cal of voices. az had given ourselves
up for lost, when you rushed forward
so bravely." ....
Never shall forget the emphasis on
these last words, or her looks rs she
spoke them. ''It was nothing" re-
piled, yet my heart beat high and proud.
"Nothing more than any other would
have done"
"Pardon me-" she answered, 81 do
not think SO. 1t was an even chance
that the horse would trample you to
death, and only heroes take such risks