New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-21
novelty waars off. He had nothing but his

been generous enough to have spared hin
all that loves labor lost. Bot from the
hour first found and wore this ring l wa;
possessed by cruel spirit that took ths
shape of co9uetry. l knew it found q
wicked pleasure in it, and let it lead me or
till it ended in the death OF that poor boy
"You have only known me since thai
brief romance happened, and you never
will believe what | was during that las
month of ours in Florence l felt as if
had quite lost my old self and was ruled
by the spirit Of some woman who had lived
in other times, when power and passion
reigned, and principle was unknown. My
former tastes were changed. l loved lux
ury and sp!endor now. and scanCaliZed pa
pa by the strange, rich clothes bought
the barbaric ornaments l chose to wear, the
willful freaks that troubled and perpiexed
him, the reckless things l said ana, more
than all, the torment indicted on De Sails
by my capric;ous smiles and fr0wns.
1T was dreadful time, and yet took a
guilty pleasure in it; and l am glad lived
through it. for it has made me humber by
showing ne how. IN every human soul
there lies the possibility of sin. Not only
the faults common to all, but the subtleI
temptation that in old times broke out in
acknowledging crimes to startle all the
world.
Don't talk in that way. my darling. You
could not look more remOrsetui If you had
committed murder" ! said. awed in spite
of myself by the strange expression OF bel
face.
Il have! No, don't take your hand away
don't hate or Judge me yet! did not mean
it. never dreamed what desperate love
that poor boys was, and have never ceased
to do penance for my blindness" she cried,
nging to me as inyoluntarily recOiled a
little when those FIRST words dropped slowly
from her lips.
Go on, I will hear the whole, and then
deal out your punishment" l answered,
gently wondering the while if the Roman
fever from which she was just recovering
when l met her had left some lingering
spectre in her brain.
II will be quick; bend down and let me
finish my confession. De Sails was more
jealous than ever you were, and one of NY
Instruments of torture was this ring. l
never would tell him where got it, for not
even to papa had told my theft. l made
girlish mystery of it, and he soon forgot
it. But De Sails could not rest till he dis
covered the secret, for I told him once it
had cost one Life and might another, that
would never part with it. and he would
never know the secret it contained. He
was sure another lover gave it, and l let
him think so, for the devil that possessed
me loved to rouse the fiery spirit in him and
see it rage, we'll knowing that smile, soft
word, a single touch could subdue and
game, so perilously pleasant for a time, so
surelto end disastrously in the end
The last time that we guarreled he left
me pale with passion. and I, led still by the
cruel mood to which l yielded blind ODE
dience, did not call him back. No; l
laughed, and leaning over the balcony made
the little gesture of farewell the Italians
use. As did so with final wave of my
hand this ring slipped Off, and, bounding
tue steps, lay at his feet All l wish l
could forget his face as he caught i. up and
said. looking back with world of reproach
in his beautiful eyes, a bitter mingling of
love and scorn in his mellow voice:
This Is the first gift you ever gave me,
and it shall be thu last. Addio belle He
lena"
Il called to him, l entreated, promised,
but he would not listen nor re-
turn. aud next morning he lay dead, with
sealed letter in his hand The letter was
to me, enclosing the ring, with these few
words:
When you receive your ring again l
shall know greater secret than yours and
keep it better
DOCu SdE SiieuI lDr several moments,
Helena with her face hidden in her hands,
and rapidly recalling all the facts had
in one Of my jealous fits from GER
tain persons who had been in Florence at
the time of the tragedy. Suddenly | spoke.
But De Sails shot himself after losing
money at play"
SO the world thinks; but know that he
poisoned himself, for the ring was empty
when it came back to me. The gambling.
the wound that people wondered he died
Of, were only masks to hide the truth from
all but me- 1t was like him-so generous
and SO raeh. 1 meant to own all and pay
the penalty Of my Sin, but the shock of his
desperate death struck me down with the
foyer that held me till all was over, and l,
4 pale shadow OF my former self, far away
q Aibano alone with papa
"a word more rand l am done When |
recovered the devil had gone out of me,
md l seemed to see what evil thing
lad possessed me for time tried to tell
papa, but he forbid me to speak OF the past,
that my strange words were only
'elics of my fever. So / waited, meaning
% do it and win his pardon; but while |
waited you came. and l found it possible to
Orget even SO dark an experience as that.
Nay, must say enc thing more, and then l
will receive my sentence. l knew your
!
worthy OF you, tried to harden nv heart
.gains5 the love that would creep in.
ried to weary and disgust you with my
aprices, my GOODNESS and my gloom. But
Ou would not be repulsed, aud when, after
Or farewell in Paris, | found YOU waiting
Or me on the steamer with your heart in
our face. resolved 70 tell you all before
9t you speak. Now l am done, and now
wait my DOOM"
The moon was fortunately ebscured by |
loud just then, so no one saw the execu- |
on of the first part of Helena's sentence, |
nd when the cloud passed the folds of the |
lue cloak hid the arm that held the lovely |
llprit fast.
But, Robert, you DO not explain the |
lystery, condemn me for my wlckedness
{ hate NE for that murder I have no
ght to be so happy. and my punishment
lould be far heavier than this she whis-
cred, with soft tears on the cheeks that
aned against my shoulder.
IL insist on considering the first part all
midsummer nights dream; the second
ne of the bitter-sweet experiences that
,me to beautiful woman when youth,
,mance and love all consplre to intoxi-
tie her, as she begins to discover her own
over; and the third is mistake. De
Ais did shoot himself for gambling debt
n!cn ne coulu not pay, Tor as you say he
i'd nothing but his beauty. All Italians
e melodramatic, and he gave an air of
ystery and romance to his death by the
tier and the ring. It will hurt your feel
gs and spoil your tender little story, dear,
1T the honest truth is that De Sails was a
ercenary young rascal, and openly
pasted of the riches of the American heir
8 whom he was to marry. That heavy
,bt and your quarrel destroyed his last
lance, and in tit of despair he threw up
e game. l know this to be true, but
,ver should have told you except to save
~ from your unnecessary remorse.'
You are very kind, and l accept the
ow to my vanity as part OF the lesson l
eded. Now I will put all this behind me,
I'd remember only the faithful lover whose
Lppiness | give my life to secure