The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-03-21

resting his face in his hands, and gazing
concernedly at his companion - " You
know how madly infatuated have been
with the Countess Tutti, whose youth,
beauty and wealth have Won for her many
sultors. | have never spoken a word with
her, never received token Of recognition
from her save smiling acknowledgment
a. handed her the glove which she drop
Ped 1t the opera, two weeks since. have
deslstsd from frequenting such places ~ l
had met her at, and have striven against
my mad passion for her, bu. in vain. My
dreams are filled with imaginings of her,
my waking labors disturbed by thoughts Of
her in my mind. cannot shake Of the
spell sui lsboring under She is my fate,
my destiny; ] love her.
As he gave uttcrance to the last words,
he dropped his face into his hands. and
his frame quivered with emotion. Rivers
was silent, hIs mind vividly recalling how
subtle and general was the power Of fasci
nation welded by this woman, at once the
scandal and the pet Of Rome, over her
many admirers. Then dawned upon his
mind the many condolences between Thurs
ton and himself relative to their love af-
Tain lnvoluntarily the words issued from
his lips:
And Mas Markham Oh ThurstOn,
you have moi forgotten
Forgotten fs wild light spEang into
the artists eyes ~ he abruptly lifted his
gaze to that Of his companion, no." It
Is true that many stories are ahuat con
cerning the Countess Tutti, stories which
l believe to be untrue. Had never loved,
l should bless the hour met her, for love
|. blessing, and though it inficts misery
~ happiness But what of her, my be-
trothed wife, who, among the mountains
of my old Virginia home, has waited for
me for over year Can wed her With
this All-consaInIng infatuation With anOth- |
or woman, the depth Of which you can
never reslize-can | tell her Of it, and |
blight her every hope, and cause her mis-
cry untold In Gods name, Paul, you |
are my friend, tell me what 10 do, or | |
shall 90 mad If | remain hsre to face ClAr- |
ibel Markham and her father"
Why you are distraught, man, ejacu-
lated Rivers. Miss Markham coming
here Z"
II had forgotten to tell you," said
Thurston, in = subdued tone. Read
that, and he handed him letter which
he took from q writing desk before him.
Rivers took up the letter with no little
1t bore the post-mark Of Cal
houn, Virginia, and he at once OWNED,
from the masculine handwriting, that it
was from MISS Markhams father. He
knew much Of rhurston's life and affairs,
a con6de CO mutual and sacred having
passed between them since their acquaint
ance, Rivers being from NewYork city,
while the young VirginIan was from the
same land, and was intimate with many
friends of the former.
The letter was q brief one, but verified
rhurston's assertions relative to Miss
Markham and her father coming to Rome.
It was characteristic Of Colonel Markham,
being couched in formal unfamiliar Ian
yuage; and no one would have suspected
hat prospective relationship existed be- I
,ween the writer of it and the person for ,
whom it was destined.
1t read
my DEAR SIR Failing health and the
necessity Of change for my daughter has
determined me in choosing q voyage to
Europe to meet both exIgencies. Although
,ur proposed stay will be brief in Rome,
We shall remain sufficiently long to visit
he scenes Of interest in which the place {
bounds, and occupy a short portion Of ,
7our time in making arrangements for our
ojourn and acting as our guide. i,
my daughter intimates that she will
with you previous to our de-
'arture, 30 % to enable you to know when /
ge will arrive. Truly yours,
"RALEIGH MARKHAM.
TO BE CONTINUED