The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-11-26


sat down by me, and we both talked hur-
riedly of all sorts of things and at the
same time, both devising impacticable
schemes, all ending in sighs and tears,
till it was time for me to depart. Simona
was waiting for me below.
Arrived at home, had to be carried
up stairs from exhaustion. The mar
chese remarked that lac was not surpris-
ed at it, sitting to painters was always
very atiguing next day l was too un-
well to 20 out but Gl the day following
the marchese ordered carriage TO me,
and again went to Sebastiano, the girl
leaving me as before.
Remembering the depressed figure pre-
sented by SebastianO at my last visit, my
breath was taken away on entering by
finding him with drawn sword, practic-
ing, now alta iarge looking-gluss, and now
at small black spot on the wall ! | sat
down and actually laughed, just as some
hystericai people will laugh during iu-
neral, or when taken unawares by the
announcement of a strangely shocking
accident. Sehastiano looked half otten-
| ded. He was to write a few lines to the
marchese, inform him of our mutual de-
yotion, and call him 10 a mortal contest.
AS soon as he would listen | represented
to him that the marchese, besides his
height, 1.-the movements, and unusual
length OF arms, was prlctlced IN all SORTS
OF unfair sleights, by means OF all which
advantages he had killed several antagO-
nists in duels. | had heard him cooly
boast of it. Sebastiano said he did lot
believe the marchese was man Of high
courage | replied that Thought he was
a strange mixture of most cautious appre-
hensiyeness and desperate courage, like
Il cat, and that he was equally skillful,
cool, cruel, and remorseless.
Then" exclaimed Sebastiano, 81 will
lay myself open to his wounding, in or
der that may make one mortal thrust"
"Ah, my dear SebastlanO," said | weep
ing bitterly, "and what would then be-
come of me? You would certainly die of
such wounds"
lie stood lost moment, and presently
seized the sword again, and made lunges
in the air in paroXysm OF abortive pas
sion. wept the more 10 see it.
All on sudden a new thought flashed
across me. | hurrledly left Sebastiano,
saying | would very quickly return. The
recollection of the marchese having once
tauntingly asked me if | would like di-
yorce had occurred to me. | made my
way to the doctor who hau always attend
ed me, and whom | much liked, and
had confidential interview with him.
He expressed the greatest distress and
perplexity at what told him of the mar
chese, whose denominations and brutali-
ties under so cOurtly an exterior not
little surprised him. In England, he
said, | should have a strong case, but the
laws were not the same in Italy. He
gave me a private note to Il great lawyer
who resided in the next street, desiring
me to explain every thing TO him, and
after that they might confer, and perhaps
act in concert. With this most kind adj
vice'I Immediately made my way to the
great lawyer. He listened imperturbably
as it seemed, even to things most abnor-
NAL in the marchese, and then confined
himself to questions with reference to
my position with Sebastiano, which, in
strict confidence | was obliged to Confide
to him. He then shook his head with
straight kind of smile, and said that my
case proved too much against myself OF
course it did, if the marchese had been
suing for divorce. However, he said he
would carefully study and consider the
question in all its bearings, and then
communicate with DIR. Maurizzio And
l might implicitly rely upon his legal
honor (giurisprudeBzd). | besought him
to do all he could for me, and we parteu.
l found Simona had been waiting some
time for me below stairs, and | was oblig-
ed to hurry home instantly.
The picture being still unfinished, the
marchese went the next day to the studio
to complain of the delay. Nevertheless
heappeared much pleased with the paint
ing, and went again the day after, and
sat some hours, as he informed me, by
the side of Sebastiano while he was at
work upon it, greatly admiriGg his skill,
though regretting to Ob erve that he Of
ten had an unsteady hand. Such talent
ought not to be 50 Over-anxious.
The morning for the final sitting ar
rived, and the marchese took me in a
carriage to SebastianO's ateler He com
plimented the artist, and in the most ele-
CANT manner insisted upon aiding Simo-
ma to undress me behind a screen, and
adjust the draperies, after which he han
ded me glass of water, and then led me
to my position as if it were to dance.
He remained with us while the finishing
touches were given RlSimona had been
sent to his palAzzo with message. If
the thoughts and feelings of we three
could have been. a.. The remainder
of the sentence is illegible.
We returned homeward, but not by
direct route, as the marchese wanted to
purchase something in one of the neigh
boring streets. While we slowly drove
along a strange and intense presenti-
ment--or whatever il was--made me in
wardly calculate, "DivOrce Yes, indeed!
Why should there be this difficulty?
When will the world, with all its civili-
zation and wisdom, see the humanity
and morality, as well as the reason and
Justice, of a divorce in eases where. .,...
The marchese was reclining on a back
cushion, with half-audible inward sort
of whistling, and careless beating of time
with the fingers of his left hand. We
drove past the house of DR.. Maurizzlo.
The door was blocked up by a loose heap
of building stones; the windows were all
closed, and the balcony full Of rubbish
The house was evidently unlnhabited
The carriage presently stopped, and the
marchese, humming part Of an air ina
new opera, alighted andl left me. Words
fail me- Suerely if L had been one Of the
most wicked womeu in the world, some
persons besides a dear friend like you,
0tty, will pity me. The marchese re-
turned with basket of fruit or some
thing. | don't know how we got home.
The Detestable dressed him with more
than usual care for dinner, and assumed
toward me all the fine manners of his
first courtship, and something more
profound res 5ect, superfluous attentions,
ardor-, and sometimes what he intended
for loving leers, of kind that made my
flesh creep and the room swim. Then
~. al b;r,ualf m ith h oo,,rfi,, botv