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

ton. coupled with the intolerable thought
of his return-his return to me-a wife,
and no wife; and, besides, no longer his.
Thus was my heart uplifted and cast
down alternately. Sebastiano fully COM
pretended the danger of my position, as
also of his own; but his chief apprehen-
sion was on my account Still we lived
our life-lived in our present hour of bliss,
like the butterfly and the convolvulus.
How could we expect it to continue ? how
suas il to end? Andeven if theappalling
end could have been foreseen, / can
scarcely now perceive by what means it
could have been altered.
Month after month thus passed. Dur
ing the first four months of my arrival
the third of my visits to Sebastiano's stu
dio-afew lines from the marchese now
and then reached me; but during the
last five months not word. Andrengo
hinted that his lordship was seeking to
obtain some very high post. devoutly
hoped the difficulty would continue.
Only one month had l rested with the
marchese in London for Our wedding
tour" and yet it had seemed like years,
to such pitc of utter detestadon and
and disgust he had brought me.
was now beginning to persuade my
self that he never come to Naples. Why
should he? What did he really care for
me? What was therein me that he could
not readily find elsewhere2 What self
delusion! One morning a thunder-clap
fell upon my brain A letter arrived
from the marchese, announcing his
speedy return, though he could not be
certain to day.
49,. so ill-so lost-so continually
fainting. | was often prostrated in kind
of conscious, apprehensive delirium. As
soon as | was able, and in deafness to the
remonstrances of the nurse, as | was re-
ally not well enough to 60 out, | hurried
to SebastianO The conference and the
decision were the agitated work of less
than five minutes, and we agreed to fly
to France or Spain, and thence to Eng
land.
Returning home, l determined at once
to write to my mother, addressed to our
old castle, with directions to be forwar-
ded, as in all probability the post-oliice
there would know where to sends The
thought struck me that for greater Sc
crecy no letter should be written till we
escaped from Italy; but having recently
come, across volume of the tragedies of
Alteri, passage in the opening scene of
MIRA had greatly affected me, and de-
termined to copy this My mother would
at once recognize my hand, and could
not fail to apply the lines to her wretched
daughter:
mira infeliCe strascina una vita
PeggiO aSsai d Ogni mOrte......nOn OsO
Pinger suo state orribile: NAL puOte
In padre intender di dOnzella IL pianto
Tu nadre il puol. Quindi te vengo'
Having copied these lines and carefully
sealed the letter, without writing another
word. it was taken to the post-house by
Sebastano. Every moment was now Oc-
cupied in preparing for flight, or rather
in thinking in most confused manner
as to preparations. | packed and un-
packed and repacked and then threw
every thing aside as too bulky. My dear
infant, of course, greatly enhqnced MY
difficulties. My nurse | coulG not trust
but Simona's attachment to me had in
creased. She mad greatly taken to my
little one, and | resolved to propose to
her that she should take the place of the
nurse, and fly with us; but | reserved
this communication for the last moment.
The morning of the day arrived when
we were to fly from Naples, starting from
Sebastianos studio. 1t was new my rsu-
al hour for going out, when a man from
the post-hOuse, with two letters in his
hand, met me at the door. One was
from the marchese to Andrrngo; the
other was addressed to me in a strange
hand. 1t was only cover, but it inclos
ed the letter | had addressed to Lady A
., which was now returned to me |
reeled back to my room, and was unable
to leave my bed for the rest of the day.
With a secret influence like this, it was
obvious that escape from Naples was
scarcely possible. You are no longer sur
prised, dear 0tty, at being so long with
out any news of me up to this date.
What else may be in store, heaven-or
the other place-only can know. But
will proceed with these letters when
ever | am able.
Early next morning Andrengo sent up
word to me by Simona that the marchese
was on his way to Naples, and might
shortly be expected. 1 instantly drop
ped off into stupor, in which was con-
Scious of all manner of anguish, but un-
derstood nothing.
When | came to myself found l was
still lying in bed, and presently l heard
the step of the marchese. My temples
throbbed violently, and Ifelt tmyself star
ing wildly. He entered my chamber in
his most courtly and graceful manner,
and in kinder tone than l ha ever
heard him use since our wretched mar
riage, inquired after my health. | was
amazed even to speeChlessuess and
Judge how this must have been augment
ed when he smilingly informed me that
he had been to Sebastiano's atelier TO
look at the picture, which he much adj
mired /; and he added, carelessly waving
his perfumed handkerchief, that he had
also been to the nurses apartment to see
the child, and though it was very like
some exceptions. de glanced
toward a mirror while making this last
remark, as if intimate resemblance
to himself. And yet l fanGed he was
looking toward my face in the glass.
almost made an inward VOW never to rise
again from my bed, but to die there.
That night carefully fastened my cham
ber door.
l was in some sort obliged to get up in
a day or So but always fastened myself
in at night, pleading pains in the head
and side. | might have added the heart
burn, for I'm sure my heart burned day
and night. The marchese bore all this
with apparent unconcern. But one night
after day OF intense heat, and during a
storm of thunder and very vivid light
ming, my door was suddenly burst open,
and she lightning streamed into the room
as though it had caused the fracture, and
in the midst of the broad gleam | saw the
marchese. las l had certainly become
insensible, and blessed the tempest and
the horror that had made me 50.
| was again rapidly sinking into state,
as in London, of not caring what became