Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-13

Silently and hastily they packed few
;hings into small portmanteau. Then |
Antonio clasped Gigia to his breast, and
said, " Farewell, beloved, I cannot tell
why, but some presentiment of sorrow,
connected with thee, seems to Cypress
my heart"
Gigia trembled like an aspen leaf, but
forced a smile, and answered: 1T is
fancy, Antonio. Thou art anxious
about thy mother, and all seems gloom
to thee"
"Cesare," said the artist again, ct
may be absent for weeks, and I leave
my treasure in thy charge. Be wary,
lest anything happen to ner, for she is
dearer to me than life itself. Farewell"
And with one more embrace to his
betrothed he was gone.
His mother, whom he idolized. was
now very old. She was SO attached to
Rome, the place where she had been
wooed, won and married, where four
children had been born to her, where
three of them, and finally her husband,
had died, leaving her alone but for her
son, that, when he expressed desire
to live in Florence, she babe him go,
but could not herself bear to leave her
native city.
For two weeks after Antonio's sum-
mons to Rome she fingered: but one
evening she called him to her bedside,
and said in faint though calm voice.
Tonight shall leave thee, my An
tonic.
ooh, mother, no! Live, live II
need thee2" entreated the young man,
kneeling by her and taking one of her
hands in his. It was cold as ice, but
ne retained it, and endeavored by chat
ing to impart to it some of his own
warmth. His mother continued as
though she had not heard him:
CT shall leave this world to night, my
sou; but see thee, Antonio-I see thee
famous, world-renowned; see admiring
crowds surround thee; I see gold
pouring III upon thee; I see thee stand
ing proud, triumphant
And happy, with Gigia by my side,
mother 2" lnterposed Antonio, plead
ingly.
The dying woman turned upon him
her eyes, filled with an unutterable
sadness, though the light of prophecy
still shone in them, and said, more
family even than before:
NAY, Antonio Isee thee famous,
indeed, but alone"
Antonio covered his eyes with his
hands, shuddering. When he looked
up, his mother had fallen back upon
the pillow, and was dead. A week
from that time, in Florence, he walked
up the Viadella Scala, where was his
studio. His step was slow; his face
was sad and downcast, and told, even
palmer than did the mourning band
upon his hat, the bereavement he had
just suffered. In the same detected
manner he entered the house and
assembled the stairs; his eye lighted
with sudden JOY. it is true, as he neared
the floor on which he lived, and thought
that he might find Gigia in his studio;
but his brow grew gloomy again, and
he muttered to himself, "Alone What
did it mean? Can it be that she fancied
Gigia? But no, the thought is I'M
worthy of me. Gigia is my faithful
betrothed, and she--yes, she and Co.
sare-wiIl help, console me for the loss
I have just sustained" $3.50
His face grew again more cheerful,
remaining fight of stairs. His studio
door was open; he entered and heard
voices IN the room, though he could see
no one, on account Of the folding
ssGigia and Cesare are taking care of
the atelier for me, was his first thought,
and he was about to go on, when word
fell on his ear that arrested him, turned
his blood cold, and made his heart al
most stop beating. It was Gigia who
spoke.
Cesare," she said, "ah, how I love
thee %
Antonio could neither move nor
speak, from horror; he thought bis ears
must have deceived him, and listened
more intently than before. It was
Cesare's voice this time.
"Angela, thou art really mine now, is
it not so? Antonio can have no more
power over thee ?"
''None,' answered Gigia; and then
followed kiss. This was too much
for the unhappy artist. With one
bound he sprang from behind the
screen and confronted the two wretched
beings. If spectre had suddenly
arisen before them, the lovers could
not have been more startled. White
with terror and conscious wrong, they
stood speechless and trembling before
Antonio, who was by this time in a
passion too strong to be controlled.
s.Speak !" he said, in voice full of
anger and emotion. "Canst thou not
fad words, thou traitor, thou vile de-
ceiver? Nay, thou shalt never speak
more" seizing the cowardly Cesare by
the throat; "thou shalt suffer for thy
perfdy;" and he drew forth sharp
stiletto, and held it aloof. Gigia fell
upon her knees, and, clasping her hands
in agony, said:
g Antonio, spare him ! spare him!
He is my husband; he was once thy
friend p
The stiletto fell to the floor with
crash. In dazed manner Antonio re-
peated, sThy husband-tnarried !"
and sank into seat, leaning upon
table and burying his face in his arms.
A deep silence followed. Cesare and
Gigia we're afraid to move, dreading
lest violent mood might once more
come upon him. What was passing