The Republican journal., 1876-08-10
veil, quick Oh, he's coming directly to
Il

suspicion touched him of the quick littl
breaths he could almost have heard or tn
bright eyes peeping at him through
| gray veil like two stars through pearl
mist.
Mrs. Atherton watched him with inter
est. There isn't much the matter wit
| him." was her cool mental comment. I'll
is rather handsome and decidedly manly
| looking. Dresses well, too; looks clean
which is an excellent thing in Il man
| like his taking a morning walk, and Iik
his coming to look at a fountain. 1t show
in the world is that woman moonin.
about for ?N
The woman to whom she referred ha,
been walking about the piazza for SOM
| time, her eyes frequently directed towar'
the western entrance. On the appearance
of Mr. Francis she had come out from
shaded avenue and continued her prone
made in Il path that would presently brn.
her round to where he sat. This persol
WAS eXquisitely and coqnettishly dressed
and of the sort called "tine- looking ng'--no
very Young, but not yet arrived ut tina
age OF the i)asSee Italian when grossncs
obliterates all graceful outlines from tht
form. Her face was not handsome. bu
clever and wore an expression of affected
suavity. Had she been az honest woman
She might have been called agreeable
looking. Like most Of her c0untrywomen
she carried her nobly-set head and superf
shoulders like a Juno, while, from il:
wrigglng progress, the rest of her body
might have been that OF a mermaid
Il do wish she would make haste by,
whispered the wife with soft and breath
less Impotence. II cannot speak to Ar
thur till She is gone, for am sure to make
Il scene, and do not like her to be n wit
ness. She is a disagreeable person
Instead Of going away, the woman gave
a little affected start on pcrceivn@ the
gentleman, and sa,uted hin4 with inn
mense grace and courtesy. They heard
her clear sweet voice, but did not distin-
guish her words, and saw her, half by his
invitation half by her own request. seat
herself at his side.
we bad better 90 to him at once,
Mrs. Atherton said.
But her sister detained her: 40. he
will leave her in a moment. She is our
pntlt0nn's daughter, and he knows dis
apartment, and Arthur always treated her
with the greatest GOODNESS. She is very
bold. know. but | am surprised she
should have seated herself by him in that
confident way"
"Oh. never mind She has as good q
right to the seat us he has the elder lady
urged uncasily. And perhaps he may
not like to leave her at once. He can't
be actually rude, you know. Gomez
"Stay," was the peremptory rejoinder.
"Neither do | wish to be rude, but do
not wish to salute that woman. While
she is there will not 90. He is sure to
get up in Il moment
The gentleman showed, however, no
intention OF rising On the contrary, lean
inc forward. in an attitude more easy than
ceremonious, with his elbow resting on
his knee, lie resigned himself to the soci-
ETY. of his companion. saying Il word now
and then in reply to her Voluble talk, but
without looking at her. Ills expression
was that of one who watches with amusc-
ment the progress Of 4 game; or the
down-looking eyes and slight smile might
indicate a pleasure which he was not quite
willing to display, or even to acknowl-
edge
Mrs Atherton was at her wits end A
woman Of the world and the wife of Il man
Of the world, she had learned to shut her
eyes sometimes, and not to expect an ideal
constancy; but her sister, she well knew,
was OF Il different mould. and she tremblcd
for the result Anne's face was beginning
to cloud too, she could see. A certain
chill and shadow had come over it, and
she had looked away from the two.
1T would really seem that am watch
ing my husband" She said haughtily Il
think we need not wait. Carrie. You
must be very tired, and so am T.
But in going she turned for one glance
more In that moment the Italian had
loosened a flower from her belt, and,
touching the gentleman lightly on the
arm with Il smile that would have brought
the angry blood to any wite's face, pre-
sented it to him. He took it from her
without looking up, hestated an instant
then fastened it in his buttonhole His
wife uttered a faint cry, ''Oh oh ! and
trusted him 50 y and, catching her sisters
arm, drew her hastily away.
Mrs. Atherton would have liked to see
Il smart lash laid across the backs of the
two people on the bench there, but she
did not think it wise to express any such
feeling "Do be reasonable, Anne,' she
urged. 'lt isn't pleasant. | know, but
cannot you see that she is doing the
whole, and that he is laughing at her?"
"Oh me oh me :" family moaned out
was all the answer She received, and,
looking, she saw her sisters face Grim
soned and painted as if by some sharp
physical anguish.
"Shouldn't we take the other street,
dear?n she asked presently.
"Oh. I'm not going home: | couldn't
90 home.
The other submitted to be led. 1t was
better, perhaps, that this first distress
should be walked off, They crossed the
two piazze, the street leading to the porta
Pia and went down the Via Santa Susan
ma; but when they reached the Costanzi,
Mrs Francis turned abruptly into the
court before her sister had time to object,
and signaled Il waiter I'VE want Il room
for to-day, and breakfast sent up mmedi-
ately," she said. ''We may! stay longer,
and we may 90 to Florence this evening
Names? No matter; we do not wish to
see any one"
And Mrs Atherton found herself swept
up stairs, seated in a pleasant chamber
and her bonnet and mantle taken off
I'm sorry to give you sucn Il bad re-
ceptlon, but welcome to Rome! You
must be very tired and hungry. Don t
lose your appetite on my account, nor
your rest. After you have had breakfast
lie down Il while. will take this sofa (:
must have time to think. | want to
gather up the fragments and see what is
left me-"
She had controlled all sign Of agitation
but the red color in her cheeks, but the
smile was as dead in her face as if she had
never smiled. She gave the waiter his
orders, criticised the breakfast when it
came as ii she cared whether it were good
or bad, and even pretended to taste the
coffee her sister entreated her to take.
Mrs. Atherton's theory was that any trou-
BILE may be borne as long as one eats and
drinks, and that well-sustained body has
medicinal effect on sick heart Her
first pathetic prayer to her afflicted friends
was stereotyped: "Do try to eat some
thing, dear;" and wherever the Church