Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-12

Impossible; JOY is your dOWer, con-
tent its consequence"
JOY" she said, in low, sad tone;
"I have rarely known the delights of
joy"
"But look at all this glittering
wealth, Agnese."
"Ah, wealth is not happiness. Yes,
| have Golfers of jewels, but they only
mock me with their brightness"
"Well, you have true wealth; you
love and are beloved, Agnese."
She shuddered, and said with pas
sionate earnestness: ooh, yes love is
indeed true happiness. But come with
me, and will show you all that 1 have
left of that enchanting JOY"
Slowly followed her through long
gallery, where the light fell on rich pic
lures, and cleaned on the cold beauty
of marble statues. Here hung the
"Ecce Homo" with it's calm, holy eyes;
and the Entombmnent," by Raphael,
with it's bowed figures of touching
grief. Here marble Niobes and statues
of Diana stood side by side, with Ber-
minis Skull and Sleeping Child, en-
blems Of life and death. But | fingered
MOTTO note these rare gems of art, as
wonderingly [ followed my silent con-
ductress through the long gallery. At
length we reached a door, which she
unlocked, and we entered small room
dimly lit by a lamp that hung from the
ceiling. No window through whose
crevices the blessed light of day could
steal, illumined that dreary room; no
furniture stood there, save a time-worn
couch From the ceiling to the floor
hung black curtain, that swayed
mournfully as the signora closed the
door hurriedly. With trembling
hand she moved aside the funeral dra-
perry, and fastened il back. Oh, horri-
BILE sight! There hung a grim skeleton
from beam What meant this awful
mystery-this deathly spectacle? and,
faint at heart, | sank down on the
couch before this dreadful sight.
Calm as one of her own marble stat
ues, and AS white, too, stood Agnese;
but her crimson lip quivered with a
grief that she seemed powerless to ex-
press.
Oh, what means this, Agnese" l
asked, in tones of agony.
She seated herself beside me and
said "You say that I am the happiest
woman in all Naples. How far you
are right you yourself shall Judge; tits
for this have brought you here. Lis
ten"
Slowly swung the dim lamp from the
ceiling; cold, chilling atmosphere
seemed to surround us; and the grim
skeleton grinned in fearful hideousness
from the beam. gathered closer to
the signora, and looked up into her
face. How sadly It cleaned out from
amidst the gloom that enshrouded us
pure, pale, spiritual.
At length she spoke: "My father be-
longed to a decayed noble family of
Rome. We lived in an obscure part of
the city, in a gloomy old palace, with a
court supported by granite columns,
and adorned with antique friezes.
Here my father spent his days; silent
and reserved, he pondered on the
changed fortunes of his family, and
rarely went forth to mingle with his
fellow men. Ny mother could be gen
orally found on her knees, before the
image of the blessed Virgin and Child,
In the church Of st. Agostino. | roam
ed with my Cousin Carlo at will. When
he grew weary of painting, we sailed
forth into the streets Of Rome. We
visited the picture galleries, and stood
entranced before world-renowned stat
ues. Together we strayed over the
| beautiful villas that surround Rome,
and made excursions to fairy-ike Tivoli.
For days we would linger amid the
beautiful cascades and temples, and ex-
plore its wild and enchanting scenery.
[ love, with my very soul, everything
that is eautiful-painting poetry,
sculpture-and in Carlo I find
that sympathy which is the very
element of love. / loved him with
every feeling of my heart, every I'M
pulse of my being Of the world with
out [ knew nothing; he was my world,
my life. [ could not imagine an ex-
istence separate from him. He had
strengthened every fibre of my soul,
! developed all that was good in my
nature, and taught me how it posi-
bic that man, though loftier than
woman, can blend his being with hers
in perfect and delightful harmony
All this [ learned, but [ learned, too,
that deep sorrow that so often COM
panions true love.
"The bridge Of St. Angelo witnessed
our first love vow-a vow that said
farewell. chung to Carlo in my dis
pairing sorrow.
You cannot, you will not leave me, .
| l said, and I burst into violent fit of
weeping. He calmly said:
"Agnese, this is childish three
months will soon wing their flight
His calmness soothed met always
/ did. [ was SO fiery, SO passionate, so
unsubdued. All! how calm I have
grown since: whilst he was so quiet, so
gentle, yet SO strong and true. I was a
child IN years, but woman in love;
yet hushed my sobs, drove back the
burning tears, and looked calmly into
his face, [ pronounced the dreadful,
severing word, addio. He pressed a
kiss upon my brow-such kiss as a
brother gives his favorite sister-tender
and warm, yet passionless and quiet
feeling always possesses me with a
stern force; and I have to struggle
with it in mighty conflict before l can
gain the mastery.
| R,,t ~, oilonoo 90 dooy, n 6 +bot &c ~, III