The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-08

Sand you will have killed me, Teresa"
''No; it is the poisonous mists OF the Cam
pagna."
HWbat brought me hither to breathe
them ?" asked Lionel abruptly.
1.-THE sgnore forgets that begged him not
to Think of so rash scheme" replied Teresa,
evading the question. "For me who am ac-
signore 1t is death, and he must CO."
''Whither?''
"Back to Frascati, if he so wills it.; or bet
ter, perhaps, away from Italy,"
81 cannot live away from Italy; it is my
life, my hope; and here | can study art and
make myself home. Here 1 can be happy,
and yet you send me away"
81 have told the signore that l am not
fitted for his wife. Besides, my duty is to
die.''
"Yet you leave them now"
"OnIy for their benefit"
SIT would benefit them more if you were
But Teresa shook her head mournfully.
''None possible" she said decidedly.
"Yet you love me, Teresa?"
"Yes," said she with emotion; shut I
must do my duty. have made VOW not to
marry SO long as my parents live"
sit is a foolish vow," said Lionel.
IL 10 d ucNeIIutltSS d VOW, SIG Ttpltu
firmly: Sgnore, you must 60. Addio,
dddiOp'
But as she spoke sudden shivering seized
her-the fever that she had dreaded for Lilo
mel had fallen upon herself
W
Teresa had but few friends among the la
borers in the Campagna; but one woman,
whom Lionel recognized as belonging to
Frascati, was willing enough to undertake
the Office of nurse, in consideration of the
lavish payment for it, and to accompany her
home when she was out of danger.
Then Lionel turned his steps northward,
seeking no interview, for he knew thai Tere-
sa was firm in her resolution, and that it
would be an insult to her piety and ner sense
of filial duty to attempt to shake it. So he
FASTENED away, hoping by constant change
and excitement to drive her image from his
heart.
He passed the frontiers, and then the cold
north winds began to blow, and he could not
face them, and Lionel Merton learned that
his only hope Of life was indeed in Italy. 1t
| seemed almost as though Fate were bidding
| him return, and so he passively resigned him.
self and retraced by slow stages the way to
Frascati, delaying as he drew nearer and
nearer to it, and yet with every intention of
seeing Teresa once more.
He took up his residence at the inn again,
but saw nothing of Teresa, neither did he
hear of her until, upon making inquiries of
the innkeeper, he found that Immediately
mpon her return from the Campagna her
parents had been taken ill and were now in
| the last stages of disease, and that they were
| poorer than ever. But Lionel shrank from
| intruding, although he and the old Cecchi
had been very friendly.
| Still Teresa had consciousness of his pres
ence in the constant supplies of all needed
| for the sufferers at the hands of the inukeep-
| er, and she did uot refuse them, for she was
| almost worn out with her vigil and perhaps
| regarded this unexpected assistance as an
| answer to her prayers, and therefore not to be
| flung ungratefully aside.
u II
And then came the end. The Death Angel
closed the old mans eyes, and the mourner
| carried him to his grave-soon to be followed
| by the wife who had jourheyed with him
| through the world. And then Teresa was
| left an orphan, alone in the world. And
| then Lionel Merton once more said
Theresa, you love me?'
And Teresa replied, as she had done be-
fore, eyes" But this time she added, 1.-THE
vow that parted us is accomplished, and am
no longer forbidden to be your wite."-Jean
Boncgur in Cdsselps Magazine.