, 1877-10-28

comfortable circumstances. The family was
composed OF 4 gentleman and lady and their
daughter. The latter, when she had reached
her sixteenth year twenty wears agol, felldeep1y
and passionately in love with young officer
who re9uited her lore: But the parents Of the
damsel disapproycd Of the match, ard alarmed
at the progress OF the attachment they used
their influence to the utmost, and contrired to
marry their daughter to Count, q wealthy
man, clever, we'll informed, and very anxious for
young girl. The marriage took place, though
the Count was fully aware Of previous attach
mcnt Probably he thought it merely
young girls fancy, and the parents did
their best to make him believe that it was
So u9ortunate 1s .sSat proved M their mis-
never smiled, and could not be persuaded to
forget the past. Her husband fell into the mis-
take OF taking her to his house, near her home,
near all the associations which he should most
and more devoted to her. She turned from him
with cver-incrcasing dislike. At length her
state Of health alarmed the physician, who Or
dercd an immediate change Of scene. But the
mischief was done already. From morning till
night the unhappy. young creature would Il SOB
and moan, aud nothing could comfort her. They
travelled over France, Germany, and Spain, but
the only effect OF change was TO bring on eI-
trcme indifference and lstlcssness, which ln-
creased till, when they came home, the Count
had become harmless iunatic- Even then,
perhaps, something might have been tried US
means OF recovery, some return to happier times,
but the Count was wild with renorse and really
deep affection, SO that he gave. up. his life IN
trying to crafty her various fancies and ire
quent caprces. For twenty years this has gone
on. They live in an ideal villa on hill overlook
ing the Gulf Of Spezza. An old place it really is,
with handsome, lofty rooms, and outside you
could want nothing more lovely than the groves
Of olive and the vineyards. The Count spares
no money to please the poor woman In MS
charge, but his care is poorly requited, for her
madness has taken the form of loathing MS
very presence, and no reason can now dissimf-
late the feeling which has made her wreck
He takes refuge in hia books, lives like her-
nit, spouts Latin and Greek poetry in his
solitude, is devoted to astronomy, aud has an
excellent telescope But his life scarcely de-
serves the name dincd once with the mis-
erabie couple. She came in running when he
rang the bell, and sat down, without ,notlclne
any one, at the head Of the table. She had
strange way Of dipping her hands in the soup
which was distressing. But her husband will
not lire apart from her, even watching her at
night and sleeping in her room. But 1t was ter
riblc to note the shrinking whenever he ap~
preached her-like namcless horror coming
over her, aud Mt the same time the cunning OF
maslncss makcs her dissembtc, SO that she will
look at you, mockiug him behind his back. he
seems to have acccutcd this torture as species
Of expiatfon for having forced her inclination
long ago. but does not seem to realize the totiy
of persisting iu system OF treatment which
does not anlcliorate her condition IN tue least.
You see her taking daily drive ina coacl! lined
with satin, she had once expressed wish to
drive. Sic speaks to tile servants. tut never
notices her husband nor answers him when ne
addresses her. This is romance OF real lie.
While the mad woman is enjoying good health,
her moor, voluntary keeper is slowly growing
thinner, palcr-wcariug away.