Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-26
STELLA.
From liarper's Bazar,

Frun Harper BaZar.
Just ut that moment there was moth.
ing in the universe between Vega Lyra
and me. | lay ont there among the
rocks at the foot of the shrubs that the
wind was blowing the other way, the
sea rust'ng up the shlnge tar below IN
the soft melancholy summer night.
Summer night should not be melan-
choly, except Us melancholy always fol
lows on the trail of exceeding beauty iii
our sensation with the effort Of the
finite to approach the infinite, perhaps.
But all nights. in effort, and days too,
were melancholy then to me; the world
was q desolatiou since Stella went to
the sea.
If she had not gone as she did, | said
to myself when the first fire fell; but
what was one to expect of young girl
suddenly launched on the luxury Of the
most luxurious ser side life! She was
4 village maiden. and had not been so
much admired in the country town,
where redder color and blacker eyes and
thicker hair were more TO the rustic
taste. But when | Went TO Hillside as
the headquarters of my sketching-
ground, it seemed to me that fairer
hues and finer lines and more ethereal
beauty ! had never found-delicate us
some chiSeled statue. color such as that
statue might have il it had just began
TO breath and blush, and ailky hair soft
as childs with tendril-like rings. In
three months time the airy, perfect be-
inc had promised to be my wife, when
M oCin ~ EhnIlIn
so increase that my pictures woul q
shelter two and meanwhile we Kept the
story of our passion to ourselves-the
sWeeter secret,
Life sped on that year with ralnbowed
wings the future stretched bright AS a
dream; the present was pure Joy.
In the second year Stella went to
visit friends at Newport, once the SUM
mer boarders of Hillside, but now the
owners of villa all peaks and gables
and verandas. set amidst lawns and
fountains and vases OVERLOOKING with
flowers, on the edge of the sea-a
palace masquerading as u cottage. A
shadow then seemed to overspread the
heavens with Its evil wings, and the
gloom Of il was scarcely lifted by the
letters that came telling of the gay life
One day followed down behind her,
and established myself-Newport was
one of my old haunts, and | had known
how to be happy there once. did not
know how to be happy there now. /
had scarcely moment Of Stella to my
self. If / went to Mrs. Ritteners in the
morning, thropg of beribboned dam
Il hos ~
Stella; they learned a song, they prac-
decd new dance together, and, with
the group of dandies, young mil
lonaires, and attaches Of foreign le-
cations, they did little Of the Poe.
caccio and Vatican life. In the after
noon / found the horses at the gate.
Breakfasts, ftt,s ehdmptirts, mdtiaes dan
SAINTS, bathing, driving, yachting, filled
one day after another, and Stella was
the Joyous thing round which every
thing seemed to circle. il was a new
life TO her: that it was leaf borrowed
from the existence of others; that she
must go back to quiet duties and re-
stricted pleasures. II was like reading
some delicious romance-she reve led
in il now, and gave no heed to the time
when it should come to All end.
But IL, of course, did not recognize
this. saw her like butterfly hover
ing over bright flowers, As light, as pur-
poseless, as lovely, dancing in the beam
drinking the perfume all Ia folie; and
every day Of il maddened me one de-
gree more than the last. Early in the
morning, from my own window, could
see her alone on the lawn in her white
gown, strolling to lean over the sea, or
filling her arms with flowers; but it
would have been out ofthe question to
90 to her then; and late at night, If !
fingered until others had departed, | was
harassed by Mrs. Rittener. who
knew nothing Of any relation between
US, and who disapproyed of poor art
ist while there was such part 70 be
had as young De Luyster. the wealthiest
bldse Young bachelor OF New York, Pr
as the old Count Montmorenci, who,
fascinated by the beauties Of America
was about to give his jsttnsess epnisee, his
title, castle, jewels, and all the re-
nlainder, 10 any one among them VINO
CHANGED 70 be lovely and adroit enough
70 take his fancy; or Mr.. Burleigh, the
pork-contractor,w who owned half illinois;
Or score Of others, in tact, To the tired
experience Of each OF whom Stella was
like some spirit wandering out OF a
strange land, just ALT for moment
among them. | knew in my heart that