Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-01

STELLA.
Just at that moment there was moth
ing in the universe between Vega Lyra
and me. Hay out there among the rocks
at the foot of the shrubs that the wind
was blowing the other way, the sea rust
ling up the single far below in the soft,
melancholy summer night.
Summer nights should not be melan.
choly, except as melancholy always fol-
lows on the trail of exceeding beauty in
our sensation, with the effort Of the
finite to approach the infinite, perhaps.
But all nights, in effect, and days, too,
were melancholy then to me; the world
was desolation since Stella went to sea.
If she had not gone as she did, said
to myself when the first fire fell; but
what was one to expect of a young girl
suddenly launched on the luxury of the
most luxurious seaside life! She was
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 I 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 as some
chiseled statue, color such as that statue
might have if it just began to breathe
and blush, and silky hair soft as child's,
with tendriL]ike rings. In three months'
time the airy, perfect being had promised
to be my wife, whenever the good taste
of patrons should SO increase that my
pictures would shelter two, and mean
while we kept the story of our passion
to ourselves-the sweeter secret.
Life sped on that year with rainbowed
wings; the future stretched bright as
dream; the present was pure joy.
In the second year Stella went to visit
friends at Newport, once the summer
boarders of Hillside, but now the own
ers of villa all peaks and gables and
veranda, set amidst lawns and fountains
and vases OVERCOMING with flowers, on
the ends of the sea- palace masquerade
ing as cottage. A shadow then SEEM
ed to overspread the heavens with it's
evil wings, and the gloom of it was
scarcely lifted by letters that came tell
ing of the gay life. One day followed
down behind her, and established nv
self-Newport had been one of my old
haunts, and had known how to be hap
Ply there once. I did not know how to
be happy there now. [ had scarcely q
moment of Stella to myself. If I went
to Mrs. Rittener's in the morning,
throng of beribboned damsels sat on the
wide porches encircling Stella; they
learned a song, they practiced a new
dance together, and with the groups of
dandies, young millionaires, and attaches
of foreign legations, they did a little of
the Boccaccio and Vatican life. In the
afternoon found the horses at the gate.
Breakfasts, fe es claampetres, matinees dan-
santes, bathing, driving, yachting, filed
one day after another, and Stella was the
Joyous thing round which everything
seemed to circle. 1t was new life to
her. She knew it did not belong to her;
that it was leaf borrowed from the ex-
istence of others; that she must 20 back
to quiet duties and restricted pleasures.
1t was like reading some delicious ro-
nance; she reveled in it now, and gave
no heed to the time when it should come
to an end.
But II, of course, did not recognize
this. saw her like butterfly lowering
over bright flowers, as light, as purpose,
less, as lovely, dancing in the beam.
drinking the perfume all la fozse. and
every day of it maddened me one degree
more than the last. Early in the morn
ing, from my own window, l could see
her alone on the lawn in her white
gown, strolling to lean over the sea, or
filling her arms up with flowers; but it
would have been out of the question to
60 to her then; and late at night, if lin
gered till others had departed was
harrassed by Mrs. Rittener, who knew
nothing ofany relation between us, and
who disapproved of poor artist while
there was such q parti to be had as young
De Luyster, the wealthiest blose young
bachelor of New York; or as the old
Count Montmorenci, who fascinated by
the beauties of America, was about to
give his 5eunesse epussee, his title, castles,
jewels, and all the remainder to any
one among them who CHANGED to be
lovely and adroit enough to take his
fancy; or Mr.. Burleigh, the great pork
contractor, who owned half Illinois; or |
score OF others, in fact, to the tired ex-
perience of each of whom Stella was like
some spirit wandering out of strange