The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-10-22

- W ste'tuy herself, tncn reeled, and
would have fallen had not some one
caught and held her. Then she was
Drawn back out of SIGHT of her curious
and sympathetic audience.
In a moment she was herself again.
Harrison King was holding a goblet to
her lips.
How came you hereP" she asked, as
she Slowly drank every drop of the
water.
81 met Kinnaid Just after leaving
you" he answered. "He told me that
il was at his house you were to sing, and
told me l WINS welcome if ] chose to
come. So ] came, of course. l was
horrilied at your fainting just now"
On, 1t was nothing" she replied
lightly, speaking TO those who had
gathered round her, cit has happened
several times lately, and given my physi-
clans very gratifying chance to say, I
told you so.' I've been singing too con-
stantly, that is all. am so sorry, Mrs.
Kinnard," she added, turning to that
lady.
Don't let it trouble you. Miss vavas-
seur. We have had delightful even
ing, and only regret that you have over
taxed yourself"
1t was not long before she was on her
way hack to the hotel, Harrison King
beside her in the carriage.
It's an i'll wind, etc, ,"Isabel," he
said, rs he left her at the door of her
sitting-room, "but l suppose this will
be really the very last time. am going
On 10 Rome tomorrow. Goodnight
and goodbye" and lie turned away
without another word
Her fingers ached with the pressure OF
his fhat,, Ghn
over her face as if bewildered, then, as
as her eyes fell upon glove he had
dropped, she picked it up with an mar
ticulate cry, kissed the senseless thing
with passion no words could express,
and throwing herself down upon couch
near which she had been standing,
buried her head in the cushions in
convulsion of hysterical, miserable
weeping.
''lsabeli"
She sprang upright at the sound OF
her name. 1t was the counts voice
close beside her.
Forgive me-" ha said, hum mbly, ex-
tending his hand. 81 came ten min
utes ago. They told me you sang to-
night, and waited for you. l did not
wish to interrupt you or yonr friend,
but | waited too long, perhaps"
lie was very handsome old man.
his hair was quite white, though the
face was young and one which would
always remain SO.
She Gained herself with an effort,
pacing The room a few times before she
could trust herself to speak.
The friend who has just left me is
from America, from my old home,
He has been in Florence two weeks,
II hoz krpn 1oxv c,,
he came"
eyes" "he said, as she paused mo-
ment, that is right, Isabel. am not
jealous like my countrymen. 1 could
never question anything that you might
do, or any friend you might receive"
lie had seated himself on the couch
she had occupied. She stopped sud-
denly in her restless walk up and down
the room, and bending. kissed his fore.
head with strange, yearning f. ndness.
He looked up in surprise. Any de-
monstration was rare from her.
" You are so kind TO me, Count Tur-
roni-you always have been"
She seated herself beside him and
dropped her head upon her bands as she
talked.
:" / have always been honest with you.
When | promised to marry you told
you / did not love you. That was true.
1t was true also that believed might
in time care more for you. cannot de-
ceiyee Ise. mysel66 or you In. in that way any
left me, better than my life. The un-
expected sight of him tonight was
more than could bear. ] tainted at a
mere glance at his face. Think of it!
And l the woman you have always
thought so strong and cold. Doesn't it
surprise youP"
"And he knew this?" the count asked
in n low tone.
"No, no! he never did, he never will.
He thinks me as cold as you do. And
in America is the woman he is engaged
to marry"
"You have known him longP"
"Since my childhood, and it was the
miserable misunderstanding which
separated us that sent me hereto find,
if | could, in another country and an.
own. Forgive me, if you can, Count
Turroni. You do not deserve this
This then is the endP"
She had broken again into low,
nervous sobbing. He laid his hand
gently on her bowed head.
do not distress yourself about me,
child. am an old man and have been
a selfish one. But l thought | could
make you happy:"
She slipped from her finger the jewel
she had worn there tor the past few
months and laid it in his hand, touch.
ing it gently with her lips as she did so.
IL was indeed the end.
At that same hour Harrison King
was reading letter which he had re-
ceived that morning, and laid aside in
differently, though it was from the
woman to whom he was betrothed.
One paragraph ran thus:
"Since | have been in New York /
have heard glowing accounts of Isabel
Vavasseur's successes. Probably you
will hear her sing while you are in
Florence. Perhaps you can also learn
something OF Count Turroni, who is
said to be immensely wealthy and very
fond of Isabel. His son is here in New
York-left Florence year ago on ac-
count ola quarrel with his father, and
now threatens terrific things in case
the count marries Isabel, as there is
some talk of his doing. Young Turroni
is one of the handsomest and most fas-
cinating men | ever met. New York
promises TO be very gay after the close
of Lent" etc, etc.
He did not finish the letter, THROWN
it aside as if 1t wearied him.
lie did not go to Rome the next day,
as he had intended. He heard accident
ally of special service, which had
been for the coming Easter Sunday, at
which Isabel Vavasseur was to sing,
and he waited for week. She did not
see him amJng the audience, but he
watched her while he listened to the
familiar words: ] know that my Re-
deemer ivethl" as if she had already
passed into the spiritual life, leaving to
him the darkness and despair of this.
The white-hair Count Turroni, who sat
near by, prayed in his heart that in
some way the peace which she had lost
might be restored to her.
He was in Rome the next day, leaving
it at once for Naples, and going from
thence on a hastily planned trip of in
definite length to the Holy Land, in
company with some friends, young and
restless Americans. who, with unlimited
money and leisure, were, like himself,
roaming listlessly about. He made no
arrangements for letters to reach him,
| though he wrote home regularly as in
| duty bound, and in the months before
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