Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-25


Juliet, so did this perfectly lovely woman
cause me to forget all others and from
that moment new life was opened to me
"The caleche took the road to the city
and | instantly joined young Russian
who, frequenter of all the baths and
| watering places, was also familiar with the
principal salons of European capital. and
well acquainted with most of the travellers
and foreigners of rank, aud from him
learned that she was the Countess Plas
COVE Labinska, Lithuanian of noble birth
and enormous wealth, whose husband had
been absent for two years in the Caucasian
campaign. l need not give you in detail
all my maneuvers to gain presentation to
the Countess, who, in the absence of the
Count. was extremely exclusive in her re.
captions. At last, however, 1 succeeded,
two princesses ard four baronnes, some.
what advanced, standing as sponsors for
me.
1.-THE Countess Labinska had taken a
villa, formerly the property of the Salviati
family, half league from Florence There
she had surrounded herself with all the
comforts of modern life, without disturb
ing its severe classic beauty and grave ele-
gance. If had been charmed at first with
her radiant beauty, l was still more i'm
pressed on knowing her, with her intellect
and character, and her delicate perception.
| While speaking on any subject interesting
to her the whole soul shone 10 her face. |
was dazzled, infatuat ID, aud while listen
ing to her musical, expressive voice, lost
all power of conversation, stammering and
hesitating in my remarks, to such an ex-
| tent that she must sometimes have thought
me almost fool.
:" had never dared to speak of love to
her twenty times l had determined to do
so, but the least reserve or GOODNESS on her
part seemed to freezs the words upon my
| lips, and left her without word.
Z" was so completely beside myself that
| passed hours in repeating her name
Plascovie Misunderstanding an indefnable
charm in the syllabes. | could not read
nor occupy myself with anything discon-
nected with her. ] loved her with all my
soul, without demanding or hoping any
thing in return, for in my most daring
dreams l hardly presumed to touch my
! lips to her hand"
NJ Balthazar Cherbonneau had listened
with the deepest attention, for to him this
was not simply a sentimental story, and at
VIC lliSb G&uoC hC ottlus dS IL W utuleCll
60 Yes, yes, this is thorough diagnosis of the
passion of love, curious disease, of which
| have never seen but ore instance-at
Chandeneagor, the case of young pariah
who was eprise with brahma she died Of
it, poor girl I; but then she was sort of a
savage; you, on the contrary, are civil
lied, NJ. Octave, and you will see that we
shall cure you" Concluding this little
parenthesis, he made sign to NJ. de Saville
to continue, crossing his leg from the hip
joint, like grasshopper, and resting his
chin on his knee-a position quite uuat-
tainable for any one else, but which seemed
especially comfortable to him.
81 DO not wish to bore you by too min
ute details, continued Octave. cat last
everything was decided. One day, when
l could not control my impotence to see
the Countess, | paid my visit at much
earlier hour than usual It was sultry,
oppressive weather. did not find her in
the salon. She was on veranda with
slender columns opening on a terrace by
which the garden was reached. Her piano
was there. A lounge and light garden
chairs and jardinieres running over
with howers-nowhere so exquisite, fresh
and fragrant as in Florence-perfumed the
occasional breezes from the Apennines
Beyond, through the arches, was seen the
garden, with its trimmed yews and box
wood expresses of more than century,
and peopled with the NEUROLOGICAL figures
of Bandinelli and LAmmanatto, while in
the distance, far above the city of Florence,
rose the swelling dome of Santa Maria del
Fiore, and the springing square belfry of
the Palszzo Vecchio.
1.-THE Countess was alone. Never had
she seemed so beautiful to me. Languid
with the heat she was half sitting, half
lying on the lounge, in snowy peignoir
of India muslin the sleeves, open from
the elbow, disclosed her beautiful arms.
white as alabaster and perfect as those of
an antique marble Her silky fair hair
thrown back, as if by the breeze, revealed
the broad white forehead and transparent
temples, around which it clustered in soft
waves, catching and retaining the light in
its golden meshes. As | drew near she
looked up, closed her book, and greeted me
with a smile. / seated myself near her.
There was silence between us, prolonged
for some moments, till it became painful.
l found it simply impossible to utter any
of the commonplace conventional phrases
| Vi SOClSbJ. WY uOdu SWdtlI, anu lily near v
kept constantly repeating to me, DO not
lose this supreme moment. l do not know
what might have done if the Countess,
divining the cause of my embarrassment,
had not half risen from her seat, extending
her hand as if to prevent my speaking
"'Do not speak, M. Octave. You love
me. I know it, I feel it, 1 believe it. l
do not blame you, for love is involuntary
Other women, more severe than l, might
feel insulted, but /, on the contrary, only
regret sincerely to be the cause of sorrow
to you. l am sorry that we ever met, and
lament the caprice which induced me to
leave Venice for Florence. Do not mistake
my pity for encouragement; do not be mis-
Led by my gentleness. am shielded from
all temptation. l love my husband, and l
have found perfect happiness in my mar.
rage Think of other things. Try to i'm
agine me absent forever or dead forget
me. Travel, study, interest yourself in
works of charity throw yourself into the
active life of humanity. Learn to love an.
other woman
&c / made gesture of denial.
"'Do you fancy you will suffer less in
seeing me, she added. If so, come, and
l will receive you always. Nevertheless
absence seems to me the wisest of all RENE
dies, and in two years all will be past.
s'The next day 1 left Florence; but
neither study, travel. nor time has changed
my feelings, and know that / am dying.
l implore you not to interfere"
"Have you ever seen her since?" asked
the doctor, his blue eyes sparkling curl
ously.
"No," answered Octave, "but she is il
Paris !" and he handed M. Balthazar Cher
bonneau an engraved card:
"La Comtesse Plascovie Labinska. Al
home Thursdays"
Among those who, leaving the dust and
confusion of the more fashionable prom
enades, preferred the comparative isolation
the greenness and silence of the Avenue
Gabral, on one side trees and on the Other
gardens, there were few who were not at
tracted by singularly beautiful spot, full
of poetic and mysterious charm.
The gardens were separated from the
avenue by q low hedge, extending back to
ward the hotels, the facades of which
1 l.. T., ,ri