The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-08-17
o a B I T A.

''Yon do not love me, Carita?'
The question was half-question, half
reproachful assertion; but as Maurice
Vernon uttered it, the dark, liquid eyes
of the girl to whom he addressed it fill
ed with tears. They did not fall; they
only clung to the long lashes, until,
freighted with their weight, it seemed
they must drop from them, but Carita
forced them back
mot love you?" she repeated, in a
sweet musical voice, to which a foreign
accent lent added piquancy and charm.
"Ah, Maurice, you are very cruel when
you speak to me like that! You know
that love you but too much, else why
did promise to be your wife?''
"a wife should have no secrets from
her husband, Carita-a fiancee from her
betrothed; yet when / asked you what
possible claim this young man, whom l
met tonight for the second time coming
from your presence, can have upon
you, you refuse to answer me-"
''You put it so strangely, so strongly,
when you speak of claim. | acknow-
ledge, Maurice, no claim save yours
But he belongs to my country; he is
in trouble, and he comes to me for SYM
pathy.".
Maurice sprang to his feet, and paced
excitedly up and down the pretty room.
Everywhere the lovely dark, tear-wet
eyes followed him.
''You are angry with me- she said,
piteously-''very angry. Have you no
trust, no confidence in me?''
"You try all that l have to the utter
most" he answered. E'Carita," paus-
ing before her in his walk, ''you must
give this man up--you must not see him
again. He must learn to do without
your sympathy" emphasizing the last
word with unconscious irony.
The girls beautiful face paled.
''You command me to see him no
moreP" she asked.
NAY, darling, do not desire to put
it so harshly as a command; but can
not consent to you again receiving him.
l do not like his looks. He muttered
something under his breath, too, as
passed him tonight He is deceiving
you, Carita; he loves you, and is jeal-
Gus Of me as your accepted lover"
mo. no! You are unjust. He can
not love me, we have been 1r1entts from
children. He is rash and is in disgrace
with the government. He wishes only the
freedom of our country. He loves moth
ing 80 well as freedOm-he has no time
to think of other loves; but will tell
him he must come no more. He will
obey me-"
THAT is my own, brave. dear girl!''
said Maurice, STOPPING to kiss the
sweet, upturned lips. tA-i you will
not think me severe, little 4e? You will
believe | am not all seltisL in my re-
quest?''
81 will try to believe whatever you
would have me-" she replied, but as she
spoke she sighed.
An hour later, when he had bade her
goodnight, Maurice remembered the
sigh, and wondered what had called it
forth.
Two months previously he had been
ordered to Italy by his physicians, to re-
cover from q severe illness. The second
day after his arrival he had met the girl
who had captured his heart. She had
been already fortnight his betrothed.
She was an orphan, and living under
the roof of an old aunt. Save her Won
derful beauty, she possessed no wealth,
but many fortunes had been laid at her
little feet, if but with them she would
accept their owner, yet, until Maurice
had come (she told him) her heart had
not awakened from its sleep. He had
been the Magic Prince whose kiss had
reused it from its slumber
She had been educated in London,
and spoke English perfectly, though she
hat 1o-oI ho- o,vy,, lic,iI tono11o
Whispered rumors of q revolution
were rife in Rome just at this time, and
all strangers were regarded with sus,
picion, therefore it was with real relief
that Maurice, remembering what Carita
had told him of her friends standing
with the government, recalled hel
promise to him to see him no more.
Why had she sighed when she made it!
That she gave it at all was proof of hel
love, and yet the sigh shadowed it with
O Jealous doubt he strove in vain tC
drive away.
1t haunted him until he was again witt
her, and then he forgot all save that he
eyes and lips together spoke language
sweeter than any ever known before.
Love, with this man, was no trivia
sentiment. 1t absorbed his being-i
dominated over all else. He lookeC
| back upon the thirty-five years o
| his existence in WOnderment that h.
had never more painfully and acute
ly felt their emptiness. He looke'
| forward to the future, which Carita wa
to share, and its dazzling brightnes
| blinded him.
He had bade her goodnight, one even
| ing, a few weeks after the talk we hav
described between them, when, standin
| in the shadow of the street, he descrie
the figure of man standing as if await
ing something. Walking few steps, h
| turned back TO look again.
In that instant, Carita, in her whit
dress stepped out through the low Frenc
| window of the drawing-room upon til
balcony. AS instantly the man vaulte
over the low railing and stood besid
her.
The light fell upon his face. 1t we
he whom she had promised to see n
more.
Maurice waited, to watch her repuls
him; but no! He addressed to her fe
low, hurried words, then they went t.
gether into the house.
Maurice Vernon's brain reeled. Il
dared not follow, lest his Jealous passio
should overmaster him.
Evidently the man had been awaitir
the signal that she was alone. And tn
was the woman he had trusted-th
was the woman to whom, in few mol
weeks, ne would have given his prou
old namel
All night he stayed out in the ope
air. In the early dawn he returned
his own hotel, and then sent her a fe
hurried lines, saying that if by noon 81
could send him an explanation of tn
which naught but the evidence OF h
own senses would have led him To