Daily Republican., 1883-05-02
HOW ROMANCE CAME.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
When grandfather Ackland died,
stood beside his bedside. Cousin ku
dolph was on the other. We wert
quite alone, for the nurse was sen1
away, and were very sad, for we loved
grandfather very dearly. We wer,
waiting to hear something that he had
desired to say to US and at last hi
spoke.
Rudolph, he said, you have no,
formed any matrimonial engagements
without my knowledge, suppose ?"
"No, SIR" said Rudolph.
"Nor you, Felicia ?" asked my grand.
father.
"Oh, no." saidI.
81 am glad OF that, said he. Now,
Rudolph, | know you admire your con.
sin, and that she respects you. II
would rejoice me greatly if you would
both think over a proposition which !
am about to make you. | should like
to see you engaged to each other before
I die. have left the property between
you, and that would re-unite 1t. Still,
l would not make that my motive,
believe yon well suited to each other ;
well-contrasted in physical appearance,
with the qualities to satisfy each other.
| should know that Felicia had pro
tector on whom | could rely, and you
a wife to make You happy. Think it
over, and answer me Tomorrow
Neither of us said anything. Soon
we were sent away ; but that evening
Rudolph came to me.
Felicia" he said, edo you think
you could nut up with me ?"
"Rudolph," answered, "even to
please grandpa, can't marry hus-
band who do"'t love me-"
"But do" said Rudolph" really,
nobody could help it,"
"And I suppose romance is chiefly
found in plays and novels, said l.
" Real love and friendship are what
people actually have in happy married
life"
"Oh, as to that, let us be romantic,
too" said Rudolph. " You see, being
cousins, we've never thought Of it; but
| should be very glad if you could
make up your mind, my dear
and Rudolph eighteen; remember-we
promised our grandfather to do as he
wished. We were not to marry until |
was twenty-five. Meanwhile was to
be under the protection of an old friend,
since have no living relatives; and we
were both to take a tour through Europe,
and to proceed with our education. We
made our grandfather very happy, and
wept in ca.'h others arms when he died
However, my feelings did not alter to
Rudolph. | had always loved him
dearly, and no special romance connect
ed itself with him. Only ! think a
woman always feels pleased to know
that u handsome admirable young man
is her very own for life.
Thus matters We're arranged when we
started on our European tour in the
same steamer, under proper chapcron-
age. We did the cities. We saw nature
as seen by other tourists. We looked
at the pictures heard the music Wis
tied the libraries. We were by no
means always together, and it CHANGED
that in Rome / was introduced to q
gentleman, young friend of my chap
irons who was very courteous to me,
md offered us his escort whenever it
was needed.
He was u young sculptor, rich, and
III Italian by birth, by name Giovanni
bnt very, very handsome.
When had known him a little while,
Rome began to havea wonderous charm
or me. Places [ cared nothing for 1T
Il -, -.DH
ornance. | spent days in the galleries
With him, my chaperon asleep in a
hair near by.
Rudolph declared himselfsick thigh
Irt. He spent most of his time at the
lOuSe Of the father of u school friend of
lis, whom he had met by chance--a fel-
Dw who always had good cigar and
'lenty Of music. Music was Rudolph's
ancy just then.
How easily we slip into places we
would never enter willingly! One
morning l awoke in my little Roman
'ed, under painted ceiling, and with
he light falling upon me through a
taincd glass window, and suddenly |
the truth.
The romance that had not come to
ne with my engagement to my cousin
al come with my acquaintance with
fiovanni. | loved my cousin but
vas In love with the sculptor, and he
With me.
ooh, the bitter shame ] telt the
eep Contrtion! I could only say to
lyself, weak, wicked creature, how
are you say that?' And then knelt
own andprayed for help, and it seemed
, ne that ! might pray better in the
i'm old cathedral SO near us; and
ressing myself hastily, glided out at
he door, telling no one where | was
Ding. There were few in the church
t that early hour; but even as I ca
.ssed my own grief | noticed another
lore sal than l. A young English
'oking girl-a very violet of a creature
in mourning, and with tear
aimed face. She knelt before certain
lrine, hiding her eyes with her hands,
nd then started up. There was u
range look in her eyes. | felt that I
'ad its meaning. She intended to de-
roy herself.
"The victim of some wicked deceiv-
- | thought to myself. "But she
lall not--shc shall not. | will follow
nd save her" and when, in u moment
: two, she slipped ont of the church
as ut her heels
She turned, as | expected, into the
truda lr Repetta, which leads straight
III" banks Of the Tibcr, and at last
lcstood close to its edge. in the shelter
an old wall, making up her mind, rs
saw, to tn" awful plunge she had con-
mplated. Then | went close to her
ID caught her by the dress and said
'fiy
q Stnni [ knnW what Won are going tOl