The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-04-27
1T HAPPENED so.

when grandfather Ackland died.
| stood beside his bedside. Cousin Ru-
dolph was on the other. We were
quite alone. for the nurse had been sent
away, and we were very sad. for we
loved our grandfather dearly. We were
waiting to hear something that he had
desired To say To us; and at last he
| spoke.
Rudolph" he said. '.yOu have not
formed any matrimonial engagements
without my knowledge. presumed"
No, sir" answered Rudolph.
Nor you, Felicia" asked my grand
father.
"Oh no." said ].
Il am glad of that, said he. .Now.
Rudolph, l know you admire your cou-
sin. and that she prospects you. Ii would
rejoice me greatly if you would both
think over proposition which am
| about to make to you. | should like
10 see you engaged to each other be-
fore l die. have left the property
between you. and that would rcunite il.
Still, would not make that nv mo-
tive.
81 believe You are well suited to each
other: well contrasted in physical APP
pearance. with the qualities to satisfy
each other. should know that Felicia
had Il protector on whom could RELY,
and You wife to make YOU happy.
Think il over. and answer me t0-mOr-
row."
Neither Of us said anything. Soon we
We're sent away; but that evening Ru-
dOlph came TO me.
"Felicia,' he said. lido YOU think
you could put up with me?'
Rudolph" answered. ..evcn to
please grandpa. Ican't marry a husband
who don't love me-"
"But do" said Rudolph dearly.
Nobody could help it,
"And | suppose romance is chiefly
found in plays and novels said |.
'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
l should be very glad if you could make
up your mind, my dear
So the next morning. was sixteen
and Rudolph was eighteen, remember
we promised our grandfather to do rs
he wished. We were not TO marry I'M
til was twenty and Rudolph twenty
| two.
Meanwhile was to be under the pro-
| lection of an old friend, since had no
| living relatives: and we were both to
| take tour abroad, and to proceed with
our education.
| We made our grandfather very hap
| py, and wept in each others arms when
he died. However, my feelings did not
alter to Rudolph.
Ihad always loved him dearly, and
no special romance connected itself
with him. Only think a woman al
ways feels pleased to know that hand
some admirable young man is her very
own for life.
| Thus matters were arranged when we
| started on our tour i'm the same steamer
under proper chaperonage.
| We did the cities. We saw nature as
seen by other tourists. We looked at
the pictures; heard the music; visited
the libraries.
| We were by no means always togeth-
er. and it CHANGED that in Rome l was
introduced to gentleman, young
friend of my chaperon's. who was very
courteous to me, and offered us his es-
cOrt whenever it was needed.
He was young sculptor, rich, an
Italian by birth, by name Giovanni
Monoldini. but very. very handsome.
When had known him little while
Rome began to have wOndrous charm
for me. Places cared nothing for nj
first were invested with glamour OF
romance. spent days in the galleries
with him, my chaperOn asleep in chair
hard by.
Rudolph declared himself sick of high
art. He spent most of his time at the
house of the father of q school-friend OF
his, whom he had met by chance-a fel.
low who always had a good cigar and
plenty of music. Music was RudOlph's
fancy just then.
How easily we slip into places we
would never enter willingly! One
morning | awoke i'm my little Roman
bed, under painted ceiling, and with
the light falling upon me through q
stained glass window, and suddenly
recognized the truth.
The romance that had not come to me
with my engagement to my cousin had
come with my acquaintance with GiOv'
ami. 1 loved my cousin; but l was in
love with the sculptor, and he with me
| Oh, the bitter shame l felt!-the deer
contrition! could only say to myself
II could not help it," and then cry
"Weak, wicked creature, how dare yor
say that?"
| And then knelt down and prayet
for help, and it seemed to me that
might pray better in the dim old cathe
dral so near us; and dressing myself
hastily, glided out at the door, telling
no one where Twas going. There were
few in the church at that early hour
but even rs I caressed my own grief,
noticed another more sad than l.
| A young English girl-a very viole
of creature-dressed in mourning, an(
with tear-stained face. She knelt be
fore certain shrine, hiding her eye
with her hands, and then started up
There was strange look in her eyes
felt that read its meaning. She in