The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-26

then cry, "Weak, wicked creature,
how dare you say that ?" And then
| knelt down and prayed for help.
and it seemed to me that l might
pray better in the dim old cathedral
so near us and dressing myself has
tily, l gided out at the door, telling
no one where l was going. There
were few in the church at that early
hour; but even as l caressed my own
grief noticed another more sad than
l. A young English looking girl-a
very violet of creature-dressed in
mourning. and with a tear-stained
face. She knelt before a certain
shrine, hiding her eyes with her
hands and then started up. There
was strange look in her eyes, felt
that l read its meaning. She intend.
ed to destroy herself.
1.-The victim of some wicked de.
cetyer,n Thought TO myself. .sFsu.
She shall not-she shall not. viii
follow and save hers" and when, in
moment or two, she slipped out OF
the church was at her heels.
She turned, as 1 expected, into
the StrudG de Ripetta, which leads
straight to the banks of the Tiber,
and at last she stood close to its edge,
in the shelter of an old wall. making
up her mind, as l saw, to the awful
plunge she had contemplated. Then
[ went close to her and caught her by
the dress, and said softly:
"Stop! I know what you are going
to do. You are wrong. whatever
troubles you have. l have followed
you to keep you from the river"
The girl turned sharply and looked
at me.
"What do you know about me-
she asked.
"Only what l saw in church," said
SIS it so plainly written in my face
that a stranger can see it ?" she cried.
"Then, indeed, the water is the place
for memo other !"
l held her tighter.
elbow do you know what comes
after" l cried latter this life
Worse than shame perhaps"
"Shamel" she said. "Oh! how
dare you'll Do you think l am q
young person who has no respect for
herself?"
"Peoplo always think that of girls
who drown themselves" | answered
"Don't think it of me-" she said
L am only foolish. Perhaps you
came to the cathedral to pray because
you were sad ~
Eyes," said /.
"You know about me because your
own heart told you," she said. You've
been good and kind to follow me.
think I'll tell you-all but the names
Ppm governess, as poor as a
mouse. l came here with a rich fam
lily, and friend of the son's-he
visited them. He is a splendid crea
ture, good, true, perfect, beautiful
but he liked little me. And I used
to sing to him-I am quite one of the
famiy-and l grew to love him and
yesterday, at twilight, he walked on
the hills with me. Suddenly he told
me how he loved me, and how he
should never be happy, for he was
engaged to girl whom he must
marry"
"Little Violet" he said, II ask
nothing of life but the right to love
you and protect you, and that | cam
not have for honor's sake" And he
told me how good she was, and hand
some and nothing, nothing to him,
beside little me.
$50 all night 1 lay awake, and
made up my mind to kill myself.
Now you know all. life is nothing
to me if Rudolph is lost married to
that girl Rudolph, who cried when
we parted, though he was man ~
"Rudolph J" cried l.
"Hush ~ she cried. 81 did not
mean to say that"
"Rudolph AckIand?" I continued
81 never told YOU" said she.
NO. said |. II am fortunde
teller. Violet, look into my eyes
Believe mel know. There is nc
need Of drowning yourself. That Cir
will not marry Rudolph Ackland
She loves some one else better. She
feels free to marry him now. She
knows that Rudolph's heart will not
be broken. Go home, Rudolph will
come to YOU"
"What do you mean ?" asked the
girl. "Are you fortune tellerT
believe you are-that girl her.
self.
1--WE will make no CONFESSIONS
said l. "Kiss me and go home"