The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-04-25
HOW ROMANCE CAME.

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 no
had desired to say TO us; and at last he
spoke.
Rudolph" he said, "you have not
formed any matrimonial engagements with
cut my knowledge, suppose ?"
"No, SIR" answered Rudolph
"Nor you, Felicia?" asked my grandfath.
err.
ooh, no." said I.
81 am glad of that" said he. "Now,
Rudolph, know you admire your cousin,
and that she respects you. 1t would rejoice
me greatly if you would both think over a
proposition which am about to make to
you. I should like to see you engaged to
each other before die. l have left the
property between you, and that would reu-
mite it. Still, would not make that my
motive. believe you well suited to each
other; well contrasted in physical appear.
ance, with the qualities to satisfy each other
l should know that Felicia had a protector
on whom could rely, and you a wife to
make you happy. Think it over, and an
swer 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 put up with me ?"
Rudolph" answered. "even to please
grandpa, can't marry husband who don't
love me-"
"But 1 do" said Rudolph" dearly.
Nobody could help it,"
"And l suppose romance is chiefly found
in plays and novels" said I. "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"
Rudolph eighteen, remember-we promised
our grandfather to do as he wished. We
were not to marry until | was twenty and
Rudolph twenty-five. Meanwhile / was to
be under the protection of an old friend,
since / had no living relatives; and we were
both to take tour through Europe, and to
proceed with our education We made our
grandfather very happy, and wept in each
others arms when he died. However, my
feelings did not alter TO Rudolph. | had
always loved him dearly, and no special re-
nance connected itself with him. Only l
think woman always feels pleased to know
that handsome, admirable young man is
her very own for live.
Thus matters were arranged when VIC
started on our European tour in the same
steamer, under proper chaperouage We
did the cities. We saw nature as seen by
other tourists. We looked ut the pictures
heard the music visited the libraries We
were by no means always together, and it
CHANGED that in Rome was introduced TO
gentleman, n young friend of my chaper.
on's, who was very courteous to me, and
offered us his escort whenever it was need
ed.
He was young sculptor, rich, and italian
by birth, by name Giovanni Monaldini, but
very, very handsome. When l had known
him little while Rome began to have a
wondrous charm for me. Places I carol
nothing for at first were invested with
glamour of romance. l spent days in the
galleries with him, my chaperon asleep in
a chair near by.
Rudolph declared himself sick of high art.
He spent most of his time at the house of
the father of school friend of his, whom
he had met by chance-a reiiow who always
had good cigar and plenty of music. Mu-
sic was Rudolph's fancy just then.
How easily we slip into places we would
never enter willingly One morning /
awoke in my little Roman bed, under n
painted ceiling, and with the light falling
upon me through a 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 Giovanni. /
loved my cousin; but was in love with the
SCULPTOR and he with me.
Oh, the bitter shame | felt!-the deep
contritionl could only say to myself, ~
could not help )" and then cry "weak,
wicked creature, how dare you say that ?"
Aud then knelt down and prayed for help,
and it seemed TO ne that / might pray bet
ter in the dim old cathedral so near us ; and
dressing myself hastily, glided out at the
door, telling no one where 1 was going
There were few in the church at that early
hour but even as ] caressed my own grief
noticed another more sad than /. A young
Englnh-looking girl-a very violet of crea-
ture-dressed in mourning, and with tear.
stained face. She knelt before certain
shrine, hiding her eyes with her hands, and
then started up. There was a strange look
in her eyes. felt that 1 read its meaning.
She intended to destroy herself
"The victim of some wicked deceiver,"
thought to myself. "But she shall not
she shall not I will follow her and save
herr" and when, in moment or two, she
slipped out of the church I was at her
heels.
She turned, MS / expected, into the StrG1a
di Ripetta, which leads straight to the banks
of the Tiber, and at last she stood close to
its edge, in the shelter of mn old wall, max.
ing up her mind, as saw, to the awful
plunge she had contemplated. Then 1 went
close to her and caught her by her dress,
and said, softly:
Stop! know what you are going tc
TO- You are wrong, whatever troubles you
have. I 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 saw in the church," said L
Is : 80 plainly written in my face that
straas.1 van see it?' she cried. sThen,
indeed 'sse water is the place for memo
ether r.
hA,S s4r tiohter
How do you know what comes after n
/ cried" after this life? Worse than
shame, perhaps"