The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-26
HOW ROMANCE CAME.
Mary Kyle Dallas.

| When grandfather ACKlanu uleu, L
stood beside his bedside. Cousin
Rudolph was on the other. We were
quite alone, for the nurse was sent
awav, and we were very sad, for we
loved grandfather very dearly. We
we're waiting to hear something that
heIhad desired to say to us; and at
last he spoke.
"Rudolph," he said, "yOu have not
formed any matrimonial engage
ments without my knowledge, l sup
pose? ?"
mo, SIR" said Rudolph.
Nor you, Felicia ?" asked my
grandfather.
"Oh, no." said 1.
lam glad of that" said he. "Now
Rudolph, 1 know you ADMIRE Your
cousin, aud that 1erespects y3u It
would rejoice me greatly if you both
would think oyer proposition which
am about to make you. l should
like to see you engaged to each other
before die. | have left the proper
| ty between you, and that would re-
unite it. Still, l would not make
that my motive. l believe you we'll
suited TO each other; we'll contrasted
inphysical appearance, with thequal-
tiles to satisfy each other. l should
know that Felicia had protector on
whom l could rely, and you 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, "do you think
you could put up with me ?"
"Rudolph," l answered, "even to
please grandpa, | can't marry a hus-
band who don't love me.n
"But l do" said RudoIph-"really
nobody could help it,"
"And suppose romance is chiefly
found in plays and novels" said 1.
"Real love and friendship are what
people actually have in happy mar
ried 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 ifyou could
make up your mind, my dear"
So the next morning-I was sixteen
and Rudolph eighteen, remember
we promised our grandfather to do
as he wished. We We're not to mar
ry until l was twenty-five. Mean
while | was to be under the protec-
ton 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 feeling did
not alter to Rudolph. l had always
loved him dearly, and no special ro-
nance connected itself with him.
Only think woman always feels
pleased to to know that a handsome,
admirable young man is her very
own for life.
Thus matters were arranged when
we started upon our European tour
in the same steamer, under proper
chaperonage. We did the cities.
We saw nature as seen by other tour.
lists. We locked at the pictures ;
heard the music; visited the libra
ries. We were by no means always
together. and it CHANGED that in Rome
| was introduced to a gentleman, a
young friend of my chaperon's who
was very courteous to me, and Offer
ed us his escort whenever it was
needed.
lie was young sculptor, rich, and
an italian by birth, by name Gioyan-
nj Monaldini, but very. very hand
some. When ! had known him a
little while Rome began to have a
wonderous charm for me. Places
cared nothing for at first were invest.
ed with glamour of romance, |
spent days in the galleries with him,
my chaperon asleep in chair near
by.
Rudolph declared himself sick of
high art. He spent most of his time
at the house of the father of a school
friend of his, whom he had met by
change--a fellow who always had a
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 Gawoke in my little Roman
bed, under painted ceiling, and
with the light falling upon me
through stained glass window, and
suddenly recognized the truth.
The romance that had not come tc
me with my engagement to my cousin
had come with my acquaintance with
Giovanni. l loyed my cousin ; but ]