Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-04-10

"fhe victim of some wicked deceiver,
L thought to myself. "But she will no
she shall not. | will follow herr" ant
when, in moment or two, she slipped
out of the church. I was at her heels.
She turned, as I expected, into th'
Strdda di Pi Ripetta, which leads
straight to the banks of the Tiber, anC
at last she stood close to the edge, in the
shelter ofan old wall, making up hel
mind, as l saw, to the awful plunge she
had contemplated. Then / went close
to her and caught her by the dress, anG
said, softly:
"Stop! I know what you are going
to do. You are wrong. whatever trou-
bles you have. I have followed you tc
keep you from the river"
The girl turned sharply and looked
at me.
"What do you know about me ?" she
asked.
"Only what I saw in the church." ]
said.
"Is it so plainly written in my face
that stranger can see it?" she cried
"Then, indeed, the water is the place
for memo otherp'
I held her tighter.
How do you know what comes
after,n I cried-"after this life? Worse
than shame, perhaps"
"Shame!" she said "Ohi how dare
you! Do yon think I am a young per-
son who has had no respect for her
self?n
People always think that of girls
who drown themselvea," I answered
Don't think it os me-" she said. "I
am only foolish. Perhaps you came to
the cathedral to pray because you were
sad ?1
Eyes" I said.
"You know about me because your
own heart told you," che said. "You've
been good and kind to follow me.
think I'll till you sll but the names:
Pm governess. as poor as mouse.
came here with rich family, and a
friend of the son's-he visited them. He
Is spendid creature, good, true, perfect,
beautiful; but he liked little me. And I
used to sing to him-I am quite one of
the fanily-and 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, L ask moth
ing of life but the right to love you and
protect you, and that cannot have for
honor's sake And he told me how
good she was and handsome; and moth.
ing, nothing to him beside little me.
80 all night lay awake. and made
up my mind to kill myself this nom.
ing to me If Rudolph is loat-married to
that girl! Rudolph, who Grid when we
parted, though he was man!p
"Rudolph," cried I.
Hush !" she cried. II did not mean
to say that"
Rudolph Ackland ?n l continued.
II never told you" said she.
No" ssidI. II am fortune-telier.
Violet, look iuto my eyes Believe me
=! know. There is no need of drown
ing yourself That girl 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
kiss me and go home," said I.
She put her lips to mine. And then
we went together up the Strada, and I
went home. On the way met Giovan-
nj My heart beat high with joy-high,
er yet when we parted, for we had
pledged our faith to each other.
My chaperon and Cousin Rudolph
were breakfasting together. Rudolph
was pale he eaid nothing. My chape-
ron scolded me, but when he left US for
a moment said TO Cousin Rudolph:
"Cousin, cheer up. Let us thank
Heaven we were engaged. not married.
[ think you had better go and see Violet
this morning. am going to the Vati
can with Giovanni. We make excel
lent cousins. Let us retain that relation
only. Our romance has come to US
otherwise than we hoped"
| tbink-such is nian--that he was
hurt and angry with me, but he went to
Violet. and she is his wife to-day, and I
Giovanni's. And the seas roll between
our homes. for I never left Rome, and
be transplanted his Violet to America.