The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-05

mans face so innocently and in9uiring-
" that he fell into the trap.
Aaa pray what may that be?' he
asked.
ITO mind cne's own business" said
Kenyon, shortly and sharply, turning
his oack to the last speaker, as II the
discussion was at AZ end.
The tall mans face flushed with
rage. kept my eye upon him, fear
ing he would make an assault upon my
friend, but he thought better of it.
With curse he turned on his heel, and
the matter ended.
While this conversation was in prog
ress, the old Italian woman had left
her learned-looking friend. and having
rejoined the young girl, the two went
upon their way. Our ill-conditioned
Italian, after his discontinue, walked
across to the man who had been talk
ing to the old servant, and, taking his
arm, went with him in another Girec-
ton. They were soon out of sight.
Kenyon did not propose to follow the
steps of the first couple, and /, even
had wished to do so, was ashamed to
suggest such thing. Still, 1 am afraid
that resolution as to visiting San
Giovanni again tomorrow was forming
in my mind.
But saw her no more. How many
times l went to that church dare not
say. Neither the fair girl NOR her at
tendant crossed NY path again while
in Turin. We met our impertinent friend
several times in the streets. and were
honored by a dark scowl which passed
unnoticed; but of that sweet girl with
the pale face and strange dark eyes we
caught no glimpse.
1t would be absurd to say / had fallen
in love with woman 1 had only seen
for few minutes-to whom had never
spoken-whose name and abode were
unknown to me; but l must confess that
so lar as looks went, was more inter
ested in this girl than in any one had
ever seen. Beautiful rs she was, l
could calcely say why l felt this attrac-
ton or fascination. had met many,
many beautiful women. Yet for the
slender chance of seeing this one again
/ fingered on in Turin until Kenyon
my good-tempered friends patience
was quite eXhausted-untii he declared.
that unless quilted it at once. he would
go away alone. At last gave in. Ten
days had passed by without the chance
encounter l was waiting for. We
folded up our tents and started for fresh
scenes.
From Turin we went southwark
Genoa, Florence, Rome and Naples, and
other minor places; then We went across
10 Sicily, and at Palermo, according to
arrangements, were received on board
a yacht belonging to another friend.
We had taken our journey easily; stay
ing as long as it suited us in each town
we visited. so that by the time the yacht
had finished her cruise and borne us
back to England, the summer was near
lv over.
Many and many time since leaving
Turin 1 had thought OF the girl l had
seen at San acknowledgement OF her
so often that 1 laughed at myself for
my folly. Until now l bad never car
ried in my mind for so long a period the
remembrance of woman's face.
There must. for me, have been some
thing strangely bewitching in her style
of beauty. l recalled every feature-I
could, had been an artist. lxave painted
her portrait from memory. Laugh at
my folly, as 1 would, could not con-
ceal from myself that short as the time
was during which l had seen her, the
impression made upon me was growing
stronger each day, instead of fainter.
l blamed myself for leaving Turin before
l had met her again-even if for that
purpose it had been necessary to linger
there for months. My feeling was that
by quitting the place had lost a chance
which comes to a man but once in a
lifetime.
Kenyon and parted in London. He
was going to Scotland after grouse. l
had not vet quite settled my autumn
plans, and SO resolved to stay, at any
rate for few days, in town.
Was it chance or was it fate? The
first morning after my arrival in Lon
don business led me to Regent street l
was walking slowly down the broad
thoroughfare, but my thoughts were
far away. Twas trying to argue away
an insane longing which was in my
mind-a longing to return at once to
Turin. l was thinking of the dim
church and the fair Young face 1 saw
three months ago Then, as in my
minds eye saw the girl and her old
attendant in church, l looked up and
here in the heart of London they stood
before me!
Amazed as l was. no thought of be-
ing mistaken entered my head. Unless
it was dream or an illusion, there
came the one had been thinking of so
often; walking toward me, with an old
woman by her side. They might have
Just stepped out of San Giovanni.
There was little change in the appear
ance of the old woman: she was dressed
more like an English servant; but the
girl was the same. Beautiful, more
beautiful than ever, I thought as my
heart gave = great leap. They passed
me; 1 turned impulsively and followed
them with my eyes.
Yes, it was my fate! Now l had
found her in this unexpected manner l
would take care not to lose sight of her
again. attempted to disguise my
feelings no longer. The emotion which
had thrilled me as l stood once more
face to face with her told me the truth.
1 was in love-deeply in love. Twice,
only twice, had seen her, but that was
enough to convince me that if my lot
was ever linked with another's it must
be with this woman's, whose name,
home or country, knew not.
There was only one thing could now
do. / must follow the two women. So,
for the next hour or more, wherever
they went, at respectful distance, L
followed. WAITED whilst they entered
one or two shops aud when their walk
was resumed discreetly logged their