St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-17
VENETIA.
By Mary Summers.

calm surface, seemed tinted with the azure
radiance.
sat last what, Venetian" inquired her
companion, as he secured the oars and al
lowed the little boat to drift aimlessly
about.
''Out of the glazing sunlight, scorching
and red, the eternal bluenesS of the heavens
the white, binding waves. All! it is $50
much relief to be here with the cool, refresh
ing breeze. Can't you appreciate your sur
roundings, Berto?" she asked, leaning for
ward and peering eagerly into his face.
These long, sentimental speeches were a
popularity Of her own.
''What you an Italian, and declaiming
against the characteristic beauties of your
native land You should be ashamed to
own it, Venetia, But L confess am glad
to leave the heat and glare, to escape to this
terrestrial paradise, alone with nature-and
you, ;" he answered with light laugh.
The girl laughed neryously, and said,
with sigh: eff | could believe you; you
speak this way to me now, and an hour
hence you will say something as sweet to
Lady Maud Berie. All! Gilbert, you trifie
with me; accuse me of not being Italian, say
that my sojourn in England has cooled my
iery nature and made me skeptie, but you
shall learn differently some day.
Her voice was low and musical, and
though strongly accented, her English was
wonderfully correct. Her dark eyes looked
earnestly into the young mans smiling and
seemingly hooking countenance as he
asked:
rs that threat, ma chere? Venetia,
darling, why will you not trust me? You
know love none but you"
II do not, or shall not. Your very words
orr Ia of eli
idle brain. If / were proud | would have
refused coming to Capri with you; but /
my pride has gone; you have now another
victim, Gilbert Dorrien, and now you may
| eXult over your latest achievement. At
times / hate you. l do now'' She was
white and trembling with the passion that
/ swept her SOUL and throwing herself back
in the boat, buried her face on her arms.
| A sneer curled DorTien's lips. but kind
ness beamed from his eyes, What was her
sentiment-gush, he called ito him? He
had panied her by his Indifference, and she
loved him.
Beloved put thy faith in what l say. 1
love you fondly, truly; my first and only
love" he entreated, bending forward and
taking her hands in his.
''Why is it l am so weak? / distrust you
always, always; and yet at the slightest
endearment from you 1 yield. If you fail
me, carissimo, my life will be dark indeed"
she said, smoothing the golden rings of
silken hair from his white forehead. Then
she added. suddenly: 1T is getting late,
and it will be dark when we reach the city,
Berto."
Her lips trembled joyously, but the tears
shone in her eyes. 1t was strange that she
could not believe in him. He was hand
some, rich, and talented, and all his poss-
essions had been laid at her feet for love of
poor but proud Venetia Savelli, who could
only boast beautiful face.
Eau revoir, my Venetian beauty. I will
call this evening after the entertainment on
the PalaZzo, when we will see the bay by
moonlight alone Dorrien said, with light
caress, as he left her at the door of her
fathers villa.
''Berto, Berto is it true that with your
carelessness, almost bantering words of af-
lection, you love the Italian who devotedly
loves you, or is it in my madness | overstep
all the pride 1 once boosted of and accept
the flattery of this young Englishman?'
Venetia murmured, as she watched DOrrien'S
slight form pass out OF her sight.
''Signorita, letter for you. 1t came
short while ago. whispered Alessandro, the
house servant, creeping stealthily to her
side
''Aless! how you startled me! You will
kill me yet, or brighten some one else to
death. One never knows you are about till
one hears you," she exclaimed in Italian,
taking the letter.
The old man crept away as softly as he
came, muttering something about her cold
English ways"
From Milan,' she Said glancing at the
postmark; then hastily opening the epistle.
she read:
Miss Savelli: l hear that Gilbert Dorrien
is troubling you with his attentions. They
may be Acceptable to you or they may not;
but l beg to inform you that, whether in
different to him or not, you are not at liberty
to receive any fiattering devotion. As he
is my husband, you will oblige me by re-
fusing to see him after my information
JUDITH DoRRIEN.
Not word escaped Venetia's pale lips;
her face was frozen in its naughty contour;
in one hand she clenched the letter, the
other was thrown back of her dark head.
my lover" she Kissed through her set
teeth. ''Where was my pride when l list
ened to his servile fiattery? Mypride! All,
heavens, it is humbled in the dust now, for
l love-I love him STILL" With a deep
groan she fell to the ground beneath the
orange trees in deep sWoon.
How long she lay there she knew not, but
when her wandering senses returned night
lay over Naples; the stars were passing
over the heavens in bright array, while
through the dark branches of the orange
grove fell the mellow moonbeams. A cool
breeze caressed her forehead, and, trying to
rise from her uneasy posture, Venetia found
herself clasped in a strong pair of arms.
s'Where am I?' she whispered.
Here, where you shall always be hence
forth, in the arms of your Berto," answered
Dorrien, gently. But, throwing off his
arms, she sprang to her feet, lightning
flashing from her eyes.
Away! Keep your arms and soft words
for their rightful owner, your wife, Gilbert
Dorrien. How dare you, how dared you
avail yourself of your treacherous beauty
and betray girls confiding lovel Oh, was
there ever such heartless cruelty
''My wife-betrayr' exclaimed Gilbert.
''Venetia, what do you mean-what has
changed my dark-eyed gazelle to this pas
sonate, furious woman?"
''Silenee, l command you. Beware what
you say. This is what has changed my
love to hate. Refute that if you dare. " she
said, sneeringly handing him the letter.
He read it, his blue eyes burning luridly,
his pale face white and drawn.
''Oh, my darling.' he groaned, Ito wound
her, to tear her feelings in this fearful
mannerr'
.sYou cannot then," Venetia whispered:
even at the last she had hoped against
hope.
II can" Dorrien replied. II deny every
word of it. ."Tis vile fabrication from
beginning to end Unhapily | have sister,
Judith Dorrien, who loves me for the sake
of the old name; she cannot abide my mar