The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-02


But you are wrong in your statement
don't think myself conquerer hero. am
going to Florence at Mrs Wilton's request
to make her nieces acquaintance nothing
more Probably | shall not like Miss Balfour:
very probably she will not like me- Mrs
Wilton has no right to make schemes for
other people, without their consent, and then
to proclaim those schemes as eertainties to all
the world.
"Dear, dear she doesn't proclaim her
schemes to all the world. How fiery You
arei am, as | said, a friend of the family;
it's only natural that Mrs Wilton should be
"a little confidential to me-
Then the subject of Miss Balfour was
allowed to drop. But other subjects pre-
sented themselves and conversation was well
sustained through the long dinner. When at
last the girl rose, turned to her neighbor
with bright little motion of the head
between bow and nod and passed out of
the room in the company of the lady in the
plum-colored silk, who honored the young
man with searching glance, David was
astonished to remember how voluble he had
been. Now that his exertions were over, he
wondered what to do with himself, and when
he should see the friendly stranger again.
He hung about the reading room; She was
not there He toiled up to his bedroom.
looked up paper and pencil, and began a son
net on a pair of blue eyes, left it unfinished
and wandered out The moon was shining
on the open water before the Riya degli
Schiavoni; the fishing boats with their pictur-
esque sails stood out in silver light But
David did not liuger-as he once would have
lingered-oVer the scene; he hurried on to the
frequented Piazza of st. Mark There he
watched the crowds passing up and down
He did not tell himself that it was in search
| of one face that he scanned each group of
promenadars or idlers. But, as in passing
one of the tables before the Cafe Fioram'
he caught sight of the lady who had accosted
him at table d'hote, and who was now slipping
coffee aud talking with her friend, he felt
| somehow as if a long search had been re
waried He raised his hat, and passed on.
nlishing like girl when he received a re-
sponsive bow and smile Then he walked
slowly back down the Riya to his hotel. sat
up late over his sonnet, tore 1t up in angry
| discomfort and feii asleep to dream of an ami
| mated face and pair of hewitching, bright
blue eyes.
| The days passed quickly. II was glorions
mtumn weather Every morning David
| :isited, in obedience to directions in his guide
book, some famous churches or Palaces, or he
made his way TO the studio of a molern art
| tst All day long DavLl looked forward lie
| the ttte-,l- tete of the dinner hour Every
| evening he went to the Piazza, and marched
| up and down in solitary state, his eyes CON
| ton, or he sought table at the cafe where
he could furtively watch his new friend who
was pretty sure to he in sight When speak
ing to her, David had often had at his
| tongues tip a downright question concerning
her name, but he had hitherto been too shy to
utter it He fully intended to be holder,
| one day Meanwhile, in his verses
she had found her way into most of his
verses written at this period-he chose, for
some fanciful reason of his own, to call her
| "Hara"
| 1t turned ont that the length of the girls
stay in Venice was identical with Dayid's;
| they were both to leave on the same day.
On the last evening in Venice David aud
| Hera found themselves walking together,
and actually maccompanied, along the
| Piazza A strange silence came over the
young man Intently-almost breathlessly-
he watched his companion. She had drawn
OFT one of her gloves; on one Of her fingers
was ring, with forget -me-not in tur-
| quoises David wondered, with a touch of
utterly unreasonable jealousy, whose hand
had placed it there
| The silence seemed oppressive to the girl
| "Let us hurry toward the Riva, and see the
1 II, y IN
| light on water is the most correct of all We
netian beauties"
Certainly David tried to shake of his
taciturnity--to emulate his companions gay
ETY. But the attempt ended in failure; he
was obviously duh and miserable
Oh the beauty of the evening-an evening
never to pass from Davids memory How
grand and solemn the ducal palace looked in
| the moonlight! how still was the water how
sweetly came the sound of singing voices
from tile grand canal On the top Of the
steps Of one of the many bridges OH the Riva
both walkers came simultaneously to stand
still
$50 this is our last evening in Nenice!" said
the girl, resting her arms on the top of the
bridge, and looking musingly down into the
| water
| "Why do you tell me that! surely know
| it," burst out David, savagey. The girl
glanced up startled by the sharpness Of his
| Voice.
whats the natter" she asked
"Ah, me- he sighed. "Sic transit gloria
mundi y
Il beg your pardon"
Il beg yours; | was quoting Latin What
| want to say is that--that-the prospect of
bidding you goodbye is-well-is the reverse
of an enlivening one 10 me-"
"How solemn you are" with laugh And
for no reason at all We shall often meet
again"
"Shall wel" David leaned his elbow on the
top Of the bridge; he bent bis head down close
to the girls, her hair almost brtlsheo bus
cheek.
"Of COURSE" a little impatiently. MY
friend and ] go to Florence to morrow, and,
as | told you, am great friend of Mrs
Wilton's; look III upon her every day
But l am not going to Mrs Wilton's ="
David spoke in n suppressed voice; lie did not
raise his head
"What do You mean"
@What way cannot 60 to her now. i
had not been day tn Venice before I rev
aware of that fact But could not-forgivs
me-rt.siSn the pleasure of staying on here
with you. My expenses at Venice must he
refunded sonehow-' with grim smile.
you are going to morrow; then leave thu
same day for London
Good graciolis!n The girl raised herself
from her STOPPING position How change
able and how incomprehensible you areI
What has happened since you left home to
change your plans SO suddenly"
Everything has happened Half nechan-
ieally, Hera had moved On a few PAGES, and
David walked beside her. they descended the
bridge steps and made their way slowly along
the river
"You know of-you spoke ola matrimo-
NAL scheme for me, which was the cause of
Mrs. Wiltons invitation When left home
| was free 1t was at least possible that an
introduction to Miss Balfour might, if my ad
vances proved acceptable, end in the accom-
plishlnent of my aunt's scheme. Now, all
that possibility is over"
tWhy overer