Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-07-14

or stupefied; ON tho contrary NV mental
perceptions were more than ordinarily
keen. Thought was in no way hindered OF
impeded, and was not only fully conscious
| of the phenomena by which she was con
trolling me, but was studying and ana
| lying 10 as coolly as II II was, even then
matter of the past instend OF the present
| knew, too, that she was exercising Just
| enough of her subtle force TO hold me sub
servient to her will and not a whit more
She, manifestly, only sought To enchain
| me sufficiently To prevent my resisting her,
but, at the same time, ii was her aim "a
leave me, as far rs possible, in "a normal
| condition. was of the opinion that she
had something to communicate to me con
| corning her demon tormentor which she
| feared might DO unwilling to listen to.
| There was much in her present manner
which so impressed me, and many little
circumstances connected with the departure
| OF the jewellers now came flashing through
my mind, satisfying me that had con
jectured rightly. The more reflected upon
the strange events of the night the more
mysterious and wonderful the woman
seemed to me. Every time that she had
spoken TO me she had addressed me in
French, my native language. To the rev
elers she had spoken in Italian. Since we
were in Italy, and there was nothing i'm my
personality TO indicate that was q French
man, how had she SO accurately guessed
my nationality: Had she already guessed
fore, while ! was still floating under her
balcony, listening to her song!
For brief time these and similar
thoughts made me even more uncomfort-
able than my recollections Of the ghoul,
or goblin, with whom found her wrestling
when first entered her rooms.
Was she a sorceress No could swear,
standing there as was, gazing down into
her pure face, that she was an angel. NV
faith IN her was complete, aud could
neither have been shaken nor intensified.
My face must have BETRAYED nv mental
processes, for | saw all at once that she
knew my thoughts and was satisfied. She
had entirely released me from the brief
condition of restlessnesS or thraldom in
which, for few seconds, she had held me /;
and was now left the supreme master Of
my own will. Her beauty, however, was
more potent than the other spell by which
she had controlled me- and suddenly felt
that my whole heart was hers forever.
She too, seemed to realize this, for
deep crimson flush all at once
spread over her face, neck aud
shoulders. | was more than eyer charmed
10y this evidence of her maidenly modesty,
and impetuously extended my hands
toward her. For an instant only She hes
itated, then she placed both her hands in
mine.
''Shall you stay and test my winer she
whispered, confusedly.
I'll will, " cried. You know could not
do otherwise il would TO look into your
eyes, though. and 10 hear your voice is
more to me than the rarest wine in the
world. When heard you singing TO night
your music was SO perfect that | forgot
Italy, and thought that was once more i'm
my own fair France. hut | am glad TO
lave so sweet an awakening To my dream
Yes repeated, kissing her hands; II will
stay and drink your wine; will stay until
you send me away"
Her color deepened aud she bowed her
head.
"And that" she said, will he when you
ere tired Of me-
She called for wine, but we scarcely
tasted IL, though we sat together i'm the
moonlight until long after the hour of mid
night was struck from the clock towers.
Times unnumbered a shadow came upon
her face, and saw that she was about dis
closing something which panied her, and
so each time / diverted her from her
purpose, and i'm the end went away with.
out knowing what she would have said.
When had stayed until feared that the
lateness of the hour might distress hor, |
reluctantly arose To go. IL was thon that
my ardent impetuosty overcame me al
together, and begged leave TO come to her
balcony every night
'Do not deny me, y pleaded, "for love
you and want to win you for my own
From this night shall have no separate
existencc-my whole being is merged into
yours, and the hours | spend apart from
life" W ''' w wi 's"'" 10 '"'iea
Emotion after emotion thrilled her as l
spoke until she seemed to have felt every
thing that the hoart can feel. She made
me no answer, but, pale and trembling
stood helplessly with her hands in mine
will you not speak"' l murmured,
bending over her.
Speak ~ she cried, show can /. There
is more to say than you, in your widest
imaginings, can ever dream. You should
have heard me before you said so much.
Now you have silenced me. and the
wretched words which should come from
my lips would choke me il tried to say
them.
Then leave them unsaid"
Justice to you demands that ] should
speak,
can distress YOU" ] interposed.
you do not know how much / have to
say about"
''Stoprn cried. There are two things
wish to know. II you will tell me them,
all is done
speak What are thcy.n
Are you wifer'
SIS any living man the posscssor of your
heart.r
Again the rich crimson tide swept over
her face neck and shoulders. She placed
one of her trembling. burning hands upon
mine, glanced shyly up into my eyes, and
then looked down.
why do you not answer I ASKED,
fearing That my fondest hopes were vain.
"Do you not know she cried ''can YOU
not see arc you really so blind!'
L feared to look at her. Ii seemed To me,
then, that had been beguiled TO her rooms
merely to furnish her sport. | had forgot
ten the danger ! had rescued her from,
and only remembered that ! loved her to
Ia Ill. II.
mirth and caprice,
Il see said, turning away, u am not
30 blind as you think. am nothing ia
you, because you already love
Shc seized me by the shoulder and turned
me around. Then she threw herself into
my arms.
III love you she murmured
1t was the first, the only happiness Of
my life, aud felt that all the sorrow and
misery Of the old dead days but made this
moment the sweeter. | lifted up her
beautiful blushing face, bent nv head, and
then, for the first time in my life, my lips
touched the lips of q woman. Earth never
knew n purer kiss.
When the hour came for me TO go she
twined her white arms about my neck and
her eyes filed with tears.
.Partings.c continual partings,n she said.
That is all life seems to hold Why must
we .. part 4 -. .,o,, ,,.,,. -.
not part, | answered. 1T is for you TO
say when that day shall be-"
II am yours whenever you want me-"
she murmured, creeping more closely to
me.
Then cried, you shall be my wife
For moment she was silent, but there
was another sound in the room; sound,
too, which at first made her shudder IL was
such n tremulous cadence as might be
brought from a lutte IL one lightly touched
all OF its chords at once, only that il ended
with sigh. Three times the sound was re-
peated, and each time IL was fainter than
before. y.wonderment was banished in
stantly by an unexpected caress on the part
of my betrothed. Standing upon her tip
toes she had raised her lips TO mine and
kissed me,
ut shall be you say" she said, smiling
at my surprise.
The next day we were married. For n
year we lived together in uninterrupted
sometimes i'm Rome, sometimes
in Florence, sometimes in Venice. As she
seemed most contented in the latter place
wore there the Qrea tpr mn RI NJ ottr tituo