The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-10

| stretched in greeting, her whole lace glowing
with love. Then she stopped. Her arms
fell at hor side; tho smile died off her lips
her eyes grew bewildered and incredulous in
their loving, anxious gazel
"What do you want with me?" asked Nita
ooldy.
For an instant Genna could find no words
to answer q greeting so unexpected and so
cold Then suddenly her face flushed, she
drew herself up us proudly and calmly as
her sister herself. SIS that all your VOL
conner" she said. "Have you forgotten
amidst your splendor that you have n slstc,
still2"
Nita's lips ourled scornfully. II do not
wish to recall tho past" she answered coolly.
81 am very different now."
$50 see, - said GoanL; $50 different that
old ties and old memories and old love are
alike undesirable rem IN brances.'
"How did you fnd me out?" questioned
Nita sulkily.
ST saw you in tho balcony-yonder; was
among the crowd"
"And what can have brought you here-tt
| Rome2" demanded Nta in wondsf.
A curious smile hovereI round her s.
ter's patient lips. II dare say you are sur
prised," she said. SIT was such very SIM
pie thing too; merely the fact that l could
not teach nay memory to serve mo as yours
has been taught to servo you."
| Nlta looked slightly abashed. "You wero
always so foolish, Genna," she said petulantly.
"You could not surely have come all this way
only to see me-"
"I did"
"And-when-I mean, what do you intend
to do, now you are here?" And Nita looked
doubtfully at the shabby garments and coarse
| figure before her.
| Genna flushed with momentary shame.
Not for herself, but for the shallower nature
that had so quickly learned the worlds first
lessons, and measured even affection by ap.
pearance. "It need not trouble you," she
said coldly. II 60 back at once. II am
glad all is we'll with you. There is no need
to ask if you are happy-and your husband
is good to you, no doubt"
| "My husbandp' Nita's lips curled super
oilliously. "He is my slave; adores, idolizes,
worships me. have not done so badly for
myself, you sec, Genna, after all. I told you
that had IDEAS far beyond the life led-the
life you would have condemned me to, oven
now, had been foolish enough to stay with
you."
"At least you might have told me you
were going away" said Genna, rebukingly-
panied and hurt by the coldness and sci.
fshness of this girl, who held in such little
worth the fidelity and love of long years
and patient service, mot stolen away and
left us to imagine"
"What?"
"Tho worst that can be imagined Of any
girl who deceives those who love and trust
her as we loved and trusted you, Nita. But
thcro, / did not come to;reproach you. am
glad you are happy, and that Rufo is so sue
cessful. He must be great and rich both to
surround you with luxury like this"
"What are you talking about?" exclaimed
Nita in astonishment. "My husbands name
is not Rufo."
"Not Rufo? Not the painter with whom
you fled from Giovoli! and Genna's voice
grow stern, apd her face dark with anger.
"Then what are you, Nita?''
az am the wife of noble," answered the
girl, tossing her head in the old, proud, will
full way. "You surely were not such SIM
pleton as to imagine would marry poor
painter; and as for ,Rufo Anio--I hate him p
SO vindictivey and furiously were the
words spoken, that Genna looked at her in
horror and amazement.
81 tell you I hate himl" persisted Nita
stamping her foot with anger "Don't look
at me like that. ! mean it every work! He
was your lover, was he nota Ha ha! fine
taste, truly, to prefer you and slight me. But
swore vengeance, and have had it. 1t is
true" she went on with greater fury, US the
amazement and scorn in her sisters eyes
stung her with their unuttered rebuke, " he
amused himself with me. but it was you for
whom he cared-I knew it. He told me 80
that evening-the last I was at home, when
I met him on the hillside; and said you
were about to be welded, and that you did
not like him. 1t was fun to see how angry
he was, and how l showed him that oil his
airs and graces were as nothing in your
sight In comparison with the honest worth of
plodding contadino. He said he would go
ut once-and promised him that would
sit TO him in Florence for the remaining
portion Of the picture. I told him 1 had
friends there. Tho truth is had made up
my mind to leave home. I was sick of it,
and knew could gain living by sitting as
0 model to the painters-and-"
"Oh, hushr The shamed, agonized en-
treaty fell across the girls heartless words,
with reproach and an agony that silencad
her. She saw Genna had thrown herself
down ON one of tho satin oouches-her
whole frame oonvulsed with sobs-her face
hidden in the poor, coarse, work-hardened
hands.
Nita looked at her In silence for moment.
"You should not have como to sec me-" she
said, "You look at things SO differently.
You always did"
Genna rose to her feet, and dashed the tears
from her eyes. "We do look at things in
different light" she said. II thank God for
it now. may be poor. and coarse, and
ignorant. but at best my lips have never lied
my hands have never been soiled by
touch that would bring dishonor Oh, Aita,
almost wish you had died ere had seen
you as see you today remember you lit
tie, laughing, toddling child, coming to me for
every want, looking to me for every Joy. re-.
member you happy beautiful maiden, the de.
light and pride Of my heart, have thought
of you always, day and night. since you for
sock me. I have thought you might DO in
trouble, need, want, and that you would
surely turn to me and remember me then
for II you were lonely and sorrowful you
would know at least would welcome, shell