Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-12-26
Fenella.

One evening j went with Cnafies,
whose engagement ring i had worn
lust one week, down to the little bridge
that runs over the stream, to look at
the reflection of the moon in the
water.
We said it was for that; and as an
artist, Charles was always supposed to
be on the lookout for moonlight effects
and sunset beauties, and all that sort
of thing; but when one has only been
engaged a week, the midst of circle
of merry tourists Tin Italy,, is not al
ways the pleasantest place to stay in.
We longed to be alone for moment
or two: that is the truth of the
matter.
But when we had reached the bridge,
we found we were not alone. There,
leaning over the handrail, a pretty
picture in her peasant dress, with her
long, black braids hanging down her
back, was my Italian maid, Fenella.
Beside her stood mana gentleman,
could sec even in that dim light. He
held Fenella's hand, and as we passed
heard a soft whisper of endearment.
They were lovers evidently, and the
next day, when we were alone, Ispoke
to Finella about it.
She only dropped me a little cour-
tesy, and blushed shyly, and said moth
ing; and IL was not old enough to
preach to her, and l was quite roman
tic enough to believe that any gentle
man might fall in love with beautiful
Fenella and be glad TO make her his
wife. Would l have loved Charles
less had his birth been humble! or
would he have thought me less his
mate had | been a peasant girl? We
believed not. So took counsel of my
lover, and we decided that it was all
very sweet and beautiful, and that all
lovers were as true as we were; and
we said nothing to the older folks
about Fenella's lover.
| think that somehow Fenella and
her lover coniectured what we thought.
They never seemed to heed us when
we met in lonely spots. 1t was always
evening, and | never quite saw his
face, but he had a fine figure, bore
himself exquisitely, and beneath the
cloak he wore we saw the flash OF
Jewels. He was some one of wealth,
if not of consequence-that was evil
dent.
We tarried in that old villa only a
few brief weeks. Those who had the
direction of the party whiskcd us away
TO ado" other places before we two
were tired of it. But ere l parted
with my maid Fcnella engaged only
for the time of our sojourm | had
grown to like her very much, and
somehow | could not help saying to
her as she braided my hair for the last
time, "Fenella, before next Summer
comes shall be married. You can
guess who is to be my husband, Of
course. Would you like to come to
our native country and be my maid
when | am married?"
She blushed, and gave me that little
courtesy of hers.
al am glad Miss Maria is to be sc
happy. / should like TO be her maid
if were any ones; but-Miss Marif
will tell nobody?-I am married.
She put her hand in her bosom ant
drew forth ring.
"My wedding ring" she said. "H'
is very well born, and we must keeT
it secret a while; but he loves me very
much, and I-ah, how well | low
him.n
So we exchanged condolences, | anC
my maid, and the next day we parted
/ returned TO England, she Remained
in her native land; bat it was long be
fore / forgot her pretty face an'
pleasant WAYS. Indeed, cannot sa.
truly that | ever quite forgot them, Blu
/ beard no more of her.
was married before the next spring
came, and lived happy life with m.
husband for five pleasant years. Ever,
spring we spoke of Italy. and planne'
to visit again the town where we ha'
met and learned to love each other
but it was not until the sixth that W
really carried out our plans, and afte
a brief travel found ourselves in th
quaint old place where Fenella ha'
been NV maid, and where hal
dreamed my love-dream, and knew sh
had dreamt hers.
The old villa in which we had dwell
stood empty that summer, and, t
make our visit still more full of swee
memories. we hired it for the season
With it we also hired the same old ma
and woman who had ministered to III
wants of the large party of tourist
who had crowded the villa during tina
vanished summer.
We two only had returned to it, an
we lived in two or three of the man
rooms in a sort of Bohemian fashio
we found very pleasant
The very first day had QUESTION: