The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-22


He placed himself before a mirror.
He did not WOO his af1ianced; she SIM
ply adored him, in passionate though
innocent fashion scarcely comprehensi-
BILE to the French.
The marriage was effected in three
weeks, and Teresa revived rapidly under
the invigorating influence of her happi-
ness. She took possession of her young
and handsome husband, fully, ardently,
with jealous and complete monopoly.
Agreeable and kind, he suffered her to
do this, becoming the more readily hers
and theirs from the fact that, his family
having gone, the poor fellow had not
tie in the world outside of Teresa and her
relatives.
In marrying the daughter of the Car
dellis he became almost as much their
child as she was, and in the simplicity of
his excellent and unsuspecting nature,
desiring to see everybody satiied, he
kindly allowed himself to be captured.
Up to the last moment Teresa feared
lest some unforeseen event might take
him from her. From morning till night
he was held prisoner, for she was still
jealous of Rosa Falcone, and did not
want Orlando to meet her, for then he
might regret the young girl and renounce
his marriage with Teresa.
Father, mother, maiden aunt, every
body, covered the young lover with gar
lands; all hung upon his lips from fear of
displeasing him. And this was absolute
ly sincere.
But when he had become Teresa's, in
stalled in her house, bound by q solemn
oath, her goods, her husband, her prop
erty in fact, Teresa's passion became a
jealous delirium and it's form changed.
Instead of submissive, she became ex-
acting. She had so long. hoped in vain
that her anxiety was not Gained by pos
session. The young husband said to him
self that she had suffered much; he ac-
cepted in the beginning. At the end of
six months, when the condition of affairs
caused him frequent irritation, he saw
what mistake he had made in not re-
sisting at the start; the precedent had
been established. 1t was necessary to
submit in order to avoid scenes and ner-
vous crises.
Oh! the scenes!
He tried, however, to struggle; but
what could he do against Il wife, a
father, mother, an old maid? In the
end Orlando bent his head.
Then even his work was taken from
him. Monteforte had never been what
is considered an indefatigable toiler. But
his art now became necessity to him,
to enable him to forget the petty trials of
every day life.
The studio caused his wife continual
suspicious.
In the first place she permitted him no
models save men and old women.
Next she kept him at home under all
sorts of pretexts, and constantly disturb
ed him with visits which she claimed as
Indispensable.
Was he about to Settle down to work?
Was his task beginning to interest him?
A little tinkle of the bell announced the
arrival of his wife, sustained by one of
her family. Teresa came to assure her
self of his presence in the studio, and to
find out who was posing for him.
Every night, after the o'clock supper
"a cold collation. composed either of the
dessert left from the dinner, or of salad
and fried fish picked in lemon juice, or
of cooked Observation-Disclosures went
to the Cafe d'Europe to meet the other
artists. Generally he contented himself