The Iola register., 1891-07-24

Therefore. l ask you to oblige me by 6x-
ing your return for that day, and on ar
rival at Naples, come straight to me ct
this hotel, that may have the satisfsc-
tion OF being the first welcome to you as
you deserve. Telegraph your answer and
the hour Of your train; and
nv carriage shall meet yos
at the station. The dinner-hour can be
fixed to suit your convenience Of course;
what say you to eight O'Clock? After
dinner you can betake yourself to the
Villa Romani when you please-your
enjoyment of the lady's surprise and
rapture will be the more keen for hsv-
ing been slightly delayed. Trusting you
will not refuse to crafty an on old mans
whim, l am
''Yours for the time being,
CEsARE OLIVIA"
This epistle finished and written in
the Grabbed disguised penmanship IL was
part Of my business to affect, folded,
sealed and addressed 1t, and summoning
VincenZo, bade him post IL Immediately.
As soon as he had gone on this errand,
sat down to my as yet untasted break
fast and made some effort to eat Is
usual. But my thoughts were too ac-
tive for appetite counted on my fin
fiers the days-there were four, only
four, between me and-what One
thing was certain-I must see my wife,
or, rather, should say my betrothed-I
must see her that very day. then be-
gan to consider how my courtship had
progressed since that evening when she
declared she loved me. had seen her
frequently, though not daily; her be-
havior had been by turns affectionate,
adoring, timid, gracious, and once or
twice psssionately loving, though the
latter impulse In her had always coldly
checked. For, though ] could bear
great deal, any outburst of sham senti-
ment on her part sickened and filled me
with such utter loathing that often when
she was more than usually tender I
dreaded lest my pent-up wrath should
break loose and impel me to kill her
swiftly and Suddenly, as one crushes the
head Of q poisonous adder-an all-too-
merciful death for such as she. pre-
ferred ID WOO her by gifts alone-and
her hands were always ready to take
whatever l or others chose to offer
her. From a rare jewel to q COM
mon flower she never refused
anything-her strongest passions were
vanity and avarice. Sparkling gems
from the pilfered store of Carmelo Neri,
-trinkets which / had especially de-
signed for her,-lace, rich embroideries.
bouquets Of hot-house blossoms, gilded
boxes of costly sweets-nothing came
amiss to her-she accepted all with
certain covetous glee which she was at
no pains to hide from me-nay, she made
it rather evident that she expected such
things as her right.
And after all, what did it matter to
me? l thought-of what value was any
thing possessed save to assist me In
out the punishment 1 had de-
stined for her? l studied her nature with
critical coldness-I saw its inbred vice
artfully concealed beneath the affecta-
tion of virtue-every day she sank lower
in my eyes, and wondered
how could ever have loved so
coarse and common a thing! Lovly she
certainly was,-lovely too are many of
the wretched outcests who sell them
selves in the streets for gold, and who In
spite of their criminal trade are less vile
than such woman as the one / had
welded. Mere beauty of face and form
can be bought as easily as one buys a
the loyal heart, the pure
soul, the lofty intelligence which can
make of woman an angel-these are un-
purchasable ware, and seldom fall to the
lot of man. For beauty, though so per-
Is snare to us all--it maddens
our blood in spite Of ourselves, i
we men are made 50. How was IL that ].
even !, who now loathed the creature
once loved, could not look upon her
physical loyeliness without q foolish
thrill Of passion awaking within me
passion that had something of the
murderous in it-admiration that was al
most brutal-feelings which could not
control though l despised myself for
them while they lasted There is a
weak point in the strongest of US, and
wicked women know we'll where we are
most vulnerable. One dainty pin-prick
we'll aimed, and all the barriers Of eau
ton and reserve are broken down-we
are ready to fling away our souls for o
smile or a kiss. Surely at the last day
when we are judged,-and maybe con-
can make our last excuse
TO the Creator In the words Of the first
misguided man:
THE woman whom thou gavest to be |
with me,-she tempted me, and did |
,at!'
l lost no time that day in going to the |
Villa Romsni. drove there in my car
rage, taking with me the usual love- |
offering in the shape Of . large gilded |
full of white violets Their |
delicious odour reminded me Of that May |
when Stella was born, and then |
quickly there flashed into my mind the |
words spoken byGuidoFerrari at the time. |
How mysterious they had seemed to |
me then, how clear their meaning nowi |
On arriving at the Villa found my |
iancie in her own boudoir, attired in |
deshabille, IL trailing robe Of |
white cashmere trimmed with Mechlln |
ace and swansdown can be considered |
ieshabille. Her rich hair hung loosely
IN her shoulders, and she was seated In |
/ velvet easy chair before q small spark
ing wood fire reading. Her attitude
vas one OF luxurious ease and grace, but
The sprang up as soon as her maid an
me, and came forward with her
Usual charming air of welcome, in which
here was something imperial, As Of q
sovereign who receives Q subject pre-
presented the flowers / had brought,
With few words of studied and formal
uttezed for the benefit of
he servant who fingered in the room,
hen added in lower tone
II have news Of importance-can I
peak to you privately?"
She smiled assent. and motioning me
y graceful gesture Of her hand to
axe seat, she at once dismissed her
maid. As soon as the door had closed
'ehind the girl, spoke at once and to
he point, scarcely waiting till my wife
esumed her essy-chsfr before the fire."
81 have had . letter from Signor
'errari."
She started slightly tut said nothing,
he merely bowed her head and raised
Ter delicately-arched eyebrown with .
lok of INQUIRY as of one who should