San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-13

| mand and l obey"
swell, take off those dark glasses
Just for minutel / want to see your
eyes!"
/ rose from the sofa quickly, and an
swered her with some GOODNESS.
ASK anything you like but that, mia
bella. The least light on my eyes gives
me the most acute pain-pain that
irritates my nerves for hours afterwards.
| Be satisfied with me as l am for the
present, though promise you your wish
shall be gratified-"
"When?" she interrupted me eagerly.
1 stopped and kissed her hand.
son the evening of our marriage day."
| answered.
She blushed and turned her head away
coquettishly.
"Ah! that is so long to wait" she said,
half pettishly.
''Not very long, 1 hope" observed,
with meaning emphasis. "We are now
in November. May l ask you to make
my suspense brief? to allow me to fix our
wedding day for the second month of the
New Year?"
"But my recent widowhood!
Stella's deathl' she objected family,
pressing a perfumed handkerchief gent
ly to her eyes.
SIN February your husband will have
been dead nearly
six months" l said, decisively; sit is
quite a sufficient period of mourning for
one so young as yourself. And the loss
of your child so increases the loneliness
of your situation, that it is natural, even
necessary, that you should secure a pro-
tector as soon as possible. Society will
not censure you, you may be sure-be-
sides / shall know how to silence any
gossip that savours of impertinence."
A smile of conscious triumph parted
her lips.
sit shall be as you WISH" she said de-
murely; 'if you, who are known in
Naples as one who is perfectly indiffer-
ent to women, like now to figure as an
impatient lover, l shall not objectr"
And she gave me quick glance OF
mischievous amusement from under Ian
guild lids of her dreamy dark eyes. /
saw it, but answered stiffly-
"You are aware, Contessa, and i am
also aware that / am not lover ac
cording to the accepted type, but that
am impatient readily admit"
Sand Ay?" she asked.
because" replied, speaking slowly
and emphatically, 81 desire you to be
mine and mine only, to have you abso-
lutely in my possession, and to feel that
no one can come between us, or interfere
with my wishes concerning you"
She laughed gaily. "a la bonnie
| heure! You are lover without know
ing il! Your dignity will not allow you
to believe that you are actually in love
with me, but in spite OF yourself you are
you know you arer'
stood before her in almost sombre
silence. At last l said, ''if you say so,
Contessa, then it must be so. l have
had no experience in affairs of the heart
as they are called, and l find
it difficult to give name to the
feelings which possess me; l am
only conscious Of very strong wish to
become the absolute master Of your des-
Unity" And involuntarily / clenched
my hand as l spoke. She did not OBJ
serve the action, but she answered the
words with-a graceful bend of the head
and a smile"
81 could not have a better fortune"
she said, "for / am SUR my destiny will
be all brightness and beauty with you to
| control and guide III!
at will be what you Deserve" 1 half
muttered then with an abrupt change
of manner said:
81 will wish you good night, Contessa.
1t grows late, and my state of health COM
pes me to retire to rest early"
She rose from her seat and gave me a
compassionate look.
''You are really great sufferer then?''
she inquired tenderly. 81 am sorry!
But perhaps careful nursing will quite
restore you. shall be so proud IL l can
help you to secure better health"
"Rest and happiness will no doubt do
much for me-" answered, "still l warn
you, cara mia, that in accepting me as
your husband you take a broken-down
man-one whose whims are legion and
whose chronic state of invalidism may in
time prove to be burden on your young
life. Are you sure your decision is 9
wise one?''
quite surel she replied firmly. "DC
not love you? And you will MOI al
ways be ailing-you look so strong"
81 am strong to certain extent"
said; unconsciously Strengthening myself
as l stood. 81 have plenty of muscle as
far as that goes, but my nervous system
Is completely disorganized I-why,
what is the matter? Are you ill?"
For she had turned deathiy pale, and
her eyes looked startled and terri
fled. Thinking she would faint, l ex-
tended my arms to save her from falling,
but she put them aside with an alarmed
yet appealing gesture
sit Is nothing" she murmered feebly,
"a sudden giddiness:-I thought-no
matter what! Tell me, are you not relat-
ed to the Romani family? When you
drew yourself up just now you were SO
like-like Fabiol l fancied," and she
Shndaerad- 'thEt Lsaw his phosti"
To Be Continued.