The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-27

Even so haO she WdIheu WIFI me d 'iou
sand times! She was dressed in pure
white save for one spot Of deep color
near her heart-a red rose, as red as
blood. 1t was pinned there
| with diamond pin that flashed in the
| moonlight thought wildly, that in
stead of that rose, there should be blood
indeed,-instead of a diamond pin there
should be the good steel of a straight dag
| ger, Butt had no weapon-I stared at her.
dry eyed and mute. She looked lovely
exuisitely lovely! No trace of grief
married the fairness of her face-her eyes
were as languidly limpid and tender as
ever-her lips were parted in the child
like smile that was SD Sweet-sO inno-
Gently trustfulI She spoke-ah, heaven!
the old bewitching music of her low
voice made my heart leap and my brain
reel.
"You foolish Guido,' she said in
dreamily amused accents. "What would
have happened, | wonder, if Fabio had
not died so oppOrtuDely?"
WAITED eagerly for the answer. Guido
laughed lightly.
HE would never have discovered any
thing. You were too clever for him,
piccinina! Besides, his cOnceit saved
him-he had so good an opinion OF him
self that he would not have deemed IL
possible for you to care for any Othe:
man"
Ny wife-lawless diamond-pearl of
pure womanhoodi - sighed half rest
lessly.
81 am glad he Is dead!" she muir
INJURED; "but, Guido, mic, you are i'm
prudent You cannot visit me now so
Dften-the servants will talk! Then
must go into mourning for at least six
months-and there are many other
things to consider" Guido's
hand played with the jeweled necklace
she wore - he bent and kissed
the place where its central pen
dant rested. Again-again, good sir,
| pray you! Let no faint scruples inter-
tere with your rightful enjoyment!
Cover the white flesh with careSses-it is
public property! dozen
kisses more or less will not signify. So
| madly thought as crOuched among the
trees-the tigerish wrath within me max
ing the blood beat in my head like
hundred hammer strokes.
NAY then, my love" he replied 20
her, sit is almost pity Fabio is dead!
While he lived he played an excellent
part as a screen--he was an unconscious
but veritable duenna of propriety for
both of us, as no one else could ber'
The bOughs that covered me creaked
and rustled. My wife started and looked
lneasily around her.
"Hush!" she said nervously. ''He was
buried only yesterday-and they say
there are ghosts sometimes. This
avenue tool wish we had not come
here-it was his favorite walk. Be
Sides she added with a slight accent
of regret. latter all he was the father
of my chiId-you must think of that"
"By Heaven exclaimed Guido
dercelv. do not think of it? Ay-and
I curse him for every kiss he stole from
your lips!''
listened half stupefed. Here was a
new phase of the marriage lawl Hus-
bands were thieves then-they ''stOle"
kisses: only lovers were honest in their
embraces! Oh, nv dear friend! my more
than brOther-hOw near you were to
death at that moment! Had you but
seen my face peering pallidly through
the dusky Ieaves-could you have known
the force of the fury pent uD within me
you would not have valued your life
At one baiOccO,
why did you marry him?" he asked
after little pause, during which he
toyed with the fair curls that floated
against his breast.
She looked up with little mutinous
pout, and shrugged her shoulders.
"Why? Because / was tired OF the
Convent and all the stupid. solemn ways
of the nuns: also because he was rich,
and was horribly poor. i cannot bear
to be poor! Then he loved me."-here
! her eyes glimmered with malicious tri-
umph-''ycs-he was mad for me-and"
"You loved him?" demanded Guido al
most fercely.
MA chel" she answered with an eX-
pressive gesture. Il suppose / did-for
a week or two. AS much as one ever
loves husband. What does one marry
for at all? For conyenience-moneY-
pOsition-he gave me these things, as
you know"
You will gain nothing by marrying
me them" he said jealousy.
! She laughed, and laid her little white
hand, glittering with rings, lightly
against his lips.
.'Of course not! BesideS,-haye / said
will marry you? You are very agree
able as a lover but other
wise 1 am not sure! And am
free now,I can do as like; l want to
enjoy my liberty, and
She was hot allowed to complete her
sentence, for Ferrari snatched her close
to his breast and held her there as in a
vice. His face was aflame with passion.
Look you. Nina" he said hoarsely.
s'you shall not fool me, by Heaven! you
shall not. / have endured enough at your
hands. God knows When saw you for
the first time on the day of your mar
rage with that poor fool Fabio,-I loved
you. madly-ay, Wickedly as l then
thought, but not for the sin OF 1t old !
repent knew you were woman, not
angel, and / waited my time. 1t came
Il sought you'll told you my story OF
love ere three months of welded life had
passed over your lead. | found you
willing-ready-nay. eager to hear me!
You led me on; you know you did! You
tempted me by touch, word and look;
YOU gave me all ] sought! Why try to
excuse il now? You are as much my
wife as ever you were Fabio's-nay-
you are more so, for you love me &.
at least you say so and though
you lied TO your husband, you dare not
lie to me. l tell you. you dare not!
never pitied Fabio, never-he was too
easily duped, and married man has no
right 10 be otherwise than suspicious
and ever on his guard; if he relaxes in
his vigilance, he has only himself to
blame when his honor is flung like ball
from hand 10 hand, as one plays with a
child's toy. / repeat to you, Nina, you
are mine, and / swear you shall never
escape me!''
The impetuous words coursed rapidly
from his lips, and his deep musical voice
had a defiant ring as it fell On the still