San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-16

NV embrace. DO L use uuu SllullcSE
All, cara mia, am no poet. can but
speak of things as they seem to my poor
judgment Yes, these precious things
are for you, bellissima; you have moth
ing to do but to take them, and may
they bring you much joy!'
A momentary pallor had stolen over
her face while l was speaking-speak-
ing in my customary hard, harsh voice,
which l strove TO render even harder
and harsher than usual,-but she soon
recovered from whatever passing emo
ton she may have felt, and gave herself
up to the joys of vanity and avarice, the
paramount passions of her nature.
81 shall have the finest jewels in all
| Naples!'' she laughed delightedly. slow
the women will envy me! But where
are these treasures? May l see them
now-immediately?"
mo, not quite Immediately" l re-
piled with a gentle deriSion that escaped
| her observation. Tomorrow night
our marriage night-you shall
have them. And l must also
! fulfil a promise l made to you. You
wish to see me for once without these"
and l touched my dark glasses-''is it
not SOP"
She raised her eyes, conveying into
! their lustrous depths an expression OF
melting tenderness.
YES" she murmured; 81 want to see
! you as you are"
II fear you will be disappointed, l
said with some irony, ''for my eyes are
not pleasant TO look at"
Never mind" she returned gaily. II
shall be satisfied if | see them just once,
and we need not have much light in the
room, as the light gives you pain. l
would not be the cause of suffering to
you-nO, not for the world"
You are very aimable," I answered,
more so than deserve. l hope may
prove worthy of your tenderness.
But to return to the subject
of the jewels. l wish you to
see them for yourself, and choose the
best among them. Will you come with
me tomorrow night and will show you
where they are?"
She laughed sweetly.
Are you a miser, Cesare?-and have
you some secret hiding place full of
treasure like Aladdin"
l smiled.
perhaps have" l said. There are
exceptional cases in which one
fears to trust even to a bank.
Gems such as those l have to offer you
are almost priceless, and it would
be unwise, almost cruel, to place such
tempting toys within the reach of even
an honest man. A any rate, if | have
been something of a miSer it is for your
sake; for your sake | have personally
guarded the treasure that is to be your
bridal gift. You cannot blame me for
this?"
In answer she threw her fair arms
round my neck and kissed me-
Strive against it as l would, l
always Shuddered at the touch
OF her lips-a mingled sensation Of
loathing and longing possessed me that
sickened, while it stung my soul.
Amor mio" she murmured. GAS if
I could blame you! You have no faults
in my estimation of you. You are good,
brave, and gcnerOus-the best of men;
there is only one thing | wish some
tines Here she paused, and her
brow knitted itself frOwning!y, while a
puzzled, panied expression came into her
eyes.
and that one thing is?' inquired.
"Tuat you did not remind me so often
of F&5iC." she said abruptly and half
augriiy. mot when YOU speak Of him,
do not mean that. What | mean is.
that you have ways like his. OF course
! know there is no actual resemblance,
and yet" She paused again, and
again looked troubled.
Really, Carina mia," remarked
lightly and jcstingly, you embarraSs
me profoundly. This fancy of yours is a
most awkward one for me. At the con-
vent where | visited you, you became
quite i'll at the contemplation of my
hand, which you declared was like the
hand of your deceased husband; and now
this same foolish idea is returning,
when | hoped it had gone, with other
morbid notions Of an Over-senstive brain,
! for ever Perhaps you think / am your
late husband?'
And laughed aloud. She trembled a
little, but soon laughed also.
b II know | am very absurd" she said,
perhaps am little nervous and I'M
: strung; have had too niue h excitement
{ lately. Tell me more about the jewels
When will you take me to see them?"
Tomorrow night" | answered,
''while the ball is going on, you and l
| will slip away together-we shall return
before any of our friends can miss u.s.
I You will come with me?'
"Of course WILL" she replied read
| lily, "only we must not be long absent,
because my maid will have to pack my
r wedding dress, and then there will be
3 the jewels also to put in my strong box.
Let me seel We stay the night at the
hotel, and leave for Rome and Paris the
( first thing in the morning, do we not|
1 THAT is the arrangement, certainly"
8 / said with cold smile.
The little place where you nave hid
den your jewels, you droll Cesare, is
! quite near then?" she asked.
"Gnite near" assented, watching her