San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-12

| charms ol-ner society,-and often, whel
she urgently desired my company,
would sit in her drawing room, turnin,
to be absorbed in it, while she, from he
velvet fauteuil, would look at me with ,
pretty pensiveness made up half of re
spect, half of gentle admiration-a cap
italy acted facial expression, bv the
bye, and one that would do credit tt
either Miss Eastlake or Sarah Bern
hardt. We had both heard from Guido
Ferrari;-his letter to my wife
l of course did not see;-she
had, however,, told me he was
''much shocked and distressed to hear oil
Stella's death" The epistle he addressed
to me had different tale to tell. In il
he wrote: "You can understand, my
dear Conte, that l am not much grieved
to hear of the death of Fabio's child.
Had she lived. l confess her presence
would have been a perpetual reminder
to me of things prefer to forget. She
never liked me-She might have been a
great source of trouble and inconven-
fence; so, on the whole, am glad she is
out of the way"
Further on in the letter he in.
formed me: My uncle is at
deaths door, but though that door
stands wide open for him, he cannot
ton will not be allowed to last, so the
doctors tell meat any rate l fervently
hope l shall not be kept waiting too
long, otherwise l shall return to Naples
and sacrifice my heritage, for am rest
less and unhappy away from Nina.
though know she is safely guarded by
your protecting care"
l read this particular paragraph to my
wife, watching her closely as l slowly
enunciated the words contained in it.
She listened and vivid blush crimsoned
her cheeks blush of indignation-and
her brows contracted in the vexed frown
| knew so well. Her lips parted in a
half sweet, half chilly smile as she said
quietly:
81 owe you my thanks, Conte, for
showing me to what extent Signor Fer
rarfs impertinence may reach. l am
surprised at his writing to you In such
manner! The fact is, my late husbands
attachment for him was so extreme, that
he now presumes upon supposed right
that he has over me,--he fancies / am
really his sister and that he can tyran-
nize, as brothers sometimes do! really
regret / have been so patient with him,
Il have allowed him too much liberty"
True enough! l thought, and smiled
bitterly. / was now in the heat of the
game,-the moves must be played quick
ly,-there was no more time for hesita-
ton or reflection. .-.. ....
81 think, Madame" said deliberate
ly, as folded Guido's letter and replaced
it in my pocket-book, ''Signor Ferrari
srdently aspires to do something more
than brother to you at no very distant
date"
Oh, the splendid hypocrisy of women!
No wonder they make such excellent
puppets on the theatrical stage,-acting
breath of life! This creature showed no
sign of embarrassment-she raised her
eyes frankly to mine in apparent sur
prise-then she gave little low laugh
of disdain. ........... 81. ..
'Indeedr' she said. Then fear
Signor Ferrari is doomed to have his as
pirations disappointed. My dear Conte, +"
and here she rose and swept softly across
che room towards me with that graceful
gliding step that somehow always re-
minded me of the approach of panther,
do you really mean to tell me that his
audacity has reached such height that
really 1t is too absurd!-that he hopes
to marry meP And sinking into chair
near mine she looked at me in calm in
quirX Lost in amazement at the du-
plicity of the. woman, l answered brief
w.
81 believe so. He intimated as much
10 me-"
she smiled scornfully. M . o..
II am too much honoredl And did
you, Conte, think for a moment that
such an arrangement would meet with
my approval?' g...r -. .
l was silent. My brain was confused
i found it diffiult to meet with and con-
front such treachery as this. What!
Had she no conscience? Were all the
passionate embraces, the lingering
kisses, the vows of fidelity, and words of
caressing endearment as nought? Were
they all blotted from her memory as the
writing on slate is wiped out by a
sponge? Almost pitied Guido. His
fate, in her hands, was evidently to be
the same as mine had been; yet after all,
why should be surprised? Why should
/ pity? Had not calculated it all? And
was it not part OF my vengeance?
Tell me! pursued my wife's dulcet
voice, breaking in upon my reflections,
ibid you really imagine Signor Ferrari's
suit might meet with favor at my
handsY' a m. r.r ."...r E.-|
must speak-the comedy had to bt
played out. So answered bluntly-
Madame, certainly did think so. II
seemed natural conclusion TO draw
from the course of events. He is young
undeniably handsome, and on his uncle't
death will be fairly wealthY,-what more
| could you desire? besides, he was YOU