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

MOWERS. n
glory of shifting colours blazed on the
breast of heaven,-the bay, motioniess
as a mirror, reflected all the splendid
tintS with sheeny lustre that redOubled
their magniticence. Pricked IN every
vein by the singing of my own desires, L
yet restrained myself; waited till the
sun sank below TIE CLASSY waters,-till
the pomp and glow attending its depart
ure had paled into those dim, ethereal
hues which are like delicate draperies
fallen from the flying forms of angels.
till the yellow rim OF the round full
moon rose languidly on the edge OF the
horizon,-and then keeping back my
eagerness no longer, / took the we'll
known road ascending TO the Villa Ro-
mani. Ny heart beat high,-my limbs
tembled with eXcitement,-my steps were
impatient and precipitate-never had the
way seemed so long. At last | reached
the great gateway--t was locked IaSt-
Its sculutured lions looked upon me
froHningly. / heard the splash and tin
kle Of the fountains within, the scents
Of the roses and myrtle were waited to-
wards me- with every breath / drew.
Home at last! smiled, whole frame
Quiyered with expectancy and delight 1t
was not my intention to seek admission
by the principal entrance,-I cOntented
myself with one long loving look, and
tnrned to the left where there was q
small private gate leading into an ave-
nue. of lex and pine, interSpersed with
orahge trees. This was favourite walk
Of mine, partly on account OF its pleas
ant shade even in the hottest nOon,-
partly because it was seldom fTeGuented
by any member of the household save
myself. Guide occasionally took turn
with me there, but 4 was more often
alone, and was fond of pacing up and
down in the shadow Of the trees, read
ing some favourite book, or giving my
self up to the dolce far niente of my own
Imaginings. The avenue led round to
the back of the Villa. and as l now en-
tered it, thought would approach the
house cautiously by this means and get
private speech with Asrunta, the nurse
who had charge of little Stella, and who
was moreover an old and tried family
servant, in whose arms my mother had
breathed her last.
The dark trees rustled solemnly as
stepped quickly yet softly along the
familiar moss-grown path. The place
was very still,-Sometimes the nighten-
gales broke into a bubbling torrent Of
melody and then were suddenly silent,
as though overawed by the shadows OF
the heavy interlacing bows, through
which the moonlight fiickered, casting
strange and fantastic patterns on the
ground. A cloud of lucciole broke from
a thicket of laurel and sparkled in the
air like gems lOosened from queens
crown. Faint odours fioated about me,
shaken from orange boughs and trailing
branches of white jeSsamiRe. l hast
-ened on, my spirits rising higher the
nearer l approached my destination
was full of sweet anticipation and pas
sionate Ionging,-I yearned to clasp my
beloved Nina in nay arms-to see her
lovely lustlouS eyes looking fondly into
.mine;-I was eager to shake Guido by
the hand,-and as for Stella, knew the
child would be in bed at that hour, but
still, / thought must have her Weakened
to see me; l felt that my happiness
would not be complete till had kissed
her little cherub face, and caressed
those clustering curls of hers that were
like spun gold. Hush-hush!
What was that? l stopped in my rapid
progress as though suddenly checked by
an invisible hand. l listened with
strained ears. That sound,
vast not a ripping peal of gay laugh
ter? A shiver shook me from head
10 foot 1t was my wife's laugh,-I knew
the siivery chime of it well! Ny heart
sank coldly.-I paused irreSolute. She
could laugh then like that while she
thought me lying dead-dead and OFT oil
her reach for ever! All at once l per
ceiyed the glfmmer of a white robe
through the trees; obeying my own i'm
pulse stepped softly aside,-I hid BE-
hind a dense screen of foliage through
which could see without being seen.
The clear laugh rang out once again on
the StillneSs-itS brightness pierced my
brain like q sharp sword! She was
happy, she was even merry,
-. she wandered here in the moon
light Joyous Charlottesville IL had ex.
pected to find her close shut within her
room, or else kneeling before the Mater
DoleroSa in the little chapel praying for
my souls rest, and uingling her prayers
with her tears! Yes, l had
expected thiS,-we men are ssch fools
when we love women! Suddenly a ter
rible thought struck me. Had she gone
madS Had the shock and grief Of my 50
unexpected death turned her delicate
brain? Was she roaming about, poor
child, like Ophelia, knowing not whittier
she went. and was her apparent gaiety
the fantastic mirth Of S disordered brain?
l shuddere6 at the idea-and bending
slightly apart the boughs behind which
was secreted I looked out anxiOusly.
Two figures were slowly approaching
my wife and my friend Guido Ferrari
Well there was nothing in
that-it waS as it should be q.
was not Guido as my brother? D..
It was almost his duty to console and
cheer Nina as much as lay in his power
but stayi stay
did l see aright?-she was
simply leaning on his arm for support
or a fierce oath, that was
almosla cry of torture, broke from my
lips! Oh. would to God l had died!
Would to God l had never broken
open the coffin in which lay at peace!
What was death-what were the horrors
of the vault-what was anything / had
suffered to the anguish that racked me
now? The memory of it TO this day burns
in my brain like ineXtinguiShable fire,
and my hand invOluntarily clenches it.
self in an effort TO beat back the furious
bitterness Of that moment! ] know not
how / restrained the :nurderous ferocity
that awuke within mellow ! forced
myself to remain motiOnless and silent
in my hiding plac-. But did, watched
the miserable comedy out TO its end. |
looked dumbly on at my own betrayal! i
saw my honor stabbed to the death by
those whom ! most trusted. and yet
gave no signI They-Guido Ferrari and
IA wite-came 50 close TO my hiding