Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-10-24
THE VENDETTA,
OBJ
The Story OF One Forgotten
DY MARIE CoRELLI.
CHAPTER xxxv.-coNT1NUED.

klSStu bIlO WIN = hSsN
my cloak muiilcd about me- "How tall
you look In that Almaviva! am sorry
am little late; but tina last waltz was
so exquisite could not resist IL; only
wish you had danced II with me"
"You honor me by the wish, / said,
keeping one arm about her waist aud
drawing her toward the door that
opened into the garden. "Tell me, how
did you manage to-leave tho ball room|'
"Oh, easily. slipped away from my
partner ut the end OF the waltz, and told
him should return Immediately. Then
ran up TO my room, got my cloak, and
hero am"
And she laughed again. She was EVIL
IDENTIFY In the highest spirits.
'You are very good TO come with me
ut all, mia BELLA" murmurcd as gently
rs l could; ''it is kind OF you 60 thus hui
NOR my fancy. Did you see your maidP
does she know where you are going?"
"She? Oh, no, she was not in my
room at all. She is great coQuette.
you know; dare say she is amusing her.
self with the walters In the Kitchen.
Poor thing! hope she enjoys it."
] breathed freely; we were so far un-
discovered No one had as yet noticed
our departure one had the least
clue to my intentions. ! opened the door
of the passage noiselcssly, and we passed
out. Wrapping my wife's cloak more
closely about her with much apparent
tenderness, led her quickly across the
garden. There was no one in sight-we
were entirely unobscrvcd. On reaching
the exterior gate OF the enclosure left
her for q moment, while i summoned n
carriage, o common facre. She expressed
some surprise on seeing the vehicle.
~ thought we were not going far?'
she said.
treasured her on this point, telling
her that only desired to spare her all
possible fatigue. Satisfied with this ex-
PLANTATION, she suffered me to assist her
into the carriage. followed her, and
calling to the driver, "A la Villa Guar
d." we ratified away over the rough un-
even stones Of the back streets OF the
city.
''La Villa Guarda" exclaimed Nina,
"Where is that?"
'Tt is an old house," replied, "situ-
ated near the place ] spoke to you Of,
Wnerc Tue jewels arc.
"Oh!"
And apparently contented, she nestled
back in the carriage, permitting her
head to rest lightly on myl shoulder
drew her closer to me, my heart beating
with fierce, terrible JOY.
"Mine-mine at lastr' whispered In
her ear. "Aiine for ever!"
She turned her face upwards and
smiled VIGOROUSLY; her cool, fragrant
lips met my burning, eager ones in
close, passionate kiss. Yes, kissed her
now-why should rot? She was as much
mine as any purchased slave, and merited
less respect than q sultan's occasional &C.
male toy. And as she chose to caress
me, / let her do SOL allowed her to
think me utterly vanquished by the bat
terry Of her charms Yet whenever
caught IN occasional glimpse OF her face
as we drove along in the semi-darkness,
! could not help wondering Mt the SUI
preme vanity Of the womanl her self
satisfaction was so complete, and, con-
sidering her approaching fate. so tragic
ally absurd! She was entirey delighted
with herself, her dress, and her con-
Guest-as she thought-of me. Who
could measure the height OF the dazzling
visions she INDUCED In; who could tath-
ON the depths Of her utter selfishnes@
Seeing one like her, beautiful, wealthy
and above all-soclety knows ] speak
the truth!-well dressed, for by the
latter virtue alone Is woman allowed
any precedence now-a-days-would not
all the less fortunate and lovely OF her
. sex feel somewhat envious? All, yes;
they would and they do; but believe
me. the selfish feminine thing, whose
only sincere worship Is offered ct the
shrines Of Fashion and Folly, Is OF oil
creatures the one whose life Is to be de-
spised and never desired, and whose
death makes no blank even In the circles
Of her so-called best friends.
I knew we'll enough that there was
not q soul in Naples who was really at
tached to my wife-not one who would
miss her, no. not even servant though
she, in her superb self-conceit, imagined
herself to be the adored beauty OF the
city. Those who had indeed loved her
she had despised, neglected, and be-
trayed. Musingly looked down upon
her as she rested in the carriage, incir-
cled by my arm, while now and then o
little sigh Of absolute delight In herself
broke from her lips,-but we spoke
scarcely at all. Hate has almost as lit
tie 70 say as Lowell
The night was persistently stormy,
though no rain fell,-the gale had
increased in strength, and the
white moon only occasionally glared
out from the masses Of white and
grey cloud that rushed like flying armies
across the sky, and her 1tful light
shone dimly, as though she were Q
spectral torch glimmering through q
forest Of shadow. Now and again bursts
Of music, or the blare OF discordant
srumpets, reached our ears from the more
distsnt thoroughfares, where tbs people
we're still celebrating the feast OF Clio
VedI Grasso, or the tinkle OF passing
mandolInes chimed in with the rolling
wheels Of our carriage, but In . Few mo-
ments we were out Of reach Of even such
Sounds IS these.