San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-22

then state of mind, an emperor's palace
were less fair to me than this brave
CLEARINGHOUSE this stone-mouthed wit
ness OF my struggle back to life and all
life's misery. The deep-toned bell out
side the cemetery struck Onel We had
been absent nearly two hours from the
brilliant assemblage at the hotel. No
doubt we were being searched for every
where 1t mattered not! they
would not come to seek US here. went
on resolutely towards the stair,-as !
placed my foot on the first step of the
ascent, my wife stirred from her recuR-
bent position-her swoon had passed.
She did not perceive me where l stood,
ready to depart,--she murmured some
thing to herself in low voice, and TAX
ing in her hand the falling tresses of her
own hair she seemed to admire its col
our and texture, for, she stroked it and
restroked it and finally broke into gay
laugh,-a laugh so out of all keeping
with her surroundings, that it startled
me more than her attempt to murder
. me. ....'." .'.. '.'
She presently stood up with all
her own lily-like grace and fairy
! majesty; and smiling as though she
were pleased child, she began to ar
range her disordered dress with elabor-
ate care. l paused wonderingly, and
watched her. She went to the brigand's
chest of treasure and proceeded to ex-
anime it's contents,--laceS, silver and
gold embroideries, antique ornaments,
she took carefully in her hands, SEEM
ing mentally to calculate their cost and
value. Jewels that were set as neck
lapaS hranplato and ntbnr trim knto of
feminine wear, she put on, one after
the other till her neck and arms were
loaded, and lterlly blazed with the
myriad scintillations of different col
CURED gems. l marvelled at her
strange 81 conduct, but did not
as yet guess its meaning. l moved
away from the staircase and drew im-
perceptibly nearer to her Hark!
what was that? A strange, low rumbling
like distant earthquake, followed by
sharp cracking sound; stopped to listen
att~tvely. A furious gust of wind
rushed round the mausoleum, shrieking
wildly like some devil in anger, and the
strong draught flying through the gate
way eXtinguished two of the 1iaring
candles. My wife, entirely absorbed
in counting over CarmclO NerPs treas
ures apparently saw and heard nothing.
Suddenly she broke into another laugh-a
chucklng. mirthless laugh such as might
come from the lips of the aged and senile.
The sound curdled the blood in my veins
it was The laugh of madwoman!
With an earnest, distinct voice l called
to her Co.,. ..
"Nina!, Nina!" .r.. f.. 3. .n.... ..
She turned towards me still smiling
her eyes were bright, her face had re-
gained it's habitual colour, and as she
stood in the dim light, with her rich
tresses falling about her. and the clust-
ering gems maSsed together in
glittering fire against her white
skin, she looked unnaturallY, wildly
beautiful. She nodded to me, half
graciously, halfhaughtily, but gave me
no answer. Moved with quick pity /
called again-"Nina!" .'
She laughed again--the same terrible
laugh.
Isl 81! Som bella, som beIissima!"
she murmured. "Etu, Guido miop Tu
m ami?" ..
Then raising one hand as though COM
handing attention, she cried-"As-
colta!" and began to sing clearly though
feebly: r.a
"Ti salute Rosignuolo!
Mel tue duolo . ii salutoi ".
Sci iamante della rosa
Che niorendo 81 ia sposa!"
As the old familiar melody echoed
through the dreary vault, my bitter
wrath against her partially leSsened:
with the swiftneSs of my southern tenn
permanent a certain compassion stirred
my soul.
She was no longer quite the same woman
who had wronged and betrayed me,-she
had the helplessncss and fearful inno-
cence Of madness in that con-
diLion | could not have hurt a hair of her
head. l stepped hastily forward-I re-
solved to take her out Of the vault-after
all | would not leave her thus,
but as | approached, she withdrew from
me, and with an angry stamp of her foot
motioncd me backward, while dark
frown knitted her fair brOws.
"Who are you?" she cried imperiouS-
ly. "You are dead, quite dead! How
dare you come out OF your gravew
And she stared at me defiantly,-then
suddenly clapping her hands as though
in ecstasy, and seeming to address some
invisible being at her side, she said
in low, delighted tones-"He is dead,
GuiGo Are you not gIad?" She paused,
apparently expecting some reply, for she
looked about her wonderingly, and con-
tinued-"You do not answer me-are
you afraid? Why are you so pale and
stern? Have you just come back from
Rome? What have you heard? That
am false?-oh, no! | will love you still
.. All! l forgot! you also are
dead, Guido! l remember nOw-you
cannot hurt me any more-I am free
. and quite happy"
Smiling, she continued her song
III salute, Sol di Maggi . ..
Col tue raggio ii saulito!
| Sci pApollo del paSsato