San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-08
Continued from yesterdays LIGHT.

Certainty; l can show it to you now.
! have it here" and she drew a Russia
leather letter case from her pocket, and
opening it handed me a seated envelope.
Break the seai!' she added with
childish eagernesS. He closed it up
like that after | had read it,"
With reluctant hand, and a panied
]piteOUsneSs at my heart, | opened the
packet 1t was as she had said, a will
drawn up in perfect legal form, signed
and witnessed, leaving everything UNI
conditionally to Nina, Countess RO-
mani, of the Villa Romani, Naples" |
read it through. and returned it TO her.
HE must nave loved you" l said.
She laughed.
''Of course!" she said airily. But
many people love me-that is nothing
new; | am accustomed TO be loved. But
you see," she went on, reverting to the
will again, sit specifies, everything he
dies possessed Of that means all the
money left TO him by his uncle in Rome,
does it not?''
Ibowed. could not trust myself to
speak.
~ thought So" she murmured glee-
fully, more to herself than to me; and
/ nave a right to all bis papers and let
ters." There she paused abruptly and
checked herself.
| understood her. She wanted to get
back her own letters to the dead man,
lest her intimacy with him should leak
out In some chance way for which she
was unprepared. Cunning devil! | was
almost glad she showed me to what
a depth of vulgar vice she had fallen.
There was no question of pity or for
bearance in her case. If all the tortures
invented by savages or stern inquisitors
could be heaped upon her at once, such
punishment would be light in COMPARE
son with her crimes, crimes for which,
mark you. the law gives you no remedy
but divorce. Tired of the wretched COM
edy, | looked at my watch.
1T is time for NE take my leave Of
you" | said in the stiff, courtly manner
i affected. Moments fly fast in your
enchanting company! But | have still TO
walk to CaStellamare, there to rejOin
my carriage, and | have many
things to attend to before ny
departure this evening. On my re-
Turn from AvellinO shall ! be welcome?"
"YOu know it" she returned, nesting
her head against my shoulder, while for
hlSlS " III = SUM L % AOANNN w hNAA
her in a partial embrace. 81 only wish
you were not going at all. Dearest, do
not stay long away,-I shall be so I'M
happy till you come back"
Absence strengthens love, they say"
/ observed with a forced smile. May
it do so in our case. Farewell, cara
mia! Pray for me; | suppose you do
pray a great deal here?"
ts0h vpS - Chp raDlind naiVplV. tGthara
is nothing else to do"
held her hands closely in my grasp.
The engagement ring on her finger, and
the diamond signet on my own flashed in
the light like the crossing of swords.
pray, then" | said, storm the gates
Of heaven with sweet-voiCed %pleadings
for the repose of poor Ferrari's soul!
Remember he loved you, though you
never oved him. For your sake he
quarreled with me, his best friend, for
your sake he died, Pray for him-who
knows" and spoke in thrilling tones of
earnestness-"whO knows but that his
too-hastily parted spirit may not be near
us now-hearing our voices, watching
our lOOkS!"
She shivered slightly, dan her hands in
mine grew cold.
"Yes, yes" l continued more calmly;
''you must not forget TO pray for him.
he was young and not prepared to die"
My words had some of the desired
effect upon her, for once her
ready speech failed-she seemed as
though she sought for some reply and
found none. / still held her hands.
''Promise me!' l continued; land at
the same time pray for your dead hus-
band! He and poor Ferrari were close
friends, you know; it will be pious and
kind of you to join their names in one
petition addressed to Him from whom
no secrets are hid, and who reads with
unerring eyes the purity of your inten-
tons. Will you do it?"
She smiled, a forced, faint smile.
81 certainly will" she replied in a low
voice; Il promise you"
released her hands, was satisfied.
If she dared to pray thus | felt, / knew
that she would draw down upon her soul
the redoubled wrath of heaven; for i
looked beyond the grave. The mere
death of her body would be but a slight
satisfaction to me; it was the utter de.
struction of her wicked soul that
/ sought. She should never
repent, / swore; she should
never have the chance of cast
ing off her ~vileness as a serpent casts its
skin, and, reclothing herself in limo.
cence, presume to ask admittance into
that Eternal Gloryland whittier my little
child had gone-never, never! Nc
church should save her, no priest should
absolve her--not while / lived!
She watched me as fastened my coat
and began to draw on my gloves.
"Are you going nOw?" she asked
somewhat timidly.
Eyes, / am going now, cara mia,"
said, why; what makes you look 81
paleP"
For she had suddenly turned yer,