The Iola register., 1891-10-16

She raised her head with proud
graceful gesture.
For yourself, of coursel Do you
think mere wealth could ever win my
affection. No, Cesare! / love you for
your own sake-your own merits have
made you dear to me-"
] smiled bitterly. She did not see the
smile. / slowly caressed her silky hair.
"For that sweet answer, carissima
mia, you shall have your reward. You
called me fairy prince just now, per.
haps / merit that title more than you
know. You remember the jewels / sent
you before we ever met?"
Remember theml' she exclaimed.
''They are NY choicest ornaments. Such
parure is fit Tor an empress"
"And an empress of beauty wears
them!'' said lightly. "But they are
mere trifles compared to other gems
which / possess, and which l intend To
offer for your acceptance"
Her eyes glistended with a7erice and
expectancy.
''Oh, let me see themy' she cried. ''If
they are lovelier than those already
have they must be indeed magnificent!
And are they all for me?"
''AlI for your replied, drawing her
closer, and playing with the small white
hand on which the engagement ring l
had placed there sparkled so bravely.
"All for my bride. A little hoard of
bright treasure: red rubies, ave, as red
as blood,-diamonds as brilliant as the
glittering of crossed daggers,-sap-
phires as blue as the lightning, pearls
as pure as the little folded hands of a
dead child,-opals as dazzlingly change
full as woman's love! Why do you
start?" for she had moved restlessly in
my embrace. "Do use bad similes?
All, cara mia, am no poet. can but
speak of things as they seem to my poor
Judgment Yes, these precious things
are for you, bellissima; you have moth
ing to do but to take them, and may
they bring you much joy!''
A momentary pallor had stolen over
her face while l was speaking-speak-
ing in my customary hard, harsh voice,
which / strove to render even harder
and harsher than usual.-but she soon
recovered from whatever passing emo
tion she may have felt, and gave herself
up to the joys of vanity and avarice, the
paramount passions Of her nature.
ShuiA AoNS ShO IO"OiS III OIL
NaplesW she laughed delightedly. "How
the women will envy me! But where
are these treasures2 May 1 see them
now-immediately?"
mo, not quite Immediately" re-
piled with gentle derision that escaped
her observation. Tomorrow night
our marriage night-you shall
have them. And / must also
fulfil q promise / made 20 you. You
wish to see me for once without these"
and ] touched my dark glasses-''is it
not SOP"
She raised her eyes, conveying into
their lustrous depths an expression OF
melting tenderness.
YES" she murmured; 81 want to see
you as you are"
II fear you will be disappointed"
said with some irony, ''for my eyes are
not pleasant to look at"
Never mind" she returned gaily. 81
shall be satisfied II see them just once,
and we need not have much light in the
room, as the light gives you pain. l
would not be the cause of suffering to
you-no, not for the world"
You are very aimable," l answered,
"more so than deserve. / hope l may
prove worthy Of your tenderness.
But to return to the subject
of the jewels. l wish you to
see them for yourself, and choose the
best among them. Will you come with
me tomorrow night and l will show you
where they are?'
She laughed sweetly.
"Are you a miser, Cesare?-and have
you some secret hiding place full of
treasure like Aladdin"
l smiled.
perhaps 1 have" l said. "There are
cases in which .One
fears to trust even to a bank.
Gems such as those l have to offer you
are almost priceless, and it would
be unwise, almost cruel, TO place such
toys within the reach of even
an honest man. At any rate, if l have
been something of a miser it is for your
sake; for your sake l have personally
guarded the treasure that is to be your
bridal gift. You cannot blame me for
this?''
In answer she threw her fair arms
round my neck and kissed me-
Strive against 1t as l would, l
always shuddered at the touch
of her lips-a mingled sensation of
lOathing and longing possessed me that
while it stung my soul.
Amor mio." she murmured. "As if
l could blame you! You have no faults
in my estimation of you. You are good,
brave, and generous-the best of men;
there is only one thing l wish some
times" Here she paused, and her
brow knitted itself frowningly, while
puzzled, panied expression came into her
eyes
"And that one thing is?" inquired.
THAT you did not remind me so often
of Fabio," she said abruptly and half
angrily. "Not when you speak Of him,
l do not mean that What / mean is.
that you have ways like his OF course
/ know there is no actual resemblance,
and yet" She paused again, and
again looked troubled.
Really, Carina mia," 1 remarked
lightly and jestingly, ''you embarrass
me profoundly! This fancy of yours is
most awkward one for me. At the con-
vent where visited you, you became
quite i'll at the contemplation of my
hand, which you declared was like the
hand of your deceased husband; and now
this same foolish idea is returning,
when hoped it had gone, with other
morbid notions of an oyer-sensitive brain,
for ever. Perhaps you think am your
late husband?"
And laughed aloud. She trembled
little, but soon laughed also.
81 know am very absurd" she said,
"perhaps am little nervous and un-
strung; have had too muc h excitement
lately. Tell me more about the jewels