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

with a little ShiVer; lit must have been
trying to you TO have seen him dead. l
think dead people look so horrid, the
sight upsetS the nerves.! l remember
when l was at school here, they
would take one to See a nun who died; 1t
sickened NE and made me i'll for
days. l can quite understand your
feelings. But you must try and forget
the matter. Duels are very common &C.
currences after all"
VERY common" l answered mechan-
ically, still regarding the fair upturned
face. the lustrous eyes, the ripping
hair; but they do not often end so
fatally. The result of this one compels
me to leave Naples for a few days. l go
to Avellino tonight"
ITO Avellino?' she exclaimed with in
terest. 'Oh, l know it very well. l
went there once with Fabio when l was
first married"
land were you happy thereP" 1 in
quired coldly.
| remembered the time she spoke off,
a time of such unreasoning, foolish joy!
'Happy?-Oh, yes; everything was so
new to me then. 1t was delightful to be
my own mistress, and l was so glad to
be out of the convent"
81 thought you liked the nuns?" l
said.
Some of them-yes. The reverend
mother is a dear old thing. But
Madame Marguerite, the Vicaire as she
is called-ihe one that received you
oh, | do detest her!"
Indeed! and why?"
The red lips curled mutinously.
because she is so sly and silent.
Some of the children here adore here;
but they must have something to love,
you know" and she laughed merrily.
Must they?"
| asked the question automatically,
merely for the sake of saying some
thing.
''Of course they must" she answered
gaily. You foolish Cesare! The girls
often play at being one anOther's lovers,
only they are careful not to let
the nuns know their game. 1t
is very amusing. Since l have
been here they have what is called a
craze for me. They give me flowers,
run after me in the garden, and some
times kiss my dress, and call me by all
name of loving names. | let them do
it because it vexes Madame la Vicaire;
but of Conrse it is very foolish"
| was silent. l thought what a curse
it was,-this necessity of loving. Even
the poison of it must find its way into
the hearts of Children,-young things
shut within the walls of a secluded on
vent, and guarded by the conscientious
care of holy wOmen
And the nuus?" l said, uttering my
thoughts aloud. How do they manage
without love or rOmance?"
A wicked little smile, brilliant and
disdainful, glittered in her eyes.
do they always manage without love
or romauce?'' she asked half i%ndolently.
What of Abelard and Heloise, or Fra
Lippi?"
Reused by something in her tone, ]
caught her round the waist and held her
firmly while | said, with some ]sternness:
"And you-is it possible that you have
sympathy with, or find amusement in
the contemplation of Illicit and dis
honorable paSSion?-tell me?"
She recollected herself in time; her
white eyelids dropped demurelV.
Not ~ she answered, with a grave
and virtuous air; "hOw can you think
so? There is nothing to my mind so hor-
ribIe as deceit; no good ever comes Of
it,"
| loosened her from my embrace.
lyon are right" | said calmly; 81 am
glad your instincts are so correct! l
have always hated lies"
$50 have II she declared earnestly,
with a frank and open look; Il have
often wondered why people tell them.
They are sure to be found out"
bit my lips hard to shut in the burn
ing accusations that my tongue lOnged
to utter. Why should l damn the act
ress or the play before the curtain was
ready to fall on both? / changed the
subject of converse.
How long do you purpose remaining
here in retreat?" l asked. There is
nothing TO- to prevent your returning
TO Naples"
She pOndered for some minutes before
replying, then she said:
Il told the su~perioress came here for
a week. l had better stay till that time
is expired. Not longer, because, as
Guido is really dead, my presence is asst
ually necessary in the CITY,"
Indeed! May l ask why?"
She laughed a little consciously.
"Simply to prove his last will and
testament" she replied. Before he
left for Rome he gave it into my keep
ing"
A light flashed on my mind.
"And its ~contents?" l inquired.
Its contents make me the owner Of
everything he died possessed of" she
said, with an air Of quiet yet malicious
triumph.
Unhappy Guido! What trust he hat
reposed in this vile, self-interesteC
heartless woman! He had loved her,
even as l had loved her,-she who wa:
unworthy of any love! l controlled my
rising emotion, and merely said will
gravity:
81 congratulate you'll May l be per
mitted TO see Gis d~Ocument?".