San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-26

vi L came at last, the
/. +. !. !. !. !. ]: !.
III ~ blessed, the longed-
III ISNsN for evening. A soft
SULp breeze Sprang up,
EWAA SD cooling the burning
INN I, ~ air after the heat of
EMN AN the day, and bring
TNS-Ml' ing with It t Q
w SN odOurS of a thousand
flowers. A regal
glory of shifting colours blazed on the
breast of heaven, bay, .motionless
as a mirror. reflected all splendid
tints with a sheeny lustre that redoubled
their magniticenCe. PriCked in every
vein by the singing of my own desires,
yet restrained myself; waited till the
sun sank below the CLASSY waterS,-tll
the pOmp and glow attending its depart
ure had paled into those dim, ethereal
hueS which are like delicate draperieS
fallen from the flying forms of angels,
till the yellow rim of the round full
moon rose languidly on the edge of tho
horizon,-and then keeping back my
eagerneSs no longer, | took the we'll
known road ascending to the Villa Ro-
mani My heart beat high,-my limbs
tembed with eXcitement,-m steps were
impatient and ipitate-never had the
way seemed so long. At last | reached
the great gateway-it was locked fast
its sCulDtured lions looked upon me
frOwningly. l heard the splash and tin
kle of the fountains within, the scents
of the roses and myrtle were waited to-
wards me with every breath | drew.
Home at last! smiled my whole frame
quivered with expectancy and delight. 1t
was not my intention to seek admission
by the principal entrance,-I contented
myself with one long loving look, and
tnrned to the left, where there was
small private gate leading into an ave-
nue. of lex and pine, interspersed with
orange trees. This was favourite walk
of mine, partly on account of It's pleas
ant shade even in the hottest noon,-
partly because it was seldom frequented
by any member of the household save
myself. Guido occasionally took a turn
with me there, but | was more often
alone, and l was fond of pacing up and
down in the shadow of the trees, read
ing some favourite book, or giving my
self up to the dolce far niente of my own
imaginingS. The avenue led round to
the back of the Villa. and as l now en-
tered it, / thought | would approach the
house cautiously by this means and get
private speech with Asrunta, the nurse
who had charge of little Stella, and who
was moreover an old and tried family
servant, in whose arms my mother had
breathed her last.
The dark trees ruStled solemnly as |
stepped quickly yet softly along the
familiar mOSS-grOwn path. The place
was very still, sometimes the nighten-
hrnl 10 inf ht,h 6
melody and then were suddenly silent,
as though overawed by the shadows of
the heavy interIacing bows, through
which the moonlight flickered, casting
strange and fantastic patterns on the
ground. cloud of lucCioe broke from
a thiCkct of laurel and sparkled in the
air like gems lOOJened from a queens |
crown. Faint OdourS hOated about me,
shaken from orange bONghS and trailing
branches of white jeSsamine. | hast |
ened on. my spirits rising higher the |
nearer | approached my destination. | |
was full of sweet anticipation and pas
SiOnate lOnging,-I yearned to clasp my |
lovely lUStIOnS eyes looking fondly into |
Wine;-I was eager to shake Guido by |
the hand,-a as for Stella, | knew the |
T.,
still, thought must have her wakened |
to see me; | felt that my happiness |
would not be complete till | had kissed |
her little cherub face, and caressed
those clustering CurlS of hers that were
like spun gold. Hush-hush!
What was that? | stopped in my rapid
progress as though suddenly checked by
an invisible hand. | listened with |
strained ears. That sound, /
was 1t not ripping peal of gay laugh
ter? A SILVER shook me from head
to foot. 1t was my wife'S Iaugh,-I knew
the silvery chime of it well! My heart
sank coldly,-I paused irresolute. She
could laugh then like that while she
thought me lying dead-dead and out of
her reach for ever! All at once 1 per-
3eived the glimmer of a white robe
through the trees; obeying my own i'm
pulse stepped softly aside,-I hid be-
hind a dense screen of foliage through |
which could see without being seen.
The clear laugh rang out once again on
he stillness-its brightness pierced my
,rain like a sharp sword! She was
Happy, she was even merry,
she wandered here in the moon
light oyous-hearted-while il had ex-
,ected to find her close shut within her
Dom, or else kneeling before the Mater
)OlorOsa in the little chapel, praying for
ny souls rest, and mingling her prayers
With her tears! Yes, l had
expected this,-we men are such fools
when we lOve-w2men! Sqddenly.a ter