The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-09-11


well?"
She sprang up from her chair like ,
pleased child and flung her arms around
my neck.
"You are brave. you are brave!" she
exclaimed, in sort of exultation. "foi
could not have done otherwise! He in
suited you, and you killed him. Tha
was right I love you all the more fol
being such man Of honourf'
looked down upon her In loathinf
and disgust Honour! Its very name
was libelled coming from her lips. She
did not notice the expression on my face
she was absorbed, excellent actress as
she was, In the part she had chosen tt
play.
'And so you were dull and sad be-
cause you feared to grieve me! Pool
Cesarel" she said In childlike caresisng
accents, such as she could assume wher
she chose. "But now that you see l an
not unhappy, you will be cheerful again:
Yes? Think how much love you, and
how happy we will be! And see, you
have given me such lovely jewels, sc
many OF them too, that / scarcely dare
offer you such trifle as this; but as Il
really belonged to Fabio, and to Fabio':
father whom you knew, think you
ought to have it. VIII you take 1t and
wear it to please me?" and she slipped
on my finger the diamond signet,-my
own ring.
/ could have laughed aloud! =.
but bent my head gravely as | accepted
IL.
''0nly as q proof of your affection,
cara mia,' said, though it has ter,
rible association for me. took it from
Ferrari's hand when
''0h, yes, known she interrupted me
with little shiver; sit must have been
trying to you to have seen him dead.
think dead people look SO horrid, the
sight upsets the nerves! l remember
when | was at school here, they
would take one to see nun who died: il
sickened me 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 oc-
currences after allH'
"Very common" 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 few days. GO
to Avellino tonight"
ITO Ayellino?' she exclaimed with in
terest ''Oh, know it very well.
went there once with Fabio when | was
first married"
"And were you happy thereP" 1 in
Quired coldly.
remembered the time she spoke Of
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 was so glad to
be out of the convent"
81 thought you liked the nuns?"
said.
''Some of them-yes. The reverend
mother is q dear old thing. But
Madame Marguerite, the Vicaire as she
is called-the one that received you
oh, do detest herr
"Indeedl 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
manner Of loving names. let them do
it because 1t vexes Madame la Vicaire:
but Of conrse it is very foolish"
was silent. l thought what curse
1t was,-this necessity of loving. Even
the poison of It must find its way into
he hearts of children,-young things
shut within the walls of secluded con-
vent, and guarded by the conscientious
care of holy women.
And the nuns2" said, uttering my
thoughts aloud. "How do they manage
without love or romance?"
A wicked little smile, brilliant and
glittered in her eyes.
do they always manage without love
or romance?" she asked half indolently
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
with, or find amusement in
The contemplation Of Illicit and dis
psssion?-tell mc?"
She recollected herself in time; her
white eyelids dropped demurelY.
Not I!' she answered, with a grave
and virtuous air; "how can you think
30? There is nothing to my mind so hor-
rible as deceit; no good ever comes of
t."
l loosened her from my embrace
lyon are right" said calmly; 81 am
glad your instincts are so correct! i
nave always hated lies"
80 have Ir' she declared earnestly,
With a frank and open look; IL have
,ften wondered why people tell them.
They are sure to be found out"
bit my lips hard to shut in the burn
ng accusations that my tongue longed
o utter. Why should l damn the act
ess o. the play before the curtain was
eady to fall On bothf rhanged the
ubject Of converse.
''Hew long do you purpose remaining
Iere in retreat?" / asked. There is
othing now to prevent your returning
o Naples"
She pondered for some minutes before
eplying, then she said:
II told the superioress came here for
week. / had better stay till that time
J expired. Not longer. because, as
Judo is really dead, my presence IS ac:-
ally necessary in the city,"
Indeed! May ask why?"
She laughed little consciously.
''Simply to prove his lsst will and
estament," she replied. "Before he
sft for Rome he gave 1t IL to my keep |