The Iola register., 1891-07-10

cry and suffering. Here my little one
was laid tenderly to rest in warm mother
earth, and l had sweet yiolets and prim-
roses planted thickly all about the place,
while on the simple white marble cross
that marked the spot l had the words
engraved
Una Stella svanita,%
adding the names of her parents and
the date of her birth and death. Since
all this had been done had visited my
wife several times She was always at
home to me. though of course, for de-
cency's sake, in consequence of the
child's death, she denied herself to every
body else. She looked lovelier than
ever; the air of delicate languor she as
sumed suited her as perfectly as its fra
gile whitenesS suits hot-house lily. She
knew the power of her own beauty most
thoroughly, and employed it in arduous
efforts TO fascinate me. But / haG
changed my tactics; l paid very little
heed to her, and never went to see her
unless she asked me very pressingly to
do so. All compliments and attentions
from me to her had ceased. She courted
me, and l accepted her courtship in un-
responsive silence. 1 played the part of
taciturn and reserved man, who pre-
ferred reading some ancient and abstruse
Keatise on metaphysics to even the
charms of her societv,-and often. when
she urgently desired my company,
would sit in her drawing room, turning
over the leaves of a book and feigning
to be absorbed in it, while she, from her
velvet fauteuil, would look at me with a
pretty pensiveneSs made up half of re-
spect, half of gentle admiration-a cap
italy acted facial expression, bv the
bye, and one that would do credit to
either Miss Eastlake or Sarah Bern
hardt We had both heard from Guido
Ferrari;-his letter to my wife
of course did not see;-she
had, however, told me he was
~much shocked and distressed to hear Of
Stella's death" The epistle he addressed
to me had different tale to toll. In it
he wrote: "You can understand, my
dear Conte, that am not much grieved
TO hear of tie death Of Fabio's child.
Had she lived. confess her presence
would have been a perpetual reminder
to me of things prefer to forget She
never liked me-ske might have been
great source of trouble and inconven-
lence; SO, on the whole, am glad she is
out of the way"
Further on in the letter he in
formed me: my uncle is at
deaths door, but though that door
stands wide open for him, he cannot
make up his mind to go in. His hesita-
tion will not be allowed to last, SO the
doctors tell meat any rate ! fervently
hope / shall not be kept waiting too
long, otherwise shall return TO Naples
and sacrifice my heritage, for am rest
less and unhappy away from Nina,
though l know she is safely guarded by
your protecting care"
! read this particular paragraph to my
wife, watching her closely as l slowly
enunciated the words contained in it,
She listened and vivid blush crimsoned
her cheeks blush of indignation-and
her brows contracted in the veXed frown
l knew so we'll Her lips parted in a
half sweet, half chilly smile as she said
quietly:
II owe you my thanks, Conte, for
showing me TO what extent Signor Fer
rarfS impertinence may reach. ! am
surprised at his writing TO you in such
manner! The fact is, nv late husbands
attachment for him was so extreme, that
he now preSAnes upon supposed right
that he has over me,-he fancies / am
really his sister and that he can tyran-
niZe, as brothers sometimes do l really
regret have been so patient with him,
Il have allowed him too much liberty"
True enough! l thogght, and smiled
bitterly. Twas now intne heat OF the
game,-the moves must be played quick
ly,-there was no more time for hesita-
tion or reflection.
Il think, Madame" said deliberate
ly, as folded Guido's letter and replaced
il in my pocket-book. ''Signor Ferrari
ardently aspires to something more
than brother to you at no very distant
date"
Oh, the splendid hypocrisy Of women!
No wonder they make such excellent
puppets on the theatrical stage,-acting
is their natural existence, sham their
breath of life! This creature showed no
sign of mbarrasSment-She raised her
eyes frankly to mine in apparent sur
prise-then she gave little low laugh
Of disdain.
''Indeed!' she said. Then / fear
Signor Ferrari is doomed TO have his as
pirations disappointed. My dear Conte,
and here she rose and swept softly across
the room towards me with that graceful
gliding step that somehow always re-
minded me of the approach of panther,
''do you really mean TO tell me that his
audacity has reached such height that
really it is too absurd!-that he hopes
to marry me? And sinking into a chair |
near mine she looked at me in calm in |
in or IL 4
plicity Of the woman, answered brief |
IL