San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-15

connected with the festivities of the
coming morrow. The long windows
were open-the warm spring sunlight
lay like flmy veil Of woven gold on the
tender green of the young grass, birds
sang for JOY and fitted from branch TO
branch, now poising hoveringly above
their nests, now soaring with all the
luxury of perfect liberty into the high
heaven of cloudless blue-the great
creamy buds Of the magnolia looked
ready to burst into wide and splendid
flower between their large, darkly
shining leaves, the odor OF violets and
| primroses foated ON every delicious
breath Of air, and round the wide ver-
! andah the climbing white china roses
| had already unfurled their little crumpled
! rosette-like blossoms TO the balmy wind
| 1t was spring in Southern Italv-spring
| in the land where, above all other lands,
| spring is lovely-sudden and brilliant in
| its bea atty as might be the smile of a
| happy angel. Gran Dio!-talk of angels!
| Had not a veritable angel for my COM
panion at that moment! What fair being
even in MahOmet Paradise of Hours,
could .outshine such charms as those
which il was my proud privilege to gaze
upon without rebuke-dark eyes,
ripping golden hair, dazzling
and perfect face, a form to tempt
the virtue of Gaiahad, and lips that an
emperor might long to touch in vain?
Well, no, not altogether in vain?
if his Imperial Majesty could offer a
bride large enough, let US say diamond
the size of a pigeons egg, he might pos.
mere trifles compared to other gems
which possess, and which | intend to
offer for your acceptance
Her eyes glistended with averice and
expectancy.
''Oh, let me see them!' she cried. IF
they are lovelier than those | already
have they must be indeed magnificent!
And are they all for me?"
"AIl for your replied, drawing her
| closer, and playing with the small white
hand on which the engagement ring
| had placed there sparkied so bravely.
"All for my bride. A little hoard OF
| bright treasure: red rubes, ave, as red
as blood, diamonds as brilliant as the
glittering of crossed daggers,
| 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 SMILES?
An, cara mia, am no poet. | can but
| speak of things as they seem to my poor
Judgment Yes, these precious things
| are for you, bellissma; 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 speakng-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.
| 81 shall have the finest jewels in all
Naples!' she laughed delightedly. "How
the women will envy me! But where
are these treasures? May l see them
| now-immediately?"
| mo, not quite Immediately" I re-
| piled with a gentle derision that escaped
her observation. Tomorrow night
| our marriage night-yoG shall
have them. And must also
| fulfil promise | made to 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; II 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 if l see them just once,
and we need not have much light in the
room, as the light gives you pain. /
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 miser, Cesare?-and have
you some secret hiding place full of
treasure like Aladdin?
| / smiled. l-- .r
perhaps l have" said. "There are
exceptional cases in which one
fears to trust even TO bank.
Gems such as those l have to offer you
are almost priceless, and it would
be unwise, almost cruel, to place such
tempting toys within the reach Of even
an honest man. At any rate, il / have
been something Of 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 it as ] would,
| ALWAYS shuddered at the touch