The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-09-09

that wished to be beautiful in order to
drive Vico Noise Il ltCle crazy; he has
declared to me that he is tired of my
perfdy. See, you deserve-do you know
that am becoming angry with your"
She really believed that she had hit
the truth with her words. Indeed he
had so we'll kept up the Illusion with
her, he had hidden so jealousiy his EN-
barrsssment that she did not know how
to explain this sudden restriction But
meanwhile every word Of hers was a
blow to the heart of Marchis; he saw her
already at the ball, passing from arm to
arm, with her step like a flying angel;
listening to the insidious compliments of
Vico Molise and his kind, and keeping
meantime in her heart that leaven of
rancor against him because of his re-
fusal: and he saw himself again, as he
had seen himself II little while before in
the mirror, old, weary, worn, beside her
So fresh. young with eyes sparkling
from the cruel scorn of one who has
made al unequal bargain.
Suddenly he rose, like one who has
taken u decision, passed his hand across
his brow, and without replying went
away to go out Of the house. She be-
heved that she had conquered, and let
him go without moving herself, only
with a flash of cunning in her eyes, but
when he was on the stairs the door
opened, IL blonde head appeared between
the folding doors:
1--WE are agreed, then?'
He did not reply, and she heard hs
step down the stairway, slox, heavy
weary.
The evening of the ball Marchis
knocked at the door of his wife's dress
ing room,
Come in," and he entered.
In the little dressing room so illumined
as to seem on fire, with the air filled
with fragrance from the little unstop-
pered bottle Of perfume, all cleaning
white with the disorder of feminine ap-
| parel scattered about, Gemma stood
erect before the mirror, between two
kneeling maids, ready dressed for the
ball. She was truly radiant in her gown
of white satin with almond blossoms,
with fresh sprays of almond flowers
around the neck of the dress, at the
waist. among the waving folds of the
train, issuing from that covering of deli
cate, pale, dawn tinted flowers, she, too,
was fraa us tney, with her family rns"
complies on, as II she N,'l". pae Of tio&
flowers hecome p'lsu1. i5,!t un'.ol' hep
/ 81. ~ Iii tstf f.fsli
and cruel rancor.
Her husband had not given her the
diadem
But hearing him enter, she turned
and seeing tnat he held a cilsaet in his
hands she comprehended everything
With bound she was beside him, bel
arms twined around his neck.
''Oh, how good you are! How goot
you are! How | love your He trem
bled all over and was very pale. Gemms
did not even perceive it. All at once
with one OF her irresistible movements,
she loosened her arms from his neck
took with one hand the casket and witt
the other holding her husbands hand
she led him after her to the mirror. Sht
seated herself ana opened Ine CaSktt
Among puffs of red plush under tht
burning light, the diadem sent fortl
sparks like fame. She had a new out
burst of joy. took the husbands head be
tween her hands, drew it down ant
kissed his forehead-oh! the forehead o
a corpse, icy and livid. Then withou
looking at his features, his wandering
gaze, she offered him the diadein ant
bent before him her blonde head, whicl
was so well suited to that mystica! jewel
Come. sir, crown mel!
And while he sought to unite wit
trembling hands the clasp of the gem
among those marvellous blonde curls
waving and breaking into ripples o
gold at every movement, she, still wit
her bent head lifted her smiling eyes +
meet his look And he answered with
resigned gentleness to the smile of thos
perilous blue eyes he, the poor ma
who deceived for the sake of desire t
be deceived, and who bought for himsel
a little mock love with-mock diamonds
Translated for "Short Stories" fror
the Italian of Haydee by E. Cavazza.