The Iola register., 1891-07-31

.6siE that / kissed her
passionately on lips, throat and brow,
and that In the fervour of my embraces
the thought Of what manner of vile
thing she was came swiftly upon me,
causing me to release her with such sud-
denness that she caught at the back OF
chair to save herself from falling. Her
breath came and went in little quick
gasps Of excitement, her face was flushed
she looked astonished, yet certainly
not displeased. No, she was not angry,
but l was-thoroughly annoyed-bit-
terly vexed with myself, for being such
a fool.
Forgive me-" 1 muttered. II for
got-I...."
A little smile stole round the corners
of her mouth. "You are fully pardon
ed!" she said in low voice, ''you need
not apologize"
Her smile deepened; suddenly she
broke into ripping laugh, sweet and
silvery as a bella laugh that went
throuph me like knife. Was 1t not the
self-ssme laughter that had pierced my
brain the night witnessed her amorous
interview with Guido in the avenue?
Had not the cruel mockery Of it nearly
driven me madP l could not endure it,
sprang to her side, she ceased laughing
and looked at ne in wide-eyed wonder
ment.
'Listen!' 1 said in an impatient, al
most fierce tone. do not laugh like
that 1t Jars my nerves, it hurts me! l
will tell you why. Once, long ago, in
my youth, l loved a woman. She was
not like you, no, for she was false.
False to the very hearts core, false in
every word she uttered. You un-
derstand me she resembled you in
nothing-nothing! But she used to
laugh at me-she trampled on my life
and spoilt it-she broke my heart! 1t is
all past now l never think of her, only
your laughter reminded me-there!'
And took her hands and kissed them.
II have told you the story of my early
folly-forget it and forgive me! 1t is
time you prepared for your journey, is it
notP If can be of service to you, COM
mand me-you Know where to send for
me. Good-byel and-the peace of pure
conscience be with vou!"
And laid my burning hand on her
head weighted with its clustering curls
of gold. She thought this gesture was
one of blessing, 1 thought God only
knows what 1 thought-yet surely II
curses can be so bestowed, my curse
crowned her at that moment! l dared
not trust myself longer in her presence,
and without another word or look left
her and hurried from the house.
knew she was startled and at the same
time gratifed to think she could thus
have moved me to any display of emo
ton; but 1 would not even turn my
head to catch her parting glance.
could not; / was sick of myself and ot
her. l was literally torn aSunder be-
tween love and hatred-love born basely
of material feeling alone; hatred, the
offspring of a deeply injured spirit fol
whose wrong there could scarce be found
sufficient remedy. Once out of the in
fiuence of her bewildering beauty my
mind grew calmer, and the drive back to
the hotel in my carriage through the
sweet chillness of the December all
ouieted the feverish excitement of my
blood and restored me to myfelf. II
was a most lovely daY-bright and fresh,
with the SAVIOR of the sea in the wind
The waters of the bay were of a steel
like blue shading into deep olive green,
and a soft haze fingered about
the shores of Amalfia like veil of gray
Down the streets went women in pictur.
esque garb carrying on their heads bask'
cts full to the brim of purple violetS
that scented the air as they passed
children ragged and dirty ran along
pushing the luXuriant tangle of theil
dark locks away from their beautiful
wild antelope eyes, and holding uI
punches of roses and narcissi with smiles
k-;1 ha h inn 1r1n
ed the passengers to buy ''for the sake
of the little Gesu who was soon com
ingl'
Bells clashed and changed from the
churches in honour of San Tommaso
whose festival it was, and the city had
that aspect of gala gaiety about it which
is in truth common enough to all CONT
mental towns, but which seems strange
to the solemn Londoner who sees 81
much apparently reasonlesS merrimen-
for the first time. He, accustomed Il
have his reluctant laughter pumped out
of him by an occasional visit to the
theatre where he can witness the
''original" English translation of &
French farce, can not understand why
these foolish Neapolitans should laugh
and sing and shout in the manner
Il6y uO lHGl
are glad to be alive. And after much
dubious consideration, he decides within
himself that they are all rascals-tht
scum of the earth-and that he and ht
only is the true representative of man a.
his best-the model of civilized respecta
bility. And a mournful spectacle he thu:
seems to the eyes Of Us 'base" foreigner:
lin our hearts we are sorry for him and
ALI Al@ 10 L. oh, L.
OF the fetters of his insular customs and
prsjudices, he might almost succeed in
Enjoying life as much as we doi
As / drove along saw small crowd
1t one Of the street corners-a gesticu.
lsting, laughing crowd. listening to an
"inprovvisatore" or wandering poet-a
plump-looking fellow who had all the
rhymes Of Italy at his fingers ends, and
could make poem on any subject or an
acrostic on any name, with perfect Ia
cility. I stopped my carriage to listen
to his extemporized verses, many oi
which were really admirable, and tossed
him three francs. He threw them W
in the air one after the other and caught
them as they fell, in his mouth, appear
ing to have swallowed them all-ther
with an inimitable grimace, he pulled of
his tattered cap and said,
"Ancor' affamato, Eceellenza! q an
still hungryD among the renewed
laughter Of his easily-amused audience
A merry poet he was and without
conceit - and his good humoul
merited the extra silver pieces l gave
him. which caused him to wish
me-Buon appetite un sorriso dells
MadonnaI-(a good appetite TO you and
smile of the MadOnnaD Imagine the
Lord Laureate OF England standing al
the corner of Regent street swallowing