The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-07-30

honot tell her soY OF d6urs6, natural
timidity-the fear Of troubling her
simple life. He was so noble, her Mario
But finally he must explain himself
Obi and she would not stammer in Civ
ing him a favorable answer; such a yes
would escape her lips-and then what
mutual Joy, what warmth IN their fu-
ture talksl Then she would be obliged
to tell it to her cousin, and the kind
countess would willingly consent. But
why did he not speak to her?
One evening when they were alone in
the shadow of the little yellow drawing
room Mario suddenly let himself go,
seized her trembling hand and muir
INJURED to her, 81 will must speak to
you-at lastw
And Amelia, bending her fair head
and almost suffocated with emotion, re-
piled, II am listening to your
"Dear Amelia" Mario began, "have
you never asked yourself why ] first
came to this house;"
"How should /? Chance perhaps"
murmured Amelia, hardly able to con
tain her JOY, while her heart cried out
the answer, "For me, for Inc alonew
1T was not a chance, no. came here
conquered, led by passion alone
loved and was wild with pain before
set foot inside the house, declared Ma
rio.
Amelia trembled, not daring to inter
rupt him, but she would have liked to
fling herself upon his neck without let
ting him finish, and TO say to him amid
o world of kisses, "Here is joy for you"
But he continued, Il loved, and today
love more than then; l suffered, and to-
day suffer more than ever.
The girl started and looked, wild
eyed, at his face. Why did he speak Of
suffering? Had he not understood her
great love? Or was he feigning, per-
haps, in order TO hear her confess it?
Dear girl, and here Mario caressed
her hand, "you indeed have comforted
me, you have helped mo TO bear my
grief; but now my anguish has reached
the last degree-I know that my love
will never be returned
"No, no; you mistaken Amelia invol-
UNFAIRLY interrupted, bending toward
him.
Il mistaken he exclaimed, with hope
beaming in his glance "Why do you
say so? Do you know who it is that
love"
And Amelia, shamefaced and con-
fused, stammered, Il imagine
"Wel," continued Mario bitterly, "if
you know whom | love you will have
seen for some time that she not only
does not even dream of this tempest in
my soul, but she would never imagine
that one so low would dare to lift his
eyes to her"
What Was he going mad? Why
did he talk Of descending? And the
girl, profoundly troubled, asked him
quickly; "Shel Who?'
"Your cousin, the countess, of
course"
''Do you love herr Herl" And An
nella could say no more. She felt a
chill like ice through her veins, ring
/ ing in her ears; she saw sparks, shad.
ows, before her eyes-then nothing.
When she came to herself she was
upon her bed, with the beautiful count
ess bending a little uneasily over her.
"Oh, what was the natter asked the
| cOuntessi nave you quaffeleu thls
evening""
"With whom said Amelia, not yet
| quite herself.
"With Mario, with your impassioned
Mario, who, hope, will decide to ask
me for your hand"
"Ahw exclaimed the poor girl, "Mario
loves only you"
'NIel" replied the countess, with a
naughty mien, "What a stupid manl
And she went TO the mirror to arrange
the corsage of the scarlet gown that set
off the marble whiteness of her perfect
shoulders.
Amelia buried her face in the pillow,
and drenched it with scalding tears
Translated from the Italian of Erminia
Bazzocchi for Short Stories, by e. Ca
vazza.