Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-10

ksf Els vas ecnoensxassd n NJ AaAss.
thai bsnx. beAx - Il Il would huzuf in
honda Thea x7th STUDIED carelssunsss
~ wsn1srrd Through the roo<as until
he succssded IN placing himself II her
side. from wheisos hs dsd ROT sfir until
the last guests were about - basve4
Mario had told ths story Of his life
his poor life Of discomfort and ISOLATION
he. too. Was al orphan, brought up by
strangers who had specnlssed upor his
talent BY force q study and effort be
had At last made for himself position
that had enabled him 70 demand bis
liberty IN exchange for . monthly pay
ment Never, poor soul. Rad he tasted
the sweetness Of mutual love
Amelia, IN her secret heart, re5oiced
a. all shis- For would il not be her
privilege 70 give him the delights that
be had never experienced. her task 10
make him furget the bitterness Of 80
many years aud 10 reward him for ell
his sufkerlngss At night how many
dreams of this kind peopaed the virginAl
little room II the young girl, and in
fancy she cav herself already an adored
wife. elAsped % the gentle aud noble
breast Of her beloved Mario.
One thing. however, preoccupied her
mind. When she met Mario for the first
time q cloud OF sadness had veiled his
attractive countenanoe. . sadness behind
which she had perceived q deeply wound
ed heart. OF that wound Mario had
never spoken TO her. but the clond had
not passed away. notwithstanding the
love that Amelia breafhed toward hisa
from her eyes, her SMILE. her entire per-
sonaiify. And then, too, there was
something else that she would have
~ished-inceed, she expected IL every
evening, and always vainly-the final
oufburst Of Mario's love. He boved her
oh. che was sure Of that-but why did
he not tell her sos OF course, natural
timidity-the fear of troubling her
simple life. He was so noble, her Mario.
But finally he must explain himself.
Oh! and she would not stammer in CIV
ing him favorable answer; such q yes
would escape her lips-and then what
mutual joy, what warnth in their fu-
ture talks! Then che would be Obliged
TO tell il 10 her cousin, aud the kind
countess would willingly consent But
why did he not speak 10 her?
One evening when they were alone in
the shadow VI the little yellow drawing
room Mario suddenly let himself go,
seized her trembling hand and muir
INJURED 10 her, II will must speak 10
you-at last"
And Amelia, bending her fair head
and almost suffocated with emotion, re-
piled. Il am listening TO YOU"
Dear Amelia" Mario began, ''have
you never asked yourself why ! 6rst
came 70 this houses"
How should II Chance perhaps"
murmured Amelia, hardly able to con-
tain her JOY, while her heart cried out
the answer, "For me. for me alone.'
at was nc. a chance, mol came hero
conquered, led by passion alone. ]
loved and was wild with pain before I
set foot inside the house." declared Ma
no.
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
. world of kisses, Here is Joy for you."
But he continued, Il loved. and today
love more than then: / 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 lover Or was he feigning, per-
haps, in order to hear her confess itf
Dear girl" and hero Mario caressed
her hand, "you indeed have comforted
me, you have helped me to bear my
grief; but now my anguish has reached
the last degree-I know that my love
will never be returned"
mo. no: you mistake" Amelia invol-
unfairly interrupted, bending toward
him
81 mistake 2" he exclaimed. with hope
beaming in his glance. why do you
say SOP Do You know who it is that I
lover
And Amelia, shamefaced and con-
fused, stalnmered, Il imagine"
We'll" continued Mario bitterly. IF
you know whom l love you will have
seen for some time that she not only
does not even dream of this tempest n
my soul, bat she would never imagine
that one so low would dare 10 lift his
eyes to her."
What! Was he going madf Why
did he talk of descending? And es
girl, profoundly troubled. asked him
quickly: ''Sae' Who,"
Your cousin, the countess, Of
course"
do you love her; Herr And An
nella could say no more. She felt .
chill like ice through her veins, . ring
ing in her ears; abe saw sparks, shsd-
ows, before her eyes--tben nothing.
When she came to herself she was
upon her bed, with the beautiful count
ess bending \ little uneakAy over her.
''Oh, what was the natter asked the
countess; "have you quarreled this
evening"
with whom said Amelia, not yet
quite herseif. -
With Mario. with your imprisoned
Mario. who. hope. viii decide to ask
me for your hard"
"Ahl~ exclaimed the poor girl, mario
loves only you"
''Me~ replied the countess. with .
naughty mien. What stupid mani
And she went 10 the mirror 70 arrange
the corssge OF the scarlet gown that eet
OF the marble whitenex Of her perfect
shoulders. --~
Amelia brried her face in the pillow.
and arenrtca II with scsl,lsoy tn.x~