The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-03

to guide her, she evaded the family castle,
and after divers hardships reached Cozenza,
and thence got 10 Naples.
She had been in Naples month when she
saw ME at the shop window. For her repu-
tation's sake she had gone into convent
until the arrival Of her mother from Amer
lea. She was, she said, bored to death but
still she was able to laugh and to feel toleT-
ably happy in spite of what she had under
gone.
L could hardly believe my ears as lis
tened 10 her. 1t seemed so moDstrous. That
THIS pretty girl (she was but just of age)
should have had her life wrecked in such
way WAS almost Incredible.
Yet even while | looked at her had an
mixing why she was so little really de-
pressed. Her heart had never been inter-
ested in the business. Ii had been sort OF
commercial investment True II had turned
out sadly smiss; but she was young and had
the American spirit of perseverance, which
urged her rot to mind II her FIRST EFFORT had
failed.
II have had good square talk about it
with the American Consul" ("Amurrican.
she said, but all speech was melodious on
her tongue), and he thinks 1 can get
divorce in the Italian courts"
She said this quite elatedly.
land afterward o" ] ventured to ask.
'0h, who can tell? But, say, isn't
Naples enchantingP I'm hoping TO hear
| mamma is at Liverpool any day, and cnce
| she comes we'll have rare nice time again.
You'll be here for some weeks, wont your"
| said it was exceedingly likely.
''My! How glad mamma Will be?'
And you, Feena!
why, certainly. But now / mustn't
| stay any longer. The lady outside in the
! car is the Superior OF the conyent--don't
| know what shell. think about all this, but
| she knows the history of that brute. Any
| how, give me your address, and we'll see
! plenty of each other when mamma comes"
! Then we parted, ard | went off to my
| hotel with good deal to think about The
! Superior Of the convent had looked rather
! hard at me l fancied.
| Well, in due time Mrs. Stanhope reached
! Naples. Feena was Jubilant over her re-
| lease from monastle life, which could have
! suited no one less. They went straightway
/ 10 the Grand Hotel aud took lovely room,
| with double balcony, overlooking the bay.
! This done, Mrs StanhOpe put herself into
| communication with the Consul and with
| certain Neapolitan nobeman who had iu-
| terested himself in Feena's ease. and whose
| influence at court was considerable.
Yes. ii was decided TO bring an action for
| divorce. There was divers pleas OH behalf
| of it; and cruelty was but one OF them. Ii
was confidently hoped that the King would
| take the part of Feena, and, after the de-
cree, even allow her to keep the title Of
Marchesa, which she had acquired so ex-
! pensiyely and for so short q time.
| No sooner did she realize that this was
| possible, than the girl renewed her ancient
WAYS. She seemed never to go out without
making a conquest. There were several
noblemen in the hotel. and these we're soon
! all on her list OF admirers. They placed
! their carriages at her disposal. ana profeSSed
| themselves enchanted 10 be allowed to drive
her and Mrs. Stauhope to Posiiippo or any
| where else.
1t was futile to argue with the girl
mo, no." she said, when | had got impa-
| tient with her one day. That fellow down
/ Calabria way has cheated me out of a good
| deal Of fun, and | guess I'll make up for it, q"
Even the argument that she was injuring
! her prospects OF divorce did not sufficiently
! frghten her.
Il believe Pm becoming reckless" she
| whispered to me one evening in the Villa
! Gardens during the fashionable stroll be-
! fore dinner.
Iudeed, 1. too had come to that opinion
then. the way she pressed nv arm at in
/ teTvals when she wished TO be kind made me
see That the old Feena was gone forever.
Even the Consul interposed with sedaie
/ heaG-3hakings.
What can l do. though ?" asked poor
Mrs. Stanhope. 'She says she's a married
woman and means TO do as she pleases.
It's not bit Of use trying to hold her in"
Often after dinner, when | called at the
hotel. / found tile girl still at the dinner
| table: holding forth in a wild manner to
the young gent.emen who had diDed at the
| table d'hote - purpose to see her. Her
mother would inteTpose with a Now.
! FeeGa, come upstairs, dear" but her daugh-
! ter did not heed these Invitations. Ny APP
| pearance, more than aught else, seemed 10
! draw her back to her senses With a
! lovely bow she would rise and leave the
| room.
Still later, under the starlight and the
| mild sweet air Of Naples, | was allow ed To
smoke ny cigar un their balcony Then /
! used 10 think of our evenings in Florence.
! year ago; for Feena would insist on com
/ ing into the open with chair and sitting
! with her hair down for the moon to shine
| upon. How her eyes would CLEAN in the
| half shadow, TO be sure! There was some
| thing almost terrifying in their splendor
1t might chance that the Neapoliian
| ballad singers would come around at such a
! time. Nothing would then suit Feena's turn
| but she must fling Ira or two To them and
| keep them stunning sentimental airs by
! the half hOuT-sne and | on the balcony and
| a crowd of the NeapOlitan youth below II
| was not altogether good form; and in a girl
suing for a divorce it was more than indis-
Greet.
Well. L must hurry to the end-the sad
| end.
The divorce suit came on. and failed
| The King had heard much Of Feena and her
| beauty, had seen her at a reception, and got
| an exaggerated IDEA of her conduct. 1t was
| Just what was sure TO happen. But it came
| as a bad blow both to Mrs. Stanhope and
| myself.
| don't think it affected Feena very much.
She pretended to laugh and make light of it..
| Let him come and take me il he dare"
she said. abiding to her husband. the false
| Marchese.
But all the while it was plain she was
| drifting nearer and nearer 10 the goal " hjch
| il is ruin for any woman to touch.
| She was more and more with her noble
| acquain tances Of Naples, and there were
| times wEen-so her mother told me-she
! insisted on being alone with them in these
| drives.
"Why not take her away?" / asked.
! Because she has said SIZE will not 60"
was the dOlorous reply. .'She has been her
| own bane, poor girl, and | don't know what
| to do"
1t was about week after this that one
| day | received a note from Mrs. Stanhope
| asking me to come round TO the hotel imme-
| diately.
| did so, TO find that Feena had gone off in
the yacht Of young Count who had been
one of her most persistent followers.
This is the last, hitherto, that / have
| heard OF Feena. l could not stay longer in
| Naples. Mrs. StanhOpe promised 20 give
| me intelligence of what transpired after this
| crushing step, but l have not heard from
her either. This, to me. implies the worst
| possible.
Some day may see her again; but | NAV
| sincerely say that l hope not do not care
| to think what she would look like now.
And yet, from the first, she was more
snned against than sinning.-All the Year
| Round