Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-14

splendid countess together. Amelia al
ways awaited him with indescribable
emotion, and when,she saw him appear
ing in the doorway, .difident and shy, all
her life was concentrated in her heart,
that beat, beat as III it would burst its
bonds. Then with studied carelessness
he wandered through the rooms until
he succeeded in placing himself at her
side, from whence he did not stir until
the last guests were about to leave.
Mario had told the story of his life
his poor life of discomfort and isolation.
He, too, was an orphan, brought up by
strangers who had speculated upon his
talent. By force of study and effort he
had at last made for himself a position
that had enabled him to demand his
liberty in exchangefor monthly pay
ment. Never, poor soul, had he tasted
the sweetness of mutual love.
Amelia, in her secret heart, rejoiced
at all this. For would it not be her
privilege to give him the delights that
he had never experienced, her task to
make him forget the bitterness of so
many years, and to reward him for all
his sufferings?. At night how many
dreams of this kind peopled the virginia.
little room of the young girl, and in
fancy she saw herself already an adored
wife, clasped to the gentle and noble
breast of her beloved Mario.
One thing, however, preoccupied her
mind. When she met Mario for the first
time cloud of sadness had yelled his
attractive countenance, sadness behind
which she had perceived adeeply wound
ed heart. Of that wound Mario had
never spoken to her, but the cloud had
not passed away, Notwithstanding the
love that Amelia breathed toward him
from her eyes,. her smile, her entire per-
sonality. And then, too, there was
something else that she would have
wished-indeed, she expected it every
evening, and always vainly-the final
outburst Of Mario's love. He loved her
obi she was sure of that-but why did
he not tell her sop Of course, natural
timidity-the fear of troubling her
simple life. He was so noble, her Mariol
But finally he must explain himself.
Oil and she would not stammer in Civ
ing him favorable answer; such yes
would escape her lips-and then what
mutual joy, what warmth in their fu-
ture talkst 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 mur-
INJURED to her, II will must speak to
you-at lastw
And Amelia, bending her fair head
and almost suffocated with emotion, re-
piled, II am listening to you'll"
"Dears Amelia" Mario began, "have
you never asked yourself why l first
came to this house?"
"How should l? Chance perhaps"
murmured Amelia, hardly able to con-
tain her joy, while her heart cried out
the answer, "For me, for me alonew
"It was not chance, no-I came here
conquered, led by passion alone. l
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
world of kisses, Here is joy for your
But he continued, 81 loved, and today
love more than then; I 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 it2
"Dear GIRL" and here 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"
"No, no; you mistaken Amelia invol-
UNFAIRLY interrupted, bending toward
him.
II mistake {" he exclaimed, with hope
beaming in his glance. "Why do you
say so? Do you know who it is that l
love~
And Amelia, shamefaced and con-
fused, stammered, 81 imagine"
"Well," continued Mario bitterly. eff
you know whom I 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 descending2 And the
girl, profoundly troubled, asked him
quickly: "Shel Who2"
"Your cousin, the countess, Of
course"
"Do you love her? Herr 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 little uneasily over her.
"Oh, what was the matterY' asked the
countess; shave you quarreled this
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"
"Ah" exclaimed the poor girl, "Mario
loves only you."
"Mel" replied the countess, with a
naughty mien. "What stupid man!'
And she went to the mirror to arrange
the corsage Of the scarlet gown that set
off the marble whiteness of her perfect
shoulders.