Connecticut western news., 1893-01-12

 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 position that had enabled him to demand his liberty in exchange for 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 nm for all his sufferings? At night how many dreams of this kind peopled the virginal 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, a sadness behind which she had perceived deeply 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 -ohl she was sure of that-but why did he not tell her so? Of course, natural timidity-the fear of troubling her simple life. He was so noble, her Mario! But finally he must explain himself. Ohi and she would not stammer in giv- ing him a favorable answer; such yes would escape her ips-and then what mutual joy, what warmth in their flu 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 herp
 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- mured to her, "I will must speak to you-at lastr'
 And Amelia, bending her fair head and almost suffocated with emotion. re- piled, .I am listening to your
 "Dear Annella," Mario began, ''have you never asked yourself why first came to this house?"
 "How should IF Chance perhaps" :" murmured Amelia, hardly able to con tain her joy, while her heart cried out the answer, "For me, for me aloner'
 "It was not chance, no--I came here conquered, led by passion alone. loved and was wild with pain before l 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 8 world of kisses, Here is joy for your But he continued, "I loved, and today love more than then; suffered, and to- day 1 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 itp
 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- untarily interrupted, bending toward him.
 'I mistaken he exclaimed, with hope beaming in his glance. "Why do you say soi Do you know who it is that l lover
 And Amelia, shamefaced and con- fused, stammered, ''I imagine"
 "Well," continued Mario bitterly, .'if 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, bat she would never imagine that one so low would dare to lift his eyes to her"
 did he talk of descendingf And the | girl, profoundly troubled. asked him quickly: "Shel WhoY" ..#
 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 matter?" asked the countess; "have you quarreled this evening"
 "With whomY' said Amelia, not yet quite herself.
 with Mario, with your impassioned Mario, who, I hope, will decide to ask me for your hand"
 "Ahp exclaimed the poor girl. Mario loves only you"
 "Mei' replied the countess, with q naughty mien. What stupid manr' And she went to the mirror to arrange the corsage of the scarlet gown that set of the marble whiteness of her perfect shoulders.
 Annella buried her face in the pillow and drenched 1t with scalding tears.- Translated from the Italian of Erminia Bazzocchi, for Short Stories, by E. Ga vazza.
 l General Markets.
 NEW YORK, Jan. 9.--COTToN-Spot steady;
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