Connecticut western news., 1893-01-12
ADVERSE FA1TES.

"I am listening to you" said Annella, bending her blond little head and Mario felt that her slender hand trembled in his.
 Who was Amelia?
 The beautiful widow of Count Giummi had found her one day, pale, desolate and exhausted, beside dead woman in squalid, dark room. That dead woman was the aunt of the count ess and the mother of Amelia, and the poverty which surrounded her was the sole inheritance of the fair young girl.
 Countess Giummi, rich, admired and courted by the fine flower of aristocratic salons, lived upon vanity and coquetry. But in spite of that she had a morsel of heart, and poor Annella's little white face had the power to draw two beauti- ful tears, more lucent than pearls, from her great, black, enchanting eyes. If the baron, the yiscount or the marquis could have seen those two pearls, surely they would have loved her even more than they did-so compassionate and tender did she seem amid the triumphs of her happy youth.
 That same evening Amelia reposed in 8 soft bed, under counterpane of pink silk, while at the balcony window, that she had left partly open, the moon peered in and laid tint of pallor upon the rose red divans of the elegant little room.
 Two years passed after that first tran quil sleep. Annella's beauty, which early privations and sorrows had almost with cred in the bud, bloomed again as if by magic. It was pleasure to see the radiant girl: slender little person, but with perfect curves of outline, the bust full, the throat of admirable softness. and the little head-oh, that dainty little head was like an artists thought Like 8 golden wave, the curling hair, which she wore unbound and floating, rippled down her shoulders; her eyes laughed with the color of the clear heavens un- der arching, delicate eyebrows that were black against the whiteness of her forehead and gave resolute expression to her beautiful countenance. Her small, rosy mouth was always smiling; it was but languid smile and tinged with an expression of melancholy or bitterness.
 Now, after having sketched Annella's graceful figure, it seems strange not to be able to give it background of. bright colors. We know how much brilliant setting adds to 8 gem, and certainly the Countess Giummi's beauty gained great ly by the luxury and richness of her dress and surroundings. A fashionable dressmaker, an artist in his line, dressed her with Parisian taste; skillful young woman, who was maid and confdante together, combed the wealth of her dark hair that touched the floor and adapted to her shapely person stuffs, eolors, flowers and jewels. From their hands the countess issued a true goddess of love, and her shrine gleaming with silks, marbles, silver and crystal in creased the enchantment and rendered her marvellous to the eyes of visitors.
 Poor Annellal so simple in her little muslin gown; so timid in that rich house, not her own, how could she con tend for the palm with that superb queen? And it is no new thing that the bright rays of the moon dim the placid light of the quiet stars. So the hundred gentlemen that fiocked into those gilded rooms had eyes only for the beautiful countess, and if they deigned to bestow passing word or look on the timid girl, that was merely an act of homage to the reigning lady, homage that showed their admiration for her charity to de- pendent. They all knew, and from her own mouth, too, the countess had taken the forsaken orphan to this beautiful home and changed her sorrow to happi- ness.
 But was Amelia really happyp
 Her young heart thirsted for love. In her childhood she had been the one treasure of her poor mother, and though she had often lacked bread, air and sun. light, caresses were never wanting. She knew the sweetness of kiss into which is transfused all loving soul; she knew the dual life, the breath mingled with another breath from breast pal pitating with tenderness. Yes, her moth CTS love had taught her all these things, and taught them to her in poverty. Then came fine times, abundance of every thing, new amusements every day and every hour, noisy gayeties and the lux ury of carriages and dinners. But < strange to say, amid all this laughter of life, her heart was narrowed, closed She indeed no longer suffered from hun ger, cold or fear of worse misfortunes but henceforth she had no one to love her, nor simple object to call forth her own love, though she felt an over towering need to bestow on some one all her warm, lnpassioned soul
 At first she had tried for this exchange. of affection with her cousin, the mag nifcent countess. Alasi she had found her kind, courteous, generous, but friv- olous, full of herself and her attractions, and incapable not only of feeling love. but even of comprehending it.
 Discounted, Amelia had looked about her, and amid that array of faces, coats and decorations that made circle around her beautiful cousin she had sought and sought. An odd grill She had actually found those polished gen tlemen empty and unsympathetic, al though finely clad and unexceptionable from top to toe. How could she have dared to raise even her thoughts to the heights on which they moved? Which of them would have deigned to descend to her, poor little orphan, sheltered by the pity of her cousin?
 Thus set apart and averse to all flat teries, she led her own life. amid the festivities nd the constant noise and confusion of the house.
 But one evening she discovered among the crowd a newcomer-blond and handsome like herself, and like herself sad, timid and embarrassed. At once