The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-16

B.
escaped from exposure. He started at
the Thought and blamed himself Tor
its admission to his mind. ! he de-
sired to escape he had only 20 go
abroad. and that Is what he should d do
at once-to-night, to-morrow-leaying
all complications 70 settle themselves.
Let others announce his marriage II
they pleased, he would not.
Abroad he could enjoy freedom, blue
skies, clear atmosphsres, fields for wide
adventure, opportunities for pleasures,
changes from dull responsibility, gra.
cious people, everything to make lie
worth living, He strove to feel happy
at the prospect OF wandering nimlessly
in strange lands, but q violent intermlt-
tent pain in his head made all other
emotion than misery impossible, and
somehow his spirit which he sought to
upraise, dropped and sank again and
again.
His hands were burning, so were his
temples, and his throat was dry, The
room became sitting, but he had neil
ther the energy nor the courage to VEN
ture abroad; he shranS from meeting
aoquaintances, he dreaded crowds, the
noise ofstreets would in his present
mood send him distracted. Yet how
miserable he was alone; he felt queer at
the quietness OF his surroundings.
In an interval of relief from pain he
dozed and saw before him vaguely and
confpsedly Sglimpse of an Italian land:
scape, a long white winding road skirted
BY orange groves and olive woods on
one side, and by shelving heights COW
cred with terraces OF vines on the other.
The sky was blue and peaceful here
and there a cypress tree, black and
mournfdl,. stood against the light, top
most on the hills. The road led to q
city vast and crowded with narrow
crooked streets having overhanglng
storeys and broad balconies, with
shrinea dim and dusty at the corners.
Beyond were noble churches. dignifed
by time, and stately palaces OF marble
which the sun had warmed to amber,
and in the air was the splashing OF
waters falling into vide basins OF
alabaster.
Women passed to and fro; women
with figures upright and graceful, with
dark eyes flashing under noble brows,
and white teeth seen between lips full
and red aa peony; women whose
brown rounded Threats were encircled
BY strings of coIored beads, whose
bosoms were covered yet scare concealed
by the white muslin rising above tight
velvet bodies, Amidst them walked
one in black, tall and spectral, weird and
cad, blot upon the yellow sunshine;
one whose face was yelled, whose figure
was bowed, whose tread was noiseless
as the dead she moving as the dead
amongst the living, and with as little Of
LIES ways about her as the dead.
He longed to know who this woman
was. yet dared not question her or ask
others, feeling the answer would be
ominous, the knowledge fatal to all tut
ture Joy.
So realistic seemed, SO close beside he
struggled to escape, when opening slowly
his eyes he saw form move away. He
started upright and looked around, when
he caught sight Of Whyman'S retreating
figure.
relief.
Eyes, ny lord ] fear have disturbed
"No, no. What is it?'
"That person 10 waiting to see your
lordship.n
"The WOMAN"
Eyes, my lord"
Redfriars felt his heart sink with
some nameless foreboding, some vague
apprehension of fear. 1t seemed to
him that the great crisis of life had ar
rived; that he was about to stand face
to face with his destiny. He dared not
avoid his visitor or seek escape from
one who to him possessed the import.
ance and power OF fate, He would see
her. happen what might.
"Let her come in" he said mourn
fully