New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-02

he was not generally amused by very small chill
dren. But they always came TO him OF their own
accord, which some people say Is sign OF gooo
disposition in man, for children ana animals are
rarely mistaken in their likes and dishkes.
San Giacnto and Gianforte Can'podonlco went
TO the station 10 see them of after the wedding,
and threw armfuls of roses and lilies of the valley
into the carriage before the door was finally shut
By the guard az the preliminary bell was sounded:
=" Without you two two should not be here,
said Ghisleri, as he shook hands with them both;
rNo.o added Laura happily. But We should
have been together if it had been in prison. Good
by, dear friends
The train moved away, and the two men were
loft on tie platform, waving their hats to the
last ,
Gacinto, lighting a cigar They will be happy
together ~
Yes" said Gianforte, tboughtfully.. 81 think
they will. Womea love that man, and he knows
how 10 love them"
San Giacints looked down at him and said moth
ing. He knew something of Blanca Corleones
her brother and Ghisleri. He liked them both
moro than almost any of the younger men he
knew. and he honestly admired them for their
thoughts were pa ssing through Campodonico's mind
as he looked after the train that was bearing
away Petro Ghiseri, married man at last;
For GianfOrte saying 10 himself that though
he could neither wholly forget nor freely forgive
the past he could have loved him had fate been
different If ten wears ago Ghlslerl could nave
married Blanca, and if Blanca could have lived
the two would have been happy, for even Gianfort9
admitted that both had loved truly and we'll until
the end But that was dream and reality nad
raised the impossible barrier between men who
might have been firm friends. Their hands might
stretch across il and grasp one another from tme
to time. and their eyes might read good faitn ana
the win TO be- generous each IN the others Soul,
but nearer than that they could never he, for the
rake of the beautiful dead woman who would not
be forgotten by either.
One more picture and one word more. and the
curtain must fall az last.
In the early summer Laura and her husband
were at Tore da Glsleri in the Tuscan hills Inc
small castle was very habitable as compared with
its former condition, and small as II was by conn
parison with such Businesses as Gerano, was by
no means the mere ruined tower which many
people supposed il 10 be. The square gray keep
from which il took its name was fanked by
mass Of smaller buildings irregular and OF diifer-
ent epochs, all more or less covered with ivy or
with crcepers now in bloom. The wide castle
ward in the midst of which stood the ancient well
with its wonderfully wrought gate OF iron. It's
heavy chain, and It's two buckets, had been con.
verted into a garden long ago for the bride Of
some Ghisleri OF those days. and the plants and
trees had almost wild for hundred years:
persisted in the winter storms. Here cypress.
there an oak, further on again three laurels, OF
Laura Regia kind, side by side in a row. then
two cvoresscs again, growing up straight and slim
and dark out Of a plot of clOsH-cut grass. And
there were roses everywhere. and stiff cameli1
trees and feathery a7alea5 and all manner Of
bright. growing things without order or symmetry.
beautiful in their wildness. But in and out
there were narrow paths, in which two might
cared for n they had never been in Pietro's
bachelor days. Other things, Were changed too
hut not much. and for the better. woman's
hand had touched, had walked a sweet new life
The afternoon sum- still above the low sur
rounding hills, cast the shadow or the tower
across the lawn and upon tho flowers beyond.
There were chairs before the arohed doorway.
and q garden table Laura sat watching the
swallows as they flew down from N the keep to
crelny flight book she had not even thought
Of reading lay beside her. At her elbow sat
t ,sief oven l his WE'VE" ewes Which little Herbert wSs
irving 10 get at, as he rode on Pletro's knee.
The mans face had changed wonderfully during
from it, and die contemptu6hs; disconnected
look that had once come so readily was never
seen now. ,...,,, ,a
Laura still watching the swallows and gazing
At the flowers when We first came. and I
looked ont of the window in the morning, !
Thought | had never seen any place so lovely.
You used to talk of il IN such careless way
1T is you who make it beautiful for me-,
answered Ghisleri. A year ago 1t seemed duli
and ugly enough, when l used to sit here and
II was not the first woman you had thought
Of. on this very spot, dare say said Laura,
No, dear you were not He smiled as he
admitted the fact But you were the last, and
Unless you turn out To- be as on1 as y9u
WHAT'S successor mean" lisped Herbert, de.
sisting from his attempt 10 get at the nat ana
Somebody who comes after another, answered
Laura. Il will try to be good, DEAR she said
to Ghisleri.. laughing a;Sain. n.,, aor,..
SOIL H. exclaimed Herbert promptly. oouoS-
less surprising that il expected or MN
"YcSs said Ghislcri. thoughtfully. Il nave
SIT here many a time for hours. dreaming aoouo
You, and wishing for you, and trying % see you
lust as YOU are now in chair beside me- les,
/ have thought of other women here, but IL Is
very long since ! wished to see one there-n
ever did | hardly ever came here when was
very young ~, -, H., r..,.
sadness in il AZ he spoke the last words-not the
sadness of regret. but of reverence lie was
thinking OF Banca Coreone men Laura IL. ia ~,
her hand upon his arm, ana her eyes uico HIS io'
he turned rs he felt her touch.
Dear, yon would have been happy, WIN ner
she said very gravcly. bat r VIII Te , a., ~
Won tina: woman can Ne 10 man, Al NV w
show YOU how | love YOU.
no woman ever was what You are TO me
already he answered. No woman, nving OF
dead You have done everything for me since
| first knew You WELL and you did much more
than YOU know before | knew what you really
were. There can be nothing in the world Deyono
what Won have given, and give me-
II wish ! were quite, quite sure OF that'
'" "y '," must bc-you shall bei' he said, with
sudden energy, and his glance lightened with
know, nor oaths, nor anything of that sort But
[ will tell YOU this-and by the light and good
ness of God it is true. II could doubt for one
moment that love you beyond any love have
ever dreamed of. would tear out my heart VAIN
WHAT'S love-" asked little Herbert, timidy,
for he was afraid that il must be something very
dreadful. as he watched Ghisleri's pale face and
But the lips that might have answered could
not they We're sealing the truth they had spoken
upon others that had uttered q doubt for the AAss
'''''' THE END.