Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-10-11

"Grdce DGngc7.feld! III can't DC 50!
the murder was insane. Others said
that she was evidently trying to shield
the Young artist, who was the real
criminal.
So strongly and SO inconceivably
mixed had the affair become that the
Justice refused to release Gerald Ram
forth even on the heaviest bail till the
whole matter could be subjected to q
thorough investigation.
And thus matters stood. Miss Dan
gerfield lay at the point OF death at the
sheriff's home with but small chance OF
recovery, while Gerald Rainforth mad
been returned to the Jail to wait further
developments.
1t was not until the day following the
one on which occurred the dramatic
scene in the courtroom that found an
opportunity to read the manuscript CIV
en- me by Gerald Rainforth. 1t con-
tanned strange, romantic story and
was full of interest. | give it in full
below:
GERALD RAINFORTH'S STORY.
| hardly know why write this, for
nothing seems less likely at this mo-
ment than I shall ever find it necessary
to give to the world the particulars OF
the incidents | am about to record, yet
something seems to tell me that l am
writing this for a purpose, but it it is
ever given to another it will be to one
who is my dearest friend and to whom
some explanation of my past conduct is
due.
After the death of my parents l spent
four years in college, and then, having
developed taste for painting, took up
that art as a study. and for three years
received instructions from the best
painters of Europe. Then began trav-
cling, and possessed Of an ample fortune,
with no near relatives with whom
might make my home, drifted about
wherever fancy led. 1t was just three
years ago last June that the series Of in
cidents of which | shall write began to
take place. was in Rome at that time.
whittier | had gone to pursue my studies
as an artist. Shortly after my arrival
in the Eternal City accidentally STUN
bled upon Ralph Redburn, former
schoolmate, who was an artist full of
enthusiasm, and, might add, airy
dreams. He had his studio near the
Piazza di Spagna, in what had doubtless
once been palace of considerable mag
nifcence, but which was now so tum-
bled down and given to neglect as to re-
semble barn more than place for hu-
man habitation. But Ralph Redburn
was eccentric and had great passion for
ruins, especially when it came to pay
ing rent, for ruins rent very cheaply in
Rome, and the young artist found 1t
necessary to use economy.
By his urgent invitation l established
myself in his studio, which might easily
have accommodated half dozen others,
and by a liberal use Of rugs and dra-
peries | succeeded in making the place
quite comfortable.
had been three months in Rome and
was beginning to feel desire for a
change Of scene when one evening as
was strolling past the church of Trinita
del Monte | saw young lady emerge
from the edifice and enter a carriage
that stood in waiting. She was an
American, l knew at the first glance,
and was possessed of such rare lowell
ness of form and face that for a mo-
ment | stood staring after her as if
stupefled. She was of medium height.
with complexion Of the clearest olive.
and eyes large and lustrous, with a hue
or deep violet i'll their shadowy depths.
She passed SO close to me that [ caught
the falntest odor Of the strange sweet
perfume that chung to her garments.
Then she entered the carriage and was
driven rapidly away.
stood there as if transfxed till the
carriage had vanished from sight: then
recovering myself, and noticing that nv
stupid staring had excited the atten-
ton OF group of beggars who were col
lected near the church entrance, hastily
drew few pieces of silver from NV
pocket, and tossing them to the ragged
mendicants | walked on.
But could not forget the face of the
strange beauty, and in spite Of my ef-
forts to Danish her from nv mind sha
would reappear before nv mental vi
sion with such frequency as to aston;sh
even myself. For the next few dava r
spent q great deal of my time in the
vicinity OF the church of Trinita del
Monte, but my visits to that neighbor-
mood were unproductive of any result
save TO increase my desire to again he
mold her who had awakened in mo on
interest | had never before felt in WON
an. "oA-
In the next week that followed !
think ! must have searched for -
through every portion of the city, ret I
Iaiied to discover the slightest trace Of
ner. one evening nearly a month later
sometning very strange happened. For
more than an hour I had been sitt;ne,
alone IN the studio, putting awav at 3
cigar OF indulging in reflections ov =.
the past. It had grown ouite d..L -