Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-07-13
Paoletta gradually ceased to feaE
him Rnt when To this GREAT snid&E


take down the mirror, laughing to
see the tribe scampering.
Suddenly she uttered cry of sur
prise. Wrapped up as in net, in
vested with a great mass Of cobwebs
a letter sealed with black fell from
behind the mirror.
The workman, no less surprised
than the young lady, presented the
letter to Paoletta, who took it tremb
ling. On the outside she read:
'To be delivered to Signor Gior-
gio Doryal after my DEATH"
The young wife's heart beat fast.
This letter was directed to her hus-
band. What could it contain?
SIT must have been written long
time ago. said the workman.
at is directed to my husband, ;
responded Paoletta.
The man smiled musingly.
"a letter from woman" he
thought.
Should she burn this letter unop-
ened? What might it contain ?
Should she give it to him?
No, no; certainly not. After a
long time she broke the seal, and
this is what she read:
"My dear Giorgio, am sick and
sad. The house is a prison. I seem
to find in it something tragical, lead
ing TO revenge and death.
although it is ended, complete
ly ended, do not doubt but that we
shall see each other again. Is our
love to endure but one season? Do
you not remember your oath of
eternal fidelity?
Il have not forgotten and have
returned to our nest. Now l would
like to die, surrounded by the things
you care for.
81 have re-entered this room, fill
ed with tokens of your love. That
reclining chair has seated you fire.
quently, when, returning from long
excursion in the woods, l came to
rest my head against your knees,
while you touched the brown locks
which fell over my forehead. l have
reviewed all that year of happiness
day by day and only desire to die in
this house where you and I have
loved"
Paoletta gave loud cry and tell
| to the floor.
When she returned to her senses,
the sun lad set, the day was slowly
departing, the horizon, tinted with
purple, forming luminous garland.
Nothing was changed in the lite of
same azure sky, the same strident
shrek of the railway train, the hill
arious shouts of the children releas-
ed from school.
Was what had passed dream
some strange fancy? No, the letter
was there at her feet. 1t recalled
her to reality. 1t was true-all was
true.
And suddenly she felt within her
heart an enormous weight, and upon
her shoulders something laid almost
insupportable.
She remained for long time mo-
tionless and silent, making a thous-
and projects. Then gradually her
nerves gave way and tears flowed
from her eyes.
When Giorgio returned, he found
her calm, but little nervous.
Several days passed, then Paoletta
took to her bed.
A malady which had not been able
to carry her to the tomb year be-
fore, reappeared. The physician an
nounced that all was over; she would
not outlast the fall of the leaves.
She treated Giorgio with GOODNESS,
OF which she gave no explanation.
He attended her, watched over her
and duplicated her to tell him why
she had changed, but she remained
silent, and her calmness made him
almost insane.
One morning she said to him,
"You will return early today, will
you not, Giorgio 2"
He bent over her, kissing her ten
derby.
eyes, my darling" he said.
That evening, when he returned,
she was dead. She held in her rigid
hands letter-the letter of Chiara.
In pencil she had added these words:
II am jealous Of this woman, and
of jealousy die. Adieu, Giorgio ~
From the Italian.