The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-06-21
THE SPIDERS WEB.

Rosy complexioned and in her fresh
spring toilet, she was truly beautiful.
Under her long silky lashes her azure
eyes had a soft caressing light that illu-
mined her face with kindness. The
form, though somewhat slender, was
we'll modelled, and the ines of the neck
set off all the attractiveness of a head
encircled by a ~profusion of blond locks.
This was the beautiful and graceful
Paoletta. Giorgio's young wife. In a
carriage the newly welded pair We're
proceeding rapidly along the sun filled
ploying the day.
The carriage paused to allow them to
admire the flowers upon a spur of the
incline, where the vines, like wild nests,
stretched from distance to distance, half
concealed by the trees.
"Do you wish to go up there?' asked
Paoletta.
She pointed with her delicate hand,
= from which she had drawn her glove, TO
the heights Of Bellevue.
For what:' Giorgio asked.
1--WE might see a house that would
suit us-you know we ought to be look
ing for one," said Paoletta. Eve can
inquire at the inn."
Giorgio hesitated.
What of our journey to st. Cloud?"
he asked.
LET it be postponed for awhile"
He did not answer Immediately. FL
nally he said half reluctantly: LAS you
will. 1t really makes NJ difference where
we live SO long as we are together"
She looked at him brightly, and they
descended from the carriage and took
their way toward the bank Of the Seine.
The inn was deserted.
LET us mount into that little bal
cony," she said. There is a fine view
from there"
las you please"
Soon the sun shone less brightly, for
q space shone pallid, then vanished.
Great clouds heaped themselves up about
them, rapid and compact. A strong
wind blew, and large drops of water be-
gan to fall.
Where should they take refuge?
There - said Paoletta.
With her hand she indicated a cottage,
upon the threshold of which an old
woman stood.
Giorgio suddenly blushed crimson,
but accompanied his wife in silence.
lit is for rent; it can be looked
over, said the woman, who hoped to
find tenants in this handsome young
couple.
Giorgio did not respond, but while
Paoletta examined the apartments he
regarded with interest this slight, box
like construction, SO simply made.
As o as his wife called him he en-
tered the house. A vision of the past
rose in his mind. He saw the garden,
the arbor, the honeysuckle and ivy, now
nothing more than a mass of green foli-
age, under which was hidden a little
bench covered with moss and gone to
decay. A marble dove, blackened by
moisture, had been for long years the
sole spectator Of this devastation.
1T is ten years since the house was
left tenantless, prattled the old wom-
an. The proprietor, who was eccen-
trio, did not wish to let it, But now he
isdead, and l have been directed to have
card put up. The necessary repairs
will be made"
Paoletta laughed aloud with happy,
childlike pleasure.
Are you willing to rent this house,
Giorgio:" she asked.
THE air might be too bracing for
you, my dear"
But not more SO than everywhere in
the country" put in the old woman.
Besides, the rent is SO little-4OO
francs a year"
sit is very reasonable, said Paoletta
II shall be delighted to live here. Come,
let Us visit the rooms. l am charmed
with the whole place"
He followed her, examined some
apartments decorated with gray paper
and red flowers, looked into the dining
a with windows looking upon the
Seine, and as he glanced about all the
past returned to his memory. No longe,
was it Paoletta who was before him,
but Chiara, the girl he had first loved,
and whom he had often seen. seated il
this little hermitage, to which he hat
by chance returned.
He had lost her while the cup Of Low,
was stillfull But he forgot her in tim,
and married the pretty Paoletta, whom
he loved. Yet frequently when with he
ashadow passed before him-the shadow
of a young and lovely woman.
A week Later found them settled il
the cottage. The outdoor life was
great benefit to Paoletta, who had bee
something Of an invalid. 1t was az
ranged that they should pass the winte
in the country.
Every day Giorgio went to bushes
in the city, leaving Paoletta alone. Tn
young wife, busy with her new cares