Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-07-13
THE SPIDER WEB.

Rosy complexioned and in her
fresh spring toilet, she was truly
beautiful. Under herlong eilky hair
her azure eyes had soft caressing
light that illumined her face with
kindliness. The form, though some
what slender, was well modelled, and
the lines of the neck set off all the
attractiveness OF a head encircled by
a profusion of blond locks.
This was the beautiful and grace
full Paoletta, Giorgio's young wife.
In carriage the newly welded pair
were proceeding rapidly along the
sun filled river bank, thinking Of
some way of employing the day.
The carriage paused to allow them
to admire the flowers upon spur of
the incline, where the vines, like
wild nests, stretched from distance,
half concealed by the trees.
"Do you wish to 60 up there2"
asked Paoletta.
She pointed with her delicate
hand, from which she had drawn her
| glove, to the heights of Bellevue.
"For what p Giorgio asked.
ave might see a house that would
suit us-you know we ought to be
looking for one, said Paole,ta. "We
can inquire at the inn"
Giorgio hesitated.
"What of our journey to st.
Cloud 7" he asked.
"Let it be postponed for awhile
He did not answer Immediately.
Finally he said half reluctantly
GAS you Will. 1t really makes no
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
bllcony," she said. ''There is fine
view from there"
"As you please
Soon the sun shone less brightly,
for a space shone pallid, then vanish
ed. Great clouds heaped themselves
about them, rapid and compact. A
strong wind blew, and large drops
of water began to fall.
Where should they take refuge?
"'Therew said PaoIetta.
| With her hand she indicated
cottage, upon the threshold of which
an old woman stood.
Giorgio suddenly hlushed crimso on,
but accompanied his vile in silence.
at is for rent; it can be looked
over,' said the woman, who hoped
to find tenents in this handsome
young couple.
while Paoletta examined the apart
ments he regarded with interest, this
slight, box like construction, so sim
| ply made.
As soon as his wife called him he
entered the house. A vision of the
past rose in his MUD. He saw the
garden, the arbor, the honeysuckle
and ivy, now nothing more than a
mass of green foliage, under which
was hidden 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.
at is ten years since the house
was left tenantless," prattled the old
woman. "The proprietor, who was
eccentric, did not wish to let it. But
now he is dead, and | have been d.
rected to have card put up. The
necessary repairs will be made"
Paoletta laughed aloud with hap
Ply, childlike pleasure.
care 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 wo-
man. "Besides, the rent is so little
400 francs year"
at is very reasonable" said Pao-
letta. II shall be delighted to live
here. Come, let US visit the rooms.
| am charmed with the whole place."
He followed her, examined some
apartments decorated with gray pa
per aud red flowers, looked into the
dining room with windows looking
upon the Seine, and as he glanced
about all the past returned to his
memory. No longer was it Paoletta
who was before him, but Chiara, the
girl he had first loved, and whom be
had often seen seated in this little
hermitage, to which he had by chance
returned.
He had lost her while the cup of
love was still full. But he forgot
her in time and married the pretty
Paoletta, whom he loved. Yet fire..