The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-01
THE ROANOKE TIMES. WEDNESDAY. MAY ., 1895.

n day here and q day there. just as the
fancy took US II was at Tirano that
J the climax of my brief madness came
and the denouement of this adventure
befell.
We were housed In the Hotel San
Michele, one of the qualntest hostel
ries surely wherein man might take
his ease, for the building had formerly
sheltered peaceful sisterhood. The
bedrooms were vaulted, the doors were
| of stone, and all the doors opened on
to broad, cloister-lil1e gallery. At
the end of this winding gallery was an
immense loggia, which looked ON the
piazza and the cathedral-a pilgrimage
church-whither on great festivals the
faithful were gathered together from
all the surrounding villages.
Perhaps it was the SOLDERING influence
of the gray old building, or the con-
ventual air OF the place, or the asceti-
clsm which breathed from those cell
like bedrooms; but certainly on that
| third evening of our sojourn there the
girls manner had changed. Betty's
beautiful face was sad and clouded,
and Aittie's gayety had vanished.
After. dinner she pleaded headache
and went to her room, and Betty
looked troubled as she left us, but did
not offer to follow. Isuggested q stroll
IN the convent garden, from whence
came the click of the bowls, for that
old-world game was always in full
swing after the days work was over
the garden, being large, served as an
| open-air club to the townspeople.
Betty agreed, and we were soon in the
cool, high-walled pleasance-a quiet
spot, where all we heard of the Players
was the click of the ball and the dis
tant sound of laughter and talk.
The sun had set, and n cool breeze
was Whispering among the broad leaves
OF the fig trees; in the grass the drone
OF the grasshopper made n sleepy muir
muir. Betty was curiously silent, n
tritie embarrassed in manner, and
| somehow this unwonted shyness and
taciturnity gave me confidence in nv
| self. L talked to her about MANY
things, as If l were entitled to her SYM
pathy, told her OF my struggles, of my
ambitions, of my hopes talked as @
man rarely talks save to the woman he
loves and hopes to win for his wife.
Somehow or other-nade bold, think,
by tender softening of her face when
l spoke about the hardness of the
struggle for fame when the struggle is
made single-handed-I blurted out nv
| secret loved her, and life would be
n desert without her love.
Then in the gray twilight I saw
white, astonished face and two large,
frightened eyes look at me in horror.
Mr.. Aslehurst!" she painted, "you
are surely mad It is not you love
| 1T is" she stopped and bit her lips
Good heavensl It was the old COM
| plication. read her unspoken thought
in flash. She believed it was Eittie
loved, that it was for Kittie's sake
that had dangled at their heels all
| this time.
| l was about to protest that 1t was
she-Betty-and she only that loved,
when she resumed, in a calm, self-pos-
sessed tone:
You must forget that you have ever
spoken SO to me, Mr.. Aslehurst; that
you have ever thought of me-in that
way-for I am married already-my
husband Is coming to join us at Pom.
| tresina."
| stared ut her incredulously for q
moment.
But Miss Blount-!"
| II was Miss Blount once. am Mrs.
Field now. Perhaps you know nv hus-
band; he is barrister too; he could
not get away sooner because he had
some important case to work up" she
went on, rapidly. st is all Kittie
Morison's fault-this-tthis dreadful
mistake. Kittie was my greatest chum
before L married last year; she was
very angry with me for marrying, and
/ che
old times, when we used to come
abroad together for walking tours, to
be Miss Blount again. It was she who
wrote the name in the hotel book at
Bormio; and when you called me Miss
Blount kittie was delighted, and in
sisted on keeping up the joke"
THAT was little rough on me-"
said, in crcstfallen way. The comical
side OF the situation was apparent to
me, and for Il moment 1 forgot the
pangs OF despiscd love.
1--WE did not mean any HARM" she
murnured, humbly. I'VE used to have
such splendid times together when we
toured about, Kittie and l. When 1
heard you call me Miss Blount, Ill
most forgot that I had u husband in
| London"
Poor Field! He would not be fat
tered"
You know my husbard?"
| slightly. We meet pretty often in
hall" answered. dryly.
ooh, Mr.. Aslchurst, what must you
think of me? But do love Edward,
and II shall be so happy to see him
at Pontresina- We are model couple,
| and ever SO contented. IL thoupht