Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-07-18
One Face Beaming Like a Star.

along through one of the principal
streets, considering whether OF not
should return on foot to my own dwell
ing OH the heights, heard n sound Of
singing and perceived in the distance
a glimmer of white robes. 1t was the
month of Mary, and at once conclud-
ed that this must be an approaching
procession of the Virgin. Half in idle
ness, half III curiosity. stood still and
waited. The singing voices came near
eer and nearer-I saw the priests, the
acolytes, the swinging gold censers
heavy with fragrance, the faring can
dies, the snowy wells of children and
.girls-and then suddenly the pictures.
que beauty of the scene danced before
my eyes in a whirling blur of bril-
fancy of color from which looked forth
one face! One face beaming out like
a star from cloud of amber tresses
one face of rose-tinted chiid-like love-
'liness-a loneliness absolutely perfect,
lit up by two luminous eyes, large and
black as night-one face in which the
small, curved mouth smiled half pro-
vokingly, half sweetly! l gazed and
gazed again. dazzled and excited;
beauty makes such fools of us all!
This was woman one of the
sex l mistrusted and avoided-a wom-
an in the earliest spring of her youth,
a girl Of fifteen or sixteen at the ut
most. Her veil had been thrown back
by accident or design, and for one
brief moment l drank in that soul
tempting glance. tha witcn-!ike smile!
The procession passed the Wis
ion faded bit in that breath
of time one epoch OF my .::fe had closed
forever. and another had begun:
OF course I married her. Wa Nea.
politans lose no time in such matters.
We are not prudent. Unlike the calm
blood Of Englishmen, ours rushes
swiftly through our veins-it is warm
as wine and sunlight, and needs no
sire, we possess; and then! We tire,
you say? These southern races are so
tickle! All wrong-we are less tired
than you deem. And do not English
men tire? Have they no secret ennui at
times when sitting in the chimney
nook of ''home, sweet home" with
their fat wives and everspreading
families? Truly, yes! But they are too
cautious to say so.
I need not relate the story of my
.courtship-it was brief and sweet as a
song sing perfectly. There were no
obstacles. The girl l sought was the
only daughter of ruined Florentine
noble Of dissolute character, who
gained bare subsistence by frequent
ing the gaming tables. His child had
been brought up in a convent re-
:nowned for strict discipline-she knew
nothing Of the world. She was, as he
assured me with maudlin tears i'll his
eyes, 'as innocent as a flower on the
altar of the Madonna" l believed
him-for what could this lovely, youth
full. lOW-vOiced maiden know of even
the shadow of evil? / was eager tc
gather so fair lily for my own proud
wearing-and her father gladly gave
her to me, no doubt inwardly congrat
zulating himself on the wealthy mattel
that had fallen to the lot of his dover
less daughter.
We were married at the end of June
and Guido Ferrari graced our brida
with his handsome and gallant pres
aence.
by the body of Bacchus" he eX
.clnimed to me when the nuptial cere
mony was over, thou hast protted by
my teaching, Fabio! A quiet rogue II
often most cunning! Thou hast rifie(
the casket Of Venus, and stolen hel
falregt jewel-thou hast secured tn,
.lOveliest maiden In the two Sicilies"
pressed his hand and a touch o.
remorse stole over me. for he was NJ
longer first In my affection. almos
kA 1T
morn ! looked back to the old days