Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-07
Continued.

Indignantly "since Signor Ferrarl
thinks it his duty to mount guard
over me. / suppose he wishes to keep
me for himself-a most impertinent
and foolish notion! There is only one
thing to do shall leave Naples be-
fore he returns"
WHY" | asked.
She flushed deeply. Il wish to avoid
him she said, after little pause;
tell you frankly, he has lately gwen me
much cause for annoyance. l will not
be prosecuted by his attentions; and as
I before said to you, [ am often AFRAID
of him. Under your protection l know
/ am quite safe, but | cannot always
enjoy that
The moment had come. l advanced
a step or two.
why not?" | said. cit rests en-
tirely with yourself"
She started and half rose from her
chair-her work dropped from her
hands.
What do you mean, conte?,' she
faltered, half timidly, yet anXlously; !
do not understand.
81 mean what / say | continued IN
cool hard tones and STOPPING, L plcked
I'D her work and restored it to her;
"but pray do not excite yourself! You
say you cannot always enjoy my pro-
lection: it seems to me that you can
BY becoming my Wife
"Conte!" she stammered. | held up
my hand as a sign to her to be silent.
81 am perfectly aware" | went on In
husiness-like accents-"of the disparity
in years that exists between us. l have
neither youth, health, or good LOOKS TO
recommend me to you. Trouble and
bitter disappointment have made me
what | am. But | have wealth which
Is almost ineXhaustible-l have posi-
ton and infiuence-and besides these
shings''-and here | looked at her
steadily, Il have an ardent desire to do
Justice to your admirable qualities, and
to give you all you deserve. II you
think you coulG be happy with me,
speak frankly cannot offer you the
passionate alteration of a young man
my blood is cold and my pulse is slow
but what | can do, | Will
Having spoken thus, [ was silent
gazing at her intently. She paled and
flushed alternately, and seemed for a
moment lost in thought-then a sudden
smile of triumph curved her mouth
she raised her large lovely eyes to
mine, with a look of melting and visit
ful tenderness. She laid her needle
work gently down, and came close up
to me-her fragrant breath fell warm
on my cheek-her strange gaze fa5-
cipated me, and sort of tremor shook
my nerves.
''You mean" she said, with a tender
pathos in her voica-'that you are
willing to marry me, but that you do
not really love me?"
And almost appealingly she laid her
white hand on my shOulder-her mus
ical accents were low and thrilling
she sighed family. | was silent-bat-
Ting violently with the foolish desire
that had sprung up within me, the de-
sire to draw this witching fragile
thing to my heart, to cover her lips
with kisses-to startle her with the
passion of my embraces! But l forced
the mad impulse down and stood mute.
She watched me-slowly she lifted her
hand from where it had rested, and
passed it with a caTessing touch
through my hair.
''No-you do not really love me"
she whispered" | will tell you the
TRUTH love you'll"
And she drew herself up to her full
height and smiled again as she uttered
the lie. | knew it was a lie-but
seized the hand whose caresses stung
me- and held it hard, as l answered:
"You love me? No, mo- cannot
believe tit is inpossible!"
She laughed softly 1T is true
though" she said, emphat;cally, 1.-The
very first time I saw you l knew
should love you! l never even liked
my husband, ana though in some
things you resemble him, you are
quite different in others-and superior
to him in every way. Believe it or
not as you like, you are the only man
IL all the world 1 have ever loved!"
And she made the assertion un-
blushingly, with an air of conscious
pTlu6 ana virtue. HAL SIltpeHeu at Uer
manner, l asked:
Then you will be my Wife,"
q will" she answered-"and tel ne
your name is Cesare, is it not?-
Yes I said, mechanically
Then Cesdre," she murmured ten
derby, Il will axe You. love me very
much"
And with quick 1.-THE movement of
her supple figure, she nestled softly
against me, and turned up her radiant
glowing face.
Kiss me-" she said. and waited. AS
one in whirling dream, stopped and
kissed those false sweet lips, I would
have more readily placed my mouth
upon that of poisonous serpent! Yet
that kiss reused a sort of fury in me.
I slipped my arms round her half-re-
clining figure. drew her gently back
ward to the couch she had left, and sat
down beside her, still embracing her.
You really love me?" l asked almost
fiercely.
''Yes!"
"And I am the first man whom you
have really cared for?"
You arei"
you never liked Ferrari?"
Never"
Did he ever kiss you as I have
done?"
mot once!"
cd 1, IL