Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-30
XIX.

not bear to think Of the little cherished
body being laid 10 molaer in that ter
rife place where I had endured such
frantic horrors. Therefore, informing
all whom Il concerned that | acted
, under the countess's orders, | chose a
pretty spot in the open ground Of the
| cemetery, close to the tree where I had
| heard the nightingale singing in my
hour Of supreme misery and suffering
Here my little one was laid tenderly
t. rest in warm mother-earth and |
had sweet violets and p%rimroses
planted thickIy all about the place,
while on the simple white marble cross
that marked the spot | had the words
engraved
Una Stella syanita,' -"
a vanished star.
adding the names Of her parents and
the date of her birth and death, Since
all this had been done ! had visited my
wife several times. She was always at
home to me, though of course. for de-
cency's sake, in consequence of the
thild's death, she denied herself to
everybody else. She looked lovelier
than ever; the air of delicate languor
she assumed suited her as perfectly as
it's fragile Wilderness suits a dollhouse
lily. She knew the power of her own
beauty most thoroughly, and employed
II in arduous effort to fascinate me.
But I had changed my tactics; | paid
very little heed to her, and never
went to see her unless she asked me
very pressingly to do so. All compli-
rents and attentions from me to her
had ceased. She courted me, and | ac-
Cepted her courtship in unresponsive
silence. I played the part of a tact
turn and reserved man, who preferred
reading some ancient and abstruse
treatise or metaphysics to even the
charms OF her society-and often,
when she urgently desired my com
pany, | would sit in her drawing-room.
turning over the leaves of a book and
feigning to BIO absorbed in il, while
she, from her velvet fauteuil, would
look at me with a pretty pensiyeness
made up half of respect, half of gentle
admiration-a capitally acted facial
expression, by the by, and one that
would do credit to Sarah Bernhardt.
We had both heard from Guido Fer
rari: his letter to my wife | of course
did not see; she had, however, told
me he was much shocked and dis
tressed to hear of Stella's death" The
Cpistle he addressed to me had a differ
cnt tale TO tell. In it he wrote-"You
can understand, my dear conte, that
| IN not much grieyed &c hear of the
death of Fabio's child, Had she lived,
| confess her presence would have been
a perpetual reminder to me of
things | prefer to forget. She never
liked me--she might have been a great
source OF trouble and inconvenience;
so, on the whole, | am glad she is out
of the way"
Further on in the letter he informed
me:
MY uncle is at deaths door, but
though that door stands wide open for
him. he canrot make up his mind to go
In. His hesitation will not be allowed
to last. so the doctors tell meat any
rate / @feryeptly hope | shall not be kept
waiting too long. otherwise | shall re-
turn to Naples and sacrifice my heri-
tage. for l am restless and unhappy
away from Nina, though l know she is
safely guarded by your protecting
care"
I read this particular paragraph 70
my wife. watching her closely as /
slowly enuuciated the words contained
in ID. She listened. and a vivid blush
crimsoned her cheeks-a blush of
dignation-aud her nrows contracted
In the veXed frown l knew so we'll
Her lips parted in q half-sweet. half
chilly smile as she said, quietly.
70 owe YOU my thanks, conte, fer
showing me to what extent Signor Fer
rari's impertinence may reach am
surprised at his writing to You in such
a manner The fact is. my late hus-
baud attachment for him was SO eN-
'rcme that he NOW presumes upon a
supposed right that he has oyer me
he ftucles I am really his sister. ana
tElt ne can tyrauI ize. as brothers
sometimes d. really regret have
l,un SO patient with him-I have al
lowed him too much liberty
True enough, Itnought. and smiled
h.ftrr'y I was now in the heat Of the
game The moves must be played
quickly there was no more time for