Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26
CHAPTER XIV.

gazed at her with the same bewildered
fascination that had Supplied my rea-
sen and judgment when | beheld her
for the first time. The black robes she
wore, the long Grape veil thrown back
from her clustering hair and mignonne
face, all the sOmber shadows of her
mourning garb only served to heighten
and display her beatty to greater adj
vantage A fair widow truly! |, ner
lately deceased husband, freely ad-
mitted the magnetic power OF her
charms! She paused for an instant on
the threshold, winning smile on her
lips; she looked at me, hes1tated, and
finally spoke in courteous accents:
II think | cannot be mistaken! Do
address the noble Conte Cesare
Onva?"
| tried to speak, but could not. My
mouth was dry and parched with eX-
element, my throat swelled and ached
with the pent-up wrath and despair OF
my emotions. ] answered her ques-
ton silently by formal bow. She at
once advanced extending both her
ner | had so often admired.
Il am the Countess Romani," she
said. still smiling 4 heard from Sig
nor Ferrari that you proposed visiting
his studio this afternoon, and could
not resist the temptation OF coming
to express my personal acknowledge
ments for the almost regal gift you
mn. IL, Nv
niticent. Permit me to offer you my
sincere thanks!"
| caught her outstretched hands
and wrung them hard-so hard that
the rings she wore must have dug into
her flesh and hurt her, though she was
too l,elI-bred to utter any exclamation.
l had fully recovered myself, and was
prepared to act out my part.
"On the contrary, madame | said,
in a strong harsh voice, the thanks
must come entirely from me for the
honor you have conferred upon me by
accepting tritles so ignificant-es-
pecially at a time when the cold bril-
lIancy of mere diamonds must jar upon
the sensitive feelings of your recent
WidowhOOd. Believe me, | sympathize
deeply with your bereavement Had
your husband lived, the jewels would
have been his gift to you, and how
much more acceptable they would then
have appeared in your eyesi | am
proud to think you have condescended
SC far as to receive them from so I'M
worthy a hand as mine"
seemed startled, and regarded me ear
uestly. Sheltered behind my smoked
spectacles, | met the gaze of her large
dark eyes without embarrassment.
Slowly she withdrew her slight fingers
from my clasp. | placed an easy
chair for her; she sunk softly into it
with her cid air of INDECENT ease the
case of spoiled empress or sultan's
favorite, while she still continued to
look up at me thoughtfully. Ferrari,
meanwhile busted himself in bringing
out more wine; he also produced
dish of fruit and some sweet cakes,
and While occupied in these duties as
our host he began to laugh.
'Ha, ha! you are caught" he ex-
claimed to me gaily. You must know
we planned this together, madame and
l, just to take your by surprise There
was no knowing when you would be
persuaded to visit the contessa, and
she could not rest till she had thanked
you, so we arranged this meeting
Could anything be better? Come, conte,
confess that you are charmed"
'Of course | ann" | answered, with
slight touch of satire in my tone.
who would not be charmed in the
presence of such a youth and beauty!
And | am also f1attered-for I know
what exceptional favor the Contessa
Romani extends toward me in allowing
me to make her acquaintance at a time
which must naturally be for her a Sc
Guided season of sorrow"
At these words my wife's face sud-
denly assumed an expression of visit
full sadness and appealing gentleness.
All, poor unfortunate FabiO," she
sighed. How terrible it seems that he
is not here to greet you! How gladly
he would have welcomed any friend
Of his fathers-he adCred his father,
poor fellow | cannot realize that he is
dead. 1t was too sudden, too dreadful!
| do not think | shall ever recover the
shock of his loss!'
And her eyes actually filed with
tears; though the fact did not surprise
me in the least, for many women can
weep at Will. Very little practice is
necessary-and we men are such fools
we never know how it is done; we
take all the pretty feigned piteousness
for real grief, and torture ourselves to
find methods of consolation for the
feminine sorrows which have no root
save in vanity and seIfshness
glanced quickly from my wife to Fer
raj; he coughed, and appeared embar-
rassed-he was not so good an actor
as she was an actress. Studying then
BOTH l know not which feeling gained
the mastery in my mind-contempt o.
disgust
Console yourself madame" | said
coldly. Time should be quick to hea
the wounds of one so young and beau
tiful as you are. Person ally speaking
| much regret your husbands death
but l would entreat you not to Civ,
was to grief, which, however sincere
must unhappily be useless. Your lif,
lies before you-and may happy day
and as fair a future await you as vol