Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-15
CHAPTER VIII.

lorged-for evening A soft breeze
Strung up, cooling the burning air
after the heat Of the day, and bringing
with it the odors of a thousand
towers. + regal glory of shifting
colors blazed on the breast of heaven
the bay, motionless as a mirror,
reflected all the splendid tints with a
she6Ey lpster that redoubled their
magnifiCence. Pricked in every vein
b. the singing of my own desires, I
yet restrained myself; waited till the
sun sunk below the CLASSY waters
till the pCmp and glow attending its
departure had paled into those thin
ethereal hues which are like delicate
Graperies fallen from the flying forms
of angels-till the yellow rim of the
round full moon rose lanSuidly on the
edge Of the horiZan-and then keeping
back my eagerness no longer, I took
the well-knOWn road ascending to the
Villa ROmani. Ny heart beat high
my limbs trenbled with excitement
my steps were impatient and precipi-
tate-never had the way seemed so
long. At last [ reached the great
gate-Way-it was locked fast-its
sculptured lions looked upon me
frowningly. l heard the splash and
tinkle of the fountains within, the
scents of the roses and myrtle were
waited toward me with every breath l
drew. Home at last! | smiled-my
whole frame quivered with expectancy
and delight. 1t was rot my intention
to seek admission by the principal en-
trance cOntented myself with one
long, loving look, and turned to the
left, where there was small private
gate leading into an avenue of lex
and pine, interspersed with orange
tees. This was a favorite walk of
mine, partly on account of it's pleasant
shade even in the hottest noon-partly
because it was seldom frequented by
any member Of the household save
myself Guido occasionally took a
turn with me there, but [ was more
often alone, and | was fond of pacing
up and down in the shadow Of the
trees, reading some favorite book, or
giving myself up to the dolce far
niente of my own imaginings. The
avenue led round to the back of the
villa and as | now entered it, |
thought l would approach the house
cautiously by this means and get
private speech with Assunta, the
nurse who had charge of little Stella,
and who was moreover an old and
tried family servant, in whose arms
my mother had breathed her last.
The dark trees rustled solemnly as
[ stepped quickly yet softly along the
familiar mossgrown path. The place
was very still-sometimes the night
ingales broke into bubbling torrent
of melody, and then were suddenly
SILENT as though overawed by the
shadows of the heavy interlacing
boughs, through which the moonlight
f1iCkered, casting strange and fantastic
patterns on the ground. A cloud of
lUcciole broke from a thicKet of laurel,
and sparkled in the air like gems
loosened from a queens crown. Faint
odors floated about me, shaken from
orange boughs and trailing branches
of white jasmine. [ fastened on, my
spirits rising higher the nearer ap-
preached my destination. | was full
of sweet anticipation and passionate
longing yearned to clasp my be-
loved Nina in my arms-to see her
lovely lustrous eyes looking fondly
into NINE was eager to 81 AXE Guido
by the hand-and as for Stella, knew
the child would be in bed at that hour,
but still, thought, l must have her
Weakened to see me; | felt that my
DIO4o
| had kissed her little cherub face, and
caressed those clustering curls of hers
that were like spun gold. Hush-hush!
What was that? l stopped in my rapid
progress as though suddenly checked
by an invisible hand. l listened with
strained ears. That sOund-was It
not ripping peal of gay sweet laugh
ter? A SILVER shook me from head to
foot 1t was my wife's laugh knew
the silvery chime of it we'll! My heart
sunk coldly-I paused irresolute. She
could laugh then like that, while she
thought me lying dead-dead and out
of her reach forever! All at once [ per-
ceived the glimmer of a white robe
through the trees; obeying my own
impulse, | stepped softly aside-I hid
behind a dense screen of foliage
through which l could see without be-
Ing seen. The clear laugh rang out
once again on the stillness-its
brightness pierced my brain like a
sharp sword! She was happy-she was
even merry-she wandered here in the
moonlight joyous-hearted, while II
had expected to find her close shut
within her room, or else kneeling be-
fore the Mater Dolorosa in the little
chapel, praying for my souls rest, and
mingling her prayers with her tears!
Yes-I had expected this-we men are
such fools when we love women!
Suddenly terrible thought struck me.
Had she gone mad? Had the shock and
grief of my so unexpected death
turned her delicate brain? Was she
roaming about, poor child, like
Ophelia, knowing not whittier she
went, and was her apparent gayety
the fantastic mirth of a disordered
brain? | shuddered at the idea-and
bending slightly apart the boughs be-
hind which I was secreted, 1 looked
out anxiously. Two figures were slow
~ approaching-my wife and my
friend, Guido Ferrari. Well-there was
nothing in that-it was as it should
be-was not Guido as my brother?
1t was almost his duty tC console and