Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-26
CHAPTER XIV.

Low dazzling lovely h was!
-sgsd lt her with the same bewlldered
s,s.,ratiou hat had supplied my rea-
81, and Judgment when beheld her
= t,a first time. The black robes she
-r,rs the long Grape veil thrown back
,r,rc her clustering hair and mignonne
80 all the somber shadows OF her
uoYrptng garb only served to heighien
and display her beauty to greater ad-
-.rtore 4 fair widow truly! !, her
,,,srv deceased husband, freely ad-
,,i+tad the magnetic power of her
harms. She paused for an instant on
.ta tbresbold, a winning smile on her
,,,s she looked at me, h~esftated, and
.nslIv spoke in courteous accents:
~ mink 1 cannot be mistaken! DO
address the noble COME oesare
OLIVIA
rrfed to speak, but could not. My
mouth was dry and parched with eX-
.,+omant. my throat swelled and ached
with the pent-up wrath and despair OF
mn emotions. | answered her ques-
ron silently by a formal bow. She at
once advanced, extending both her
hands with the coaxing grace of man
per had so often admired.
Do. am the Countess Romani, h
said still smiling. II heard from sig
nor Ferrari that you proposed visiting
mis- smdio this afternoon, and | could
not resist the temptation Of coming
IN EXPRESS my personal acknowledg-
rapts for the almost regal gift you
sent me. The jew els are really mag
pincent. Permit me to offer you my
sincere thanks."
caught her outstretched hands
and wrung them haId-so hard that
the rings she wore mui have dug into
her flesh and hurt her, though she was
100 well-bred to utter any exclamation.
I had fully recovered myself, and vas
prepared to act out my part.
"Ou the contrary, madame" | Sid,
IN a strong harsh voice, the thanks
must come entirely from me for the
honor you have conferred upon me by
accepting trities so insignificant-es-
pecially at a time when the cold bril-
nancy 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 hen
have appeared in your eyes! | am
proud to thirk you have condeecended
Sc far as to receive them from SO un-
worthy a hand as mine"
As ! spoke her face paled-she
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 old air Of INDECENT ease, the
ease of a spoiled empress or sultan's
j~arnrlte, While she still continued to
look mp at me thoughtfully. Ferrari,
H'i't buoi'h hlIllotll III VI 1871
LUZ more Wine; he also produced a
DISH Of fruit and some sweet cakes,
@nd While occupied in these duties as
our host he began to laugh.
Ma 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.
you'd anything be better? Come, conte,
confess that you are charmed"
yt course I am" | answered, with
q slgit touch Of satire in my tone.
VINO would not be charmed in the
presence OF such a youth and beauty!
ana ] am also tiattered-for | know
what EXCEPTIONAL favor the Contessa
N'llAnI extends toward me in allowing
~e 70 make her acquaintance at a time
"a'oh must naturally be for her a Sc
GUIDED season of sorrow"
.Aese words my wife's face sud
.'"ls assumed an expression Of visit
'" sadness and appealing %gentleness.
49, poor unfortunate Fabio." she
'-af' How terrible it seems that he
-.' here TO greet youl How gladly
would have welcomed any friend
,ather's-he adored his father,
,a..ow. 1 cannot realize that he is
7 was too sudden, too dreadful!
WY A'f think I shall ever recover the
IF bis loss"
A.. her eyes actually filled with
though the fact did not surprise
y. Me least, for many women can
will, Very little practice is
and we men are such fools
.r know how it is done; we
.he pretty feigned p~iteousness
-Elet, and torture ourselves to
aods Of consolation for the
sorrows which have no root
vanity and selfshness.
.A'ak}y from my wife TO Fer
ned and appeared emhar-
WAS mt en- cnn1 nv apt1r