Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

ture, why had [ not met such a on'
and welded her instead of the vile
creature who had been my souls un
doing? The answer came swiftly
Even il | had seen her when | was
| free, | doubt if l should have known
her value. We men of the world wht
have social positions to support, W.
see little or nothing in the peasan
| type of womanhood; we must marry
ladies" so called-educated girls who
| are as well versed in the worlds ways
| as ourselves, if not more so. And sc
We get the Cleopatras, the Du Barrys
the POmpadOurs, while unspoiled
maidens such as Lila too often become
the household drudges of common me-
chanics or day-laborers, living and
dying in the one routine of hard work,
and often knowing and caring for no
thing better than the mOutain-hut, the
farm kitchen, or the covered stall in
the market-place. Surely it is an
Unbalanced world-so many mistakes
are made; Fate plays us SO many ap-
parently unnecessary tricks, and we
are all of us such blind madmen,
knowing not whittier we are going
from one DAY to anotheri l am told
that it is no longer fashionable to
believe in devil-but I care nothing
for fashion! A devil there is I am
sure, who for some inscrutable reason
has share in the ruling of this planet
"a devil who delights in hooking
us from the cradle to the grave. And
perhaps we are never so hopelessly,
utterly fooled as in our marriages.!
Occupied in various thoughts, |
scarcely saw where [ wandered, till a
flashing glimme of blue blossoms re-
called me to the object of my walk. ]
had reached the Punto d'Angelo. 1t
was, as Lila had said, fiat rock
bare In every place save at the sum-
NIT, where it was thickly covered
with the lovely gentians, flowers that
are rare in this part of Italy. Here
then the tabled angel paused in his
flight to bless the venerable sanctuary
Of Monte Vergine. I stopped and
looked around me. The view was in
deed superb-from the leafy bosom of
the valley, the green hills like smooth
undulating pillows rolled upward, till
dense purple shadows and -.
their emerald verdure was lost in tn.
ot the Apennines the town of Avel>
limo lay at my feet, small yet clearly
defined as a miniature painting on por-
celain; and a little further beyond and
above me rose the gray tower Of the
Monte Vergine itself, and one sad and
solitary-looking object in all the lux
uriant riante landscape.
| sat down to rest, not as AN in
truder on the angels flower embroi-
dered throne, but on grassy knoll
close by. And then l bethought me Of
a packet | had received from Naples
that morning-a packet that l desired
yet hesitated to open 1t had been
sent by the Marquis D'Avencourt, &C
informed me that F'errari's body had
companied by courteous letter, which
been privately buried with all the
last religious rites in the cemetery
close to the funeral vault of the Ro-
mani family" wrote D'Avencourt
las, from all We can hear or discover,
such seems to have been his own de-
sire. He was, it appears. a sort Of
adopted brother of the lately deceased
count. and on being Informed of this
circumstance, we buried him in accord
ance with the statements he would no
doubt have expressed had he con-
sidered the possible nearness Of his
own end at the time of the combat"
With regard to the packet inclosed,
D'Ayencourt continued-"The accom-
panying letters were found in Ferrari' s
breast-pocket, and On opening the
first one, in the expectation of finding
some clew as to his last wishes, we
came to the conclusion that you, as the
future husband of the lady whose
signature and handwriting you will
here recognize, should be made aware
of the contents, not only for your
| own sake. but in justice to the de-
ceased. II all the letters are of the
opened, | have no doubt Ferrari con-
| sidered himself sufficiently injured
man. But of that you will judge fol
yourself, though, If I might venture
| So far in the way Of friendship,
should recommend you to give careful
consideration to the inc1osed CORES
pondence before tying the matrimonial
knot to which you alluded the other
evening. It is not wise to walk on the
| edge of a precipice with ones eyes
shut! Captain Ctabatti was the first tt
| inform me OF what I now know for
| fact-namely, that Ferrari left viii
| in which everything he possessed i:
MADE over Internationally to tn,
Countess Romani. You will of cours
draw your own conclusions, and par
don me if I am guilty of trop de zele il
your service. l have only to tell yol
that all the unpleasantness of this a.
fair is passing over smoothly and with.
out scandal have taken care of that
You need not prolong your absenc
further than you feel inclined, and ]
for one, shall be charmed to welcom
you back to Naples. With every sen
timent of the highest consideration
and regard, I am, my dear conte,
Your very true friend and servito1
Philippe D'Avencourt
| folded this letter carefully and pu
it aside. The little package he ha,
neatly folded letters tied togethe
; with a narrow ribbon, and strongl
perfumed with the faint sickly per
fume [ knew and abhorred. I turne