Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-07

which they glided off this fair woman s
tongue, feeling somewhat the same
sense of stupid establishment a rustic
exhibits when he sees for the first time
a cCnjurer drawing yards and yards
of any-colored ribbon out of his
mouth. I took up the little hand On
which the wedding-ring I had placed
there was still worn, and quietly
slipped upon the slim finger a circlet
of magnificent rose-brilliants. I had
long carried this trinket about with me
now come. She started from my arms
with an exclamation Of delight.
ooh, Cesare! how lovely! How good
you are to mel"
And leaning toward me, she kissed
me, then resting against my shoulder,
she held up her hand to admire the
flash of the diamonds in the light.
Suddenly she said, with some anxiety
in her tone:
"You will not tell Guido? not yet?"
NO" [ answered; Il certainly will
Tot tell him till he returns. Other
wise he would leave Rome at once, and
we do not want him back just immedi-
ately, do WEI" And I toyed with her
ripping tresses half mechanically,
while | wondered within myself at the
rapid success of my scheme. She, in
the meantime, grew pensive and alb
stracted, and for a few moments we
were both silent. If she had knOwni
I thought, if she could have imagined
that she was enci1cled by the arm of
her own husband, the man whom she
had duped and wronged, the poor foil
she had Knocked at ard despised, whose
life had been an obstruction i'll her
path, whose death she had been glad
of. Would she have smiled so
sweetly? Would she have kissed ne
then?
{ She remained leaning against me in
a reposeful attitude for some moments,
ever and aron turning the ring [ had
given her round and round upon her
! finger By and by she looked UP.
"Will you do me one favor?" she
asked, coaxingly; such a little thing
a trifie, but it would give me such
pleasure!"
What is it?" 1 asked; cit is you to
! command and I to obey!"
well, take off those dark glasses
! just for minute! l want to see your
ewes y
I rose from the sofa quickly, and an
sWered her with some GOODNESS.
ASK anything you like but that, mia
bella. The least light on my eyes
gives me the most acute pain-pain
that irritates my nerves for hours
afterward. Be satisfied with me as
-, the present, though | promise
you your wish shall be gratifed-'
"When?" she interrupted me eagerly
l stopped and kissed her hand
"On the evening Of cur marriage
day" [ answered.
She blushed and turned away her
head cOquettishly
"Ah, that is so long to watt" she
said, half pettishly.
mot very long, hope" I observed
with meaning emphasis. eve are now
my suspense brief? to allow me to fix
our wedding for the second month of
the new year?'
But my recent widOwhOod!- Stella's
death!"-she objected family, pressing
q perfumed handkerchief gently to he1
eyes.
In February your husband will have
been dead nearly six months" I said
decisively; cit is quite a sufficient
period of mourning for one so young as
yourself. And the loss of your child
SO increases the loneliness of your sit
uatiOn, that it is natural, even neces-
sary, that you should secure a protec-
tor as soon as possible Society will
not censure you, you may be sure-be.
sides, | shall know how to silence any
gossip that savors Of impertinence
a smile of conscious triumph parted
her lips.
ut shall be as you wish" she said
demurely; If you, who are known in
Nles as one who is perfectly indif-
ferent to women, like now to figure as
an impatient lover, shall not object!'
And she gave me a quick glance OF
mischievous amusement from under
the l9nguid lash of her dreamy dark
eyes. I saw it, but answered, stif1y:
you are aware, contessa, and I an
also aware that I am not lover &C,
cCrding to the accepted type, but that
7 am impatient I readily admit
and why?"
Because" l replied, speaking slowly
and emphatically; I desire you to be
mine and mine only, to have you alb
solutely in my possession, and to feel
that no one can come between us, OF
Interfere with my wishes concerning
you"
She laughed gayly "A la bonnie
heure! You are a lover without know.
ing it! Your dignity will not allow
you to believe that you are actually in
love with me, but in spite Of yourself
you are-you know you are!'
l stood before her in almost sombe1
silence At last said: IF you say so
cCntessa, then it must be so. l have
had no experience in affairs of the
heart, as they are called, and l find il
difficult to give a name to the feelings
" hich possess me; l am only conscious
of very strong wish to become the
absolute n aster of your destiny" And
involuntarily / clinched my hand as
spoke. She did not observe the action,
but she answered the words with a
graceful bend of the head and smile.
Il could not have better fortune, y