Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER XXI.

For a moment | lost my self-pOsses-
sion. | scarcely remember now what
[ did. | know | clasped her almost
roughly in my arms-I know that !
kissed her passionately on lips, throat
and brOW-and that in the fervor of
my embraces, the thought Of what
manner of vile thing she was came
swiftly upon me, causing me TO re-
lease her with such suddenneSs that
| size caught at the back of a chair TO
save herself from falling Her breath
came and went in little quick gasps of
! excitement, her face was fushed-she
looked astonished, yet certainly not
displeaSed. Ne, she was not angry,
! but l was-thOroughly annoyed-bit-
terly WeXed with myself, for being
such a fool.
Forgive me- 1 muttered. - forgot
i
A little smile stole round the cor
ners of her mouth. "You are fully par
doned!' she said, in low voice. " you
need not APOLOGIZE
Her smile deepened; suddenly she
Sroke into a ripping laugh, sweet and
silvery as a bella laugh that went
through me like a knife Was 1t not
the .self-same laughter that had
pierced my brain the night | witnessed
her amorous interview with Guido in
the avenue? Had not the cruel
mockery of it nearly driven me mad
could not endure it sprung to her
side-she ceased laughing and looked
lat me in wide-eyed wonderment.
"Listen!" l said, IN an impatient,
almost fierce tone. do not laugh like
Ithat! 1t jars my perves,-it-hurts
me! | will tell you why. 'Once-Iong
ago-ln my YOUTH loved a woman,
She was not like y0U-no-4for she was
false! False to tine very hearts core
false IN every word she uttered. Yo1z
, understand mel she resembled you in
nothing-nothing But she used ia
laugh at me-she EampIed on nv life
and spoiled it-Sfle broke nv hearth
1t is all past now. | never think of
her, only your laughter reminded me
IL" And | took her hanfls and kissed
! them. Il have told you the story Oh
my early folly-forget it and forgive
me! 1t is time you prepared for your
! journey, is it not? If | can be of ser
vice to you, command ane-you know
: where to send for me. Goodbye! and
I the peace OF a pure conscience be with
you!"
! And | laid my burning hand on her
mead weighted with its clustering curls
! or gold. She thought this gesture was
one of blessing. l th0ught-God only
knows what | thought-yet surely if
curses be so bestowed, my curse
! crowned her at the moment! I dared
rot trust myself longer in her pres
e1loe, and without another word or look
left her and hurried from the house
! knew she was startled and at tbs
same time gratiied to think she could
thus have moved me to any display
| OF emOtion-but I would not ever
turn my head to catch her partins
/ glance. [ could mott was sick OF
myself and Of her. l was literally
torn asunder between love and hatred
love born basely OF material feel,
! ing alone-hatred, the offspring of a
deeply injured spirit for whose wrons
there could scarce be found sufficien
remedy. Once out Of the influence OF
her bewildered beauty, my mind grew
celmer-and the drive back to the no
tel in my carriage through the swee
chillness of the December air qlaieteC
the feverish excitement of my blood
and restored me to myself. It was {
most lovely day-bright and fresh
with the SAVIOR of the sea in the wind
! The waters of the bay were of a steel
like blue shading into deep olive
green and a soft haze fingered abou
the shores of Amalfi like veil o
gray. shot through with silver anC
gold. Down the streets went women il
picturesque garb carrying on thei
heads baskets full to the brim o
purple violets that scented the air a:
5 they passed-children ragged and dirt,
ran along, pushing the luxuriant tan
i gle of their dark locks away from
r their beautiful wild antelope eyes, AM
holding up punches of roses AM
: narcissi with smiles as brilliant as tn
e very sunhine. implored the passenger