Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-12
CHAPTER XII,

| fixed gaze. His face was Swallowed by
a faint tinge of melancholy: his ey,zs
were thoughtful and almost sad.
You loved him we'll then, in spite
of his foolishness?' l said.
He reused himself from the pensive
mood into which he had fallen. and
| smiled.
Loved him. No! Certainly not
nothing so strong as that | liked him
fairly-he Iought several pictures Of
me-a poor artist has always some
sort of regard for the man who buvs
his work. Yes, liked him we'll enough
till he married"
'Ha! l suppose mis- wife came he
tween you?' He flushed slightly. and
drank of the remainder of his coenac
in haste
Yes" he replied, briefly, "she came
between US. A man is never quite the
same after marriage. But we have
been sitting q long time here-shalI
we walk?''
He was evidently anxious to change
the subject. I rose slowly as though
my joints were stiff with age, and drew
out my watch, finely jeweled one to
see the time. Tt was past nine o'clock
Perhaps I said, addressing him.
you will accompany me as far as nv
hotel. | am compelled to retire earlv
as a rule-I suffer much from
chronic complaint Of the eyes as you
perceive" here touching my specta-
cles, "and cannot endure much arti-
fetal light. We can talk further on
our way Will you give me a chance
OF seeing your pictures? 7 shall es-
TEEN myself happy to be one of your
PATRONS"
"A thousand thanks!" he answered
gayly, I will show you my poor at
tempts with pleasure. Should Won
IND anything among them to gratifv
your taste, I shall of course be hon
ored. But. thank Heaven, I an not as
greedy of patronage as I used to be
= ~ intend resigning the pro-
tession altogether in about six months
or 500
Indeed! Are you coming into a for
tuner / asked, carelcsyly.
"Well-not exactly" he answered
lightly. II am going to marry one
that is almost the same thing. is it
not?"
PRECISELY l congratulate youl" 7
said, in studiously Indifferent and
bored tone, though my heart
pulsed fiercely with the torrent of
wrath pent up within it. I understood
his meaning we'll In six months he
proposed marrying my wife. Six
months was the shortest possible in
teryal that could be observed, accord
ing to social etiquette, between the
death of one husband and the wedding
OF another, and even that was so short
as to be barely decent Six months
yet IN that space of time much might |
undreamed of and un-
deSlred-sloW tortures carefully !
measured out, punishment sudden and
heavy? Wrapped in these somter mus
Ings | walked beside him in profound
silence. The moon shone brilliantly:
groups OF girls danced on the shore |
WIN their lovers, to the sound of a
lutte and mandolin.-far off across the
bay the sound of sweet and plaintive
singing floated, from some boat in the
to our ears-the evening
breathed of beauty, peace, and love.
But my fingers quivered with re-
strained longing to be at the throat of
the graceful liar who sauntered SO
easily and confidently beside me- All, |
Heaven, if he only knew! If he could |
haVe realized the truth, would his face
have worn quite so careless a smile
would his manner have been quite so
free. l glanced at him; he was
humming q tune softly under his
breath but feeling instinctively, |
suppose, that my eyes were Upon him,
he interrupted the melody end turned
to me, with the question:
you have travelled far and seen
much, conte?"
81 have"
And in what country have you
found the most beautiful woman"
Pardon me, young sir" l answered
coldly, 1.-The business of life has sep
arated me almost entirely from fem
mime society. l have devoted myself
exclusively to the amassing of wealth,
understanding thoroughly that gold
is the key to all things, even to wo-
mans love; if / desired tnat latter
commodity, which l do not. l fear
that l scarcely know a fair face from
a plain One-I never was attracted by
women, and now al my age, with my
my opinion concerning them-and I
frankly confess those opinions are the
reverse of favorable
Ferrari laughed. You remind me
of FabiO!" he said. HE used to talk
IN that strain before he was married
though he was young and had none
Of the experiences which may have
made you cynical, conte: But he alter
ed his ideas very rapidly-and no
wonderi"
rs his wife so very lovely them"
l asked.
Very! Delicately, daintiIy beautiful.
But no doubt you will see her for
ycurself-as a friend of her late hus-
bands father, you will call upon her,
will you not?''
Why should II" l said, gruffiy-
II have no wish to meet her, Besides.
an inconsolable widow seldom cares
to receive visitors-I shall not in
trude upon her sorrows!"
Never was there a better move
than. this show of utter Indifference