Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-17

me utterly vanquished by the battery
of her charms. Yet whenever
caught an occasional glimpse Of heI
face as we drove along in the semi
darkness, I could not help wondering
at the supreme vanity of the woman:
Her self-satisfaction was so complete
and, considering her approaching fate
so tragically absurd!
She was entirely delighted with her
self, her dress, and her conquest
as she thought-of me- Who could
measure the height of the dazzling vi
sions she INDUCED in; who could
fathom the depths of her utter selfish
nessi
Seeing one like her, beautiful
wealthy, and above all-society knows
I speak the h-well-dressed, for
by the latter virtue alone is a woman
allowed any precedence nowadays
would not all the less fortunate and
lovely of her sex feel somewhat envi-
Gus? All, yes; they would and they
do; but believe me, the selfish femi-
nine thing, whose only sincere wor-
ship is offered at the shrines of Fashion
and Folly, is to be despised and
one whose life is to be despised and
never desired, and whose death makes
no blank even in the circles of her
sO-called best friends.
I knew well enough that there was
not a soul in Naples who was really
attached to my wife-not one who
would miss her, no, not even a ser
vant-though she, in her superb self
cOnceit, imagined herself to be the
adored beauty of the city. Those who
had indeed loved her she had de-
spised, neglected, and betrayed. Mus
ingly | looked down upon her as she
rested back in the carriage, encircled
by my arm, while now and then a
little sigh of absolute delight in her
self broke from her lips-hut we spoke
scarcely at all. Hate has almost as
little to say as love!
The night was persistently stormy,
though no rain fell-the gale had in
! creased in strength and the white
moon only occasionally glared out
from the masses of white and gray
cloud that rushed like flying armies
across the sky, and her fftful light
shone dimly, as though she were
spectral torch glimmering through, a.
forest of shadow Now and again
bursts of music, or the blare of dis
cordant trumpets, reached our ears
from the more distant thoroughfares
where the people were still celebrat-
ing the feast of Giovei Grasso, or
the tinkle of passing mandolines
chimed in with the rolling wheels of
our carriage; but in few moments
We were out of reach of even such
sounds as these.
We passed the outer suburbs of the
city and were soon on the open
road. The man I had hired drove
FAST; he knew nothing of us, he was
probably anxious to get back quickly
to the crowded squares and illuminat-
ed quarters where the principal mer-
riment of the evening was going on,
and no doubt thought I showed but
poor taste in requiring to be driven
away, even for a short distance, out
of Naples on such a night of feasting
and folly. He stopped at last; the
castellated turrets of the villa I had
named were family visible among the
trees; he jumped down from his box
and came to us.
Shall | drive UP to the house?"
he asked, looking as though he would
rather be spared this trouble.
No." [ answered, indifferently
you need not. The distance is short.
we will walk"
And 1 stepped out into the road am
paid him his money.
"You seem anxious to get back to
the city, my friend,'' I said, half iok-
ingly.
Isl, davvero.'' he replied, with de-
cision. Il hope to get many a good
fare from the Count Oliva's marriage
ball tonight
''Ah! he is a rich fellow, that
count [ said, as l assisted my wife to
alight, keeping her cloak well mulfied
round her SO that this common fellow
should not perceive the glitter of her
costly costume; 81 wish I were hei"
The man grinned and nodded en-
phatically. He had no suspicion of
my identity. He took me, in all proba-
bility, for one of those "gay gallants"
so common in Naples, who, on finding
at some public entertainment a
DANA" to their taste, hurry her off,
carefully cloaked and hooded, to a
mysterious nook known only to them
selves, where they can complete the
romance of the evening entirely to
their own satisfaction. Bidding me a
lively buona notte, he sprung on his
box again, jerked his horses head
violently round with a volley of oaths,
and drove away at a rafting pace.
Nina, standing on the road beside me.
looked after him with a bewildered
air.
Gould he not have waited to take
us back?" she asked.
No" l answered, brusquely; eve
shall return by a different route.
Come
And passing my arm round her,
! led her onward. She shivered slightly,
and there was a sound CT querulous
complaint in her voice as she said:
Have we to go much further,
Cesare?"
Three minutes walk will bring us