Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-13

affection? No, Cesare! 1 love you for
your own sake-your own merits have
| made you dear to me-"
l smiled bitterly. She did not see
| the smile l slowly caressed her silky
| hair.
For that sweet answer, carisSima
mia, you shall have your reward. You
called me a fairy prince just now
perhaps l merit that title more than
you know. You remember the jewels
1 sent you before We ever metz
Remember them!" she exclaimed.
They are my choicest ornaments
Such a parure is fit for an empress -
And an empress OF beauty wears
them" l said, lightly. But they are
mere trihes compared to other gems
which 1 intend to offer for your ex-
pectancy.
"Oh, let me see themi" she cried.
IF they are lovelier than those 1 al
ready have, they must be indeed
magnificent! And are they all for
me?'
"All for you'll" l replied, drawing
her closer, and playing with the small
white hand on which the engagement
ring 1 had placed there spanked so
bravely "All for my bride. A little
hoard of bright treasures; red rubies,
ay-as red as Embellishments as bril-
liant as the glittering of crossed dag
gers sapphires as blue as the light
ning-pearls as pure as the little
hands of a dead child-opals as dazzl-
ingly changeful as woman's love!
Why do you start?'' for she had moved
restlessly in my embrace. do 1 use
bad SMILES? All, cara mia, I am no
poet! 1 can speak of things as they
seem to my poor judgment. Yes,
these precious things are for you,
bellissima; you have nothing to do
but to take them, and may they bring
you much joy!"
A momentary pallor had stolen over
her face while l was speaking speak
ing in my customary hard, harsh
voice, which l strove to render even
harder and harsher than usual-but
she soon recovered from whatever
passing emotion she may have felt,
and gave herself up to the joys of
vanity and greed, the paramount pas
sion of her nature.
Il shall have the finest jewels in all
Naples!" she laughed, delightfully."-
How the. women will envy me! But
where are these treasures? May 1 see
them now-immediately?"
No, not quite Immediately" 1 re-
piled, with a gentle derision that
her observation Tomorrow
night-our marriage night-you shall
have them. And | must also fulfill
promise l made to you. You wish
to see me for once without these"
and l touched my dark glasses-"is
it not sou
She raised her eyes, conveying into
their lustrous depths AN expression of
melting tenderness
YES" she murmured 81 want to
see you as you are!"
II fear you will be disappointed
said, with some irony, 'for my eyes
are not pleasant to look at.
Never mind" she returned, gayly. |
Il shall be satisfied if I see them Just |
once, and we need not have much light |
in the room, as the light gives you
pain. would not be the cause of |
suffering to you-no, not for all the
world!"
You are very amiable,'' 1 answered |
more so than l deserve. I hope l |
may prove worthy of your tenderness!
But to return to the subject of the |
jewels. I wish you to see them for
yourself and choose the best among |
them. Will you come with me tomor- |
row night? and 1 will show you where |
they are"
She laughed sweetly.
"Are you a miser, Cesare ?-and |
have you some secret hiding-place full |
IF treasure like Al2ddin?''
I smiled.
To be continued.