Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-24

, already-why-why Oh, horrible, hor-
rible! / see-I understand it all nowi
But do not, do not kill me, Fabio-I
am afraid to die!"
And she hid her face at my feet
and groveled there. AS quickly Gained
as 1 had been suddenly furious, I put
back the dagger. l smoothed my voice
and spoke with hooking courtesy
Pray do not alarm yourself" l
said, coolly. Il have not the slight
est intention of killing you! 1 am no
vulgar murderer, yielding to mere
brute instincts. You forget: a Neapol-
| itan has hot passions, but he also has
fnesse, especially in matters of ven
geance. l brought you here to tell
you of my existence, and to confront
you with the proofs of it. Rise l beg
you with the proofs of it. Rise, 1 beg
talk; with a little patience I shall
make things clear to you-rise!"
She obeyed me, lifting herself up
reluctantly with a long, shuddering
sigh. AS she stood upright I laughed
/
ccntemptuously.
What! no love words for me?"
cried, mot one kiss, not one smile, not
one word of welcome? You say you
know me-well!-are you not glad to
see your husband?-you, who were
such an inconsolable widow"
A strange culver passed over her
face-she wrung her hands together
hard, but she said no word
''Listen!" l said, there is more to
tell. When 1 broke loose from the
grasp of death, when [ came home
found my vacant post already oc-
cupied. l arrived in time to witness
very pretty pastoral play. The
scene was the lick avenue-the actors,
you, my wife, and Guido, my friend!"
She raised her head and uttered a
low exclamation of fear. I advanced
step or two and spoke more rapidly.
You hear? There was moonlight,
and the song of nightingales-yes; the
stage effects were perfect! I watched
the progress of the comedy-With
what emotions you may imagine.
learned much that was news to me. |
became aware that for lady of your
large heart and sensitive feelings one
husband was not suficient''-here I
laid my hand on her shoulder and
gazed into her face, while her eyes,
dilated with terror, stared hopelessly
up to mine-"and that within three
nc Of
you provided yourself with another
Nay, no denial can serve you! Guido
Ferrari was husband to you in all
things but the name. I mastered the
sItuatlon-I rose TO the emergency.
Trick for trick, comedy for comedy!
Olivia you cannot deny that I
acted well! For the second time l
courted you, but not half SO eagerly
as you courted me? For the second
time 1 have married you! Who shall
deny that you are most thoroughly
mine mine, body and soul, till death
do us parti''
And | loosened my grasp of her:
She writhed from me like some gilt
tering wounded serpent. The tears
had dried on her cheeks, her features
were rigid and wax-like as the fea-
lures of corpse; only her dark eyes
shone, and these seemed preternatur-
ally large, and cleaned with an evil
ulster. | moved a little away, and
turning my own coffin on it's side. l sat
down upon it as indifferently as
though it were an easy-chair in
drawing-room. CHANGING at her then,
saw wavering light upon her face.
Some idea had entered into her mind.
She moved gradually from the wall
where she leaned, watching me fear
FULLY as she did SO. made no ATTEMPT
to stir from the seat l occupied.
Slowly, slowly, still keeping her
eyes on me, she glided step by step
onward and passed me-then with a
sudden rush she reached the STAIR
way and bounded up it with the
startled haste of hunted
deer. l smiled to myself. I heard
her shaking the iron gateway to and
fro with all her feeble strength; she
called aloud for help several times.
only the sullen echoes of the vault
answered her, and the wild whistle of
the wind as it surged through the trees
OF the cemetery. AT last she screamed
tur1ously, as savage cat might scream
the rustic of her silken robes came
swiftly sweeping down the steps, and
with a spring like that of young
tigress she confronted me. the blood
now burning wrathfully in her face,
and Transforming it back to some
thing of its old beauty.
Unlock that door," she cried. with
a furious stamp of her foot AS
sassin! Traitor! hate you! 1 always
hated you! Unlock the door, I tell
you! You dare not disobey me; you
have no right to murder mel"
l looked at her coldly; the torrent
Of her words was suddenly checked,
something in my expression daunted
her; she trembled and shrunk back.
mo right!'' 1 said, mockingly. 81
differ from you! A man once married
has some right over his wife, but
man twice married to the same wo-
man has surely g3ined a double au-
thority! And as for dare not!' there is
nothing l dare not do tonight"
And with that l rose and approached
her. A torrent Of passionate indig-
nation boiled in my veins; l seized