Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-01-13
CHAPTER XXXll.

|
Tout lie monde Went celui qui
salt attendre" So wrote the great Ma
poleon. The virtue of the aphorism
consists in the little words qui salt
All the world comes to him who
knows how to wait. | knew this, and
had waited and my worlda' world
of engeanee--came to me at last.
The slow-revolving wheel Of Time
! brought me to the day before my
strange weddng-the eve OF my mar
riage with my own wife! All the
preparations were made-nothing was
| left undone that could add TO the
spendCr of the occasion. For though
the puptial ceremony was to be some
what quiet and private in character,
and the marriage breakfast was to
include only few of our more inti-
mate acquaintance, the proceedings
were by no means to terminate
tamely. The romance OF these re-
mar kable espousals was not to find
| it's. conclusion in bathos. No; the
| bloom and aroma Of the interesting
event we're to be enjoyed in the even
| ing when a grand supper and ball,
/ given by me, the happy and much-to-
e-envied bridegroom, was to take
place in the hotel which | had made
my residence for 30 long. No ex-
pense was spared for this, the last
entertainment offered by me in my
Z h.fI
Cesare Olivia. After it, the dark cur
tain would fall on the played-out
drama, never TO rise again.
! Everything that art, taste, and royal
luxury could suggest was included in
the arrangements for this brilliant
ball, to which a hundred and nifty
guests had been invited. not one OF
| who had refused to attend.
/ And now-now in the afternoon OF
this, the last Of my self-imposed pro-
bation--I sat alone with my fair wife
In the drawing room of the Villa no
m nj, conversing lightly on various
subjects connected with the festivities
OF the coming morrow. The long win
dows were open-the warm spring
sunlight lay like a filmy veil Of woven
gold on the tender green OF the young
/ grass, birds sung for joy and fitted
| from branch to branch. now posing
| hoyeringly above their nests, now
soaring with all the luxury of perfect
/ liberty into the high heaven of cloud,
! less blue-the great creamy buds OF
! the magnolia looked ready to burst
| into wide ana splendid flowers between
! their large, darkly shining leaves, the
odor of yiolets and primroses hoated
! on every delicious breath OF air, and
round the wide veranda the climbing
white china roses had already un-
/ furled their little cTumpled rosette-
/ Ike blossoms to the balmy wind 1t
was spring in Southern Italy spring
In the land whore, above all other
lands, spring is lovely sudden and
brilliant in its beauty as might be the
smile of happy angel. Gran Dio!--
talk of angels. Had | not yeritable
angel for my companion at that mo-
ment? What fair being, even In Mo-
hammed's Paradise Of Hours, could
outshine such charms as those which
it was my proud privilege to gaze
upon without rebuke--dArk eyes, rip
ping golden hair, dazzling and per
feet face. a form to tempt the virtue
of a Galahad, and lips that an emperor
might long to touch II vain Well,
/ mot not altogether in vain; II MS
/ imperial majesty could afford bride
large enough--let US say a diamond
the size of a pigeons egg-he might
possibly purchase one, nay, perhaps
I two kisses from that seductive red
mouth. sweeter than the ripest straw
berry. | glanced at her furtiyely from
time 10 time when she was not aware
OF my gaze and glad was | OF the
sheltering protection OF the dark
glasses | wore, for | knew and fell
that there was a terrible look in my
eyes the look OF half-famished ugel
readv TO spring on some long-desireC
piece of prey She herself was ex-
ceptionally bright and cheerful; VIII
her riante features and agile move
meuts. she reminded me of SOM
tropical bird Of gorgeous plumage
swaying to and fro on a branch O
equally gorgeous blossom.
"You are like a prince in fairy
tale, Cesare." she said, with lutte
delighted laugh; everything you a
i surerbly done! How pleasant Il
+ 10 be rloh- there is nothing better
in all the world"
Except layel" ! returned, with a
grim attempt TO be sentimental.
Her large eyes softened like the
pleading eyes Of a tame fawn.
An. vest" and she smiled with ex-
pressive tenderness. except love. Bu'
when one has love and wealth, what
a paradise life can BET
so great paradise" asserted
that IL lie hardly worth while trying