The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-25

it lacked the lndeScrlbable something
of her yellow French novels; was less
attractive. The real story seemed never
to beign But continuing, a coquettish
young woman appeared on the scene
who interested Louise. She liked her at
once; understood her. The writer made
sort of searching analysis of young
wife, impudent and frivolous, a refiec-
| tion of her friends in good or in bad
From vanity, perhaps rather out of
stupidity, she allowed most popular
young man to pay court to her; danced
with him oftener than she should met
him in her daily visits almost by ap-
pointment and was charmed that her
world observed her.
La Marchesa, all eyes, breathless,
continued reading with increasing curl.
osity. The heroine bad decidedly ia
miliar air, did first and last the same
things she herself did, might have been
her cousin brought up with her, could,
almost have been herself.
Frightened, her heart in her mouth,
feeling herself pale, she dared not ex-
plore further. What other revelations
awaited her? Suddenly Louise asked
herself if her husband in graceful body
Of 2S did not conceal the soul of an OBJ
server of SO years, and she shuddered
| After an instant of hesitation, terror
itself, mixed with consuming desire
to know, induced her to devour other
pages and still others, until finally be-
tween astonishment and gratitude she
reached an expression which the author
had left unfinished, and there was moth
ing more. She was horribly alarmed 1t
was as if she heard Roberto speaking to
her from the keyhole. Here were a
hundred follies clearly described which
she had not believed any man capable of
perceiving. The indulgent, almost in
different, companion had transformed
himself into severe critic, who under
Istood, admonished and condemned She
reread it, hoping to have been mistaken;
but, no, it was herself.
i She became serious, gazed at the cell
ing, vaguely promised some superior be-
ling above never to do it again.
Then she reflected. eff in society /
Ichange my manner suddenly, people
will notice it, Roberto especially.
must proceed slowly, with great tact,
} today omitting certain things, tomor-
J row changing others. But, above all,
she must tell Angelo Cello that he must
| not seize every possible pretext for send
, ing her magnificent flowers and costly
bon nbonnieres. He invented occasions,
: among others German St. Louise, that
| was NOS to be found in any calendar. bet
with he1 on losing horses, lost philo-
penas purposely. She would beg him
l not to fix his glasses upon her in the
theater for the entire evening in that
little way he had which was so imper-
tinent and-and-so pleasing. All this
gradually without explanations and
without scenes, but at present, most i'm
lportant consideration, Roberto was still
observing her.
Nevertheless the weaknesses the auth
7 Or ascribed to his heroine could apply to
} q dozen of Louise's friends. Perhaps,
after all, Roberto's observations were
, general. Therefore courage, silence and
apparent Indifference. The marchesa
: however, continued to anticipate with
horror the day in which the book would
appear and their acquaintances would
say after the first few pages, "It il
clearly his wife!" and point her out.
Heavens it was as if Roberto had given
her rousing kiss during promenade
: when the greatest number of carriages
t were passing or forced her to 60 tC
a ,ourt in a house dress with her hair un
9 ,ombed.
n An uneventful week passed, and one
J, morning Louise Waldorf, pretty and
9 frightened, awaited the arrival of Tull(
q Tulli.
a This small man and still smaller lit
II terateur was just beginning to frequen
II a few salons of good standing after hav
a ing all his life described them in com
Il monplace novels. He had with few
" friends established an amphibious re
Il view in which psychological sonnet
alternated with litanies of clothe
apropos of local dances, and at presen
d in the anterooms of all fashionabi
d houses one saw the we'll known blu
cover, with the wrapper still uncut.
g "Signor Tullo Tulli," announced tn
Q, servant.
le "How kind of you to take the troubl
Ie to come to me!'' exclaimed the maj
" chesa, goirg quickly toward him. "Yo
id yill forgive me, will you not? was i
at such a hurry, and you are the onl
K. writer know"
i'd Tullo Tulli at this last remark swa
~ lowed with difficulty, and his monocl
t? dropped. The signora talked littl
hastily, without rejecting whether sh
wounded or not. The writer nervousl
1g smoothed his silk hat. This silk hs
and his monocle had recently succeede
p. his cloth cap and his glasses. He W;
"a not thoroughly accustomed to them /
le- yet
n "How can serve you, madame?"
is asked in a bittersweet voice. 1t al
he noyed him to be treated simply profe
'sa sionally.
ad First of all, it is a secret. Not eve
lot ny husband knows it,
IN "Ah, a secret" echoed Tulli, fla
TX tered, and the monocle fell again.
eyes, Roberto is writing novel tn
on ne doesn't wish me to see, but witho
for ais knowing it l have read several pag
do not betray me. You must help I
,h. 10 find good publisher and write
son good article yourself to recommend
Tho assure you it is very interesting, al
you must speak we'll of it to all 20
ori friends who write for newspapers, |
life cause want to surprise Roberto and
in save him all the annoying part of t
on publication. think he will be deligl
vas sd.''
,or, Tulli took on doubtful air-alm,
m an important one.
the "We will see," he murmured. "It
dan ! rather difficult, Publishers ara nrblis
40 ers, you know. At all events, shall
and lend hand, or give
rite come here some MOI