Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-06

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during the long pause the rider made
by the shrubs, and heard his half
muttered explanations of disappoint
ment at not seeing her. Every day
during the bright long week the same
thing happened; and from behind the
trees she watched the gallant young
| cavalier. She was too shy and timid
to let herself be seen; but the day
would have been blank to her that did
not bring him past Serranto.
One evening it was past the usual
time; she had been reading for nearly
an hour in her leafy hiding-place, but
there was no sound of a horses gal
lop. No words can describe the blank
feeling of desolation that seized the
girls heart.
"He has forgotten me-" she said;
che is tired of never seeing me, and
will not come again.
She could not define the pain that
made her heart ache. 1t had been so
pleasant to gaze all unseen upon that
dark, handsome face-to see the eyes
fixed so intently upon Serranto, and
brought the gay young cavalier there.
1t was something to break the dreary
mOnotony of the long summers day
Now it was all over, hot tears fell
from the dark eyes, when suddenly she
heard the sound, not of one horse, but
of two, coming swiftly along the road
from Seville. Both riders paused at
the well-known spot, and then Inez
heard a deep musical voice saying
This is the place, Luigi, where saw
her, and I shall never forget her
should lose my reason if l thought I
was never to see that face again."
''What was she doing there?" asked
his friend
Looking over the shrubs into the
high road was the reply. when I
bowed, she blushed. Why, to see
such a blush is worth living for"
why do you not inquire what the
place is?" asked the one called Luigi;
cit looks something of a wilderness,
but a very pretty one"
81 have" replied his friend. "The
house is farther down, and both house
and lands belong to Madame Monte
leone, and she in her turn, as I need
not tell you, belongs to one of the
noblest families in Spain. I made all
inquiries, but no one knows much of
them. They lead a very secluded life.
This much l was told,-that the young
granddaughter who lives with her is
the most beautiful girl in Andalusia'
Il should imagine So" said the
other.
"You must see her, Luigi,-she
is matchless. | would go barefooted
all over Spain to find her once more"
ut is a serious case then" said
Luigi, laughing heartily.
do not plague me-" was the reply.
Il tell you I love that young creature
madly, and I will find her and make
her love me, if I die for it,
We'll" said Luigi, you must try
again. You have no chance today;
she is not to be SEEM
Il will haunt the place." cried his
friend, passionately. 81 will stay here
day and night, but l will see her
again"
They went away and left Inez, her
heart beating unanimously, a new,
vague, and delicious happiness thrill
ing her
What romance had she ever dreamed
equal to this?-what fair lady, in the
gay world was ever loved so romanti-
cally and so we'll? He had seen her
once, and then but for a few minutes
yet he admired her more than any
one else,-ah, even loved her. Surely
she must be beautiful, if once seeing
her could inspire such love as that.
How cruel it was that her youth and
her beauty should be kept prisoners,
as it were, in this gloomy old ruin. Oh
if she were but out in he world! Love
and happiness, pleasure and riches
would all be hers. All night the music
of the words she had overheard rung
in her ears and gladdened her heart
Had she been treated as other girls,
had she been allowed a fair and proper
share Of girlish amusement, this first
little romance would not have pro-
duced so deep an impression upon her.
AS it was, her heart, mind, and imagi-
nation were absorbed in it.
When the next evening came, Inez
did not go near the haunted spot
She could not tell, she did not know
whether it was timidity, pride, or
maiden bashfulness that restrained
her,-probably all three. He had
vowed that he would see her again;
! let him discover the means. Yet she
could not quite give up the pleasure of
looking sometimes into the high-road
and she even went in the morning
when it was not likely he would be
passing by.
There was a change in the beauti-
full restless face that looked over the
shrubs; there was a new brightness
a deeper beauty; the old scornful
WEAKNESS had passed away as a cloud
before the sun. She watched the
gaily dressed ladies now with a smile
Who amongst them had won such love
as she had done?
At that very moment voice neal
her murmured a thousand apologies
for the intrusion. Turning round
she saw before her the hero of hel
dreams. There was no horse, and i
was morning, so that he must hav.
been watching and waiting to see her
4 have longed so much to see you
signorina," he said, bowling almost t
the ground as he spoke. Il wish t
! apologize. I fear l alarmed you tn
other day by my bad horsemanship.
did not know that you were near
She hardly knew, in the confusion
- la no