Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-27
Continued.

either LnG one vi IHS OIueI, SQe Sdlu
4 need not, if you tell me he will be
here perhaps tomorrow She KEEP
back the fast rising tears, the bitter
sobs that rose to her lips, and smiIej
as she babe the traitor good night"
How did she bear it? What did
she say? cried Count Rinaldo eagerly
that evening, when his friend sought
him.
"She will not die Of grief" replied
Luigi, with a cynical smile. "She be-
came quite cheerful before l left her.
She will soon be consoled, l imagine. y
So, day by day, regardless of the
agony ruthlessly inflicted upon that
young heart, the cruel plot was carried
On.
In the quiet household of Serranto
they wondered much what had come
over the beautiful high-spirited girl.
She was pale and quiet, passing whole
days in her room; going out for a
short time in the evening, and return
ing more sOrrOWful than ever. Nita
found her dinner untasted day after
day, and she wondered what had taken
life, health and spirits, from her
young lady.
In her after life, Inez never forgot
the slow torturing agony of those
days; to know that her husband, who
had given up all for her, was i'll, and
yet she could not help him, was a grief
beyond words. Had the risk been
hers, she would have braved all, and
gone to him; but, for his own sake,
she must not. The days seemed end
lessly long; and when the evening, so
anXiously waited for. came at last, a
half hope would rise in her heart that
he might be there.
Then came dreary waiting near the
orange grove, the hurried visit of
Luigi. who looked graver and more
anxious every day. She always tried
to seem cheerful, that Rinaldo might
not grieve over her; then followed the
night of tears and lonely sorrow
will it ever end?" cried the poor
young wife. Shall | ever be happy
again."
Then a deadly fear would seize her,
lest this long illness should be dan
gerous, and she might never see her
husband again. She suffered an
agony that was rendered still more
acute by her solitude and isolation.
One evning-Inez never forgot it
when she reached the orange grove,
Luigi was already there. The first
glance at his face filled her heart with
silent dread. She read in it some
thing like sorrow, nervous hesita-
ton, and fear.
II could not come last evening"" he
said. "Rinaldo was worse, and have
sad news for you"
She grew pale as death, and her lips
quivered as she looked at him.
sit down here" he said, "and I
will tell you all. Promise me to be
brave, as all Spanish women are in
the hour of trial.
Tell me ALL" she said, in a low,
hOarse voice, unlike her own.
Then gently and tenderly he told her
that Rinaldo was dead. Once he
paused. for the rigid white face
alarmed him. and he thought she was
going to die; but she looked at him,
and he continued his story-how, two
days ago, Rinaldo had been seized
with the fatal fever raging in Seville;
and how, weakened by his previous
illness, he had succumbed to it i'm
mediately. Before he died" Luigi
continued, "he was conscious for one
half-hour, and that he spent in talk
ing to me of YOU"
He waited then to see if she would
speak; but no words came. nothing
broke the terrible stiffness of that
white face. He had expected tor
rent of passionate tears. but the large
dark eyes were dry and burning, full
of dreadful horror. His heart smote
him as he looked upon her. If she
had wept as women weep, he would
have cared less; this grief was beyond
him-he did not understand it, Then
he drew forth little packet, and laid
it in her hands; it contained a lock of
dark curling hair, and plain signet
ring.
He wished me to bring you these -
continued Luigi. The chain you gave
him is round his neck; it has never
been removed" Then she spoke
Il must see him." she cried, Just
once again, Luigi Carnello. Nothing
on earth shall prevent me. 1 will see
him once again-then | can die too"
A nervous look came over the young
mans face and he said, gently. Il half
feared to tell you. You can never
see him again"
do you mean that he is buried?'
she cried-'put away out of sight for
eyer?"
He took her hands tenderly in his
own, and spoke again, gently: Hush
it was OBJ iged to be-
And this" she cried, wildly, 'tis
all that is left to me of my husband
my lOve-my one only beloved?"
THAT, and the memory of his love,
replied Luigi. And now let me give
you his message"
He gave her loving, tender words
that he said had been uttered by tn,
dying man. 1t would be better, h,
said, when her grief was over. to tr,
and forget him, and he left his las
urgent wishes that the secret of thei
love and marriage should remain
secret still.
''To reveal it now" he continued
would be worse than useless, i
would draw down upon you the ange
and indignation of your friends
L do not mind that" she murmurei
&c u-orco >; bo or