Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-29

De given to music, so many to reading,
md so many to household employ
nents. The music Inez never missed;
t was the one solitary pleasure OF her
life When that was over, the rest Of
ne day was all her own. She did not
spend it now as she had been obliged
20 do when Madame Monteleone's
quick eyes were upon her, in studying
in one of those dull little rooms that
looked upon the courtyard. Caterina-
always sat in madame's room, and
Juanita, who was cook and house
keeper, felt too sorry for the young
girl ever to control or betray her
movements. So when the music was
ended, and old Caterina safe up stairs,
Inez wandered in the grounds of
Serranto. The boundary Of them
was the high road that led to Seville,
and the poor child gratifed some of
her longings by watching the people
who passed. Sometimes it would be
one Of the heroes Of her dreams,-a
cavalier riding at full speed. Car
riages, ladies, country people,-all and
everything had an interest for her
They belonged to, nay more, they
were part and parcel of that gay world
Of which she had read and dreamed,
but which she had never seen.
Some who passed by noticed the
beautiful, wistful face, half hidden by
the leaves Of the myrtle trees, and
wondered who the lovely, high-bred
girl could be,-what she was doing
why she gazed, day after day, with
such longing eyes, upon the road that
led away to Seville. 1t was some lit
tie break, some change in the almost
uncomfortable monotony. When the
evening shadows began to fall, Inez
fastened home. No one but Juanita
ever saw her enter the house, or
knew Oh the long hours she spent in
the grounds.
They were not very extensive, those
grounds of Serranto. Time had been
when hill, valley, and stream all be-
longed to the Monteleones The broad,
fertile lands had been sold or for
feited, and little remained Of the once
large estates; but that little was
picturesque and pleasant. The gar
dens were gorgeous with flowers and
fruit. Long groves of orange trees
ran by the little stream that found it's
way into the river near Seville. Large
myrtles lent their shade; trees, whose
rich and luxurious perfume loaded the
air, grew as they would. The grounds
were not cultivated; they were beauti-
full in their rich and luxuriant wild
ness. The boundary that separated
the high road from the grounds was a
very frail one,-a line of small flower
ing shrubs. By the shrubs, day
after day, there might have been seen
a graceful girlish figure, walking slow
ly, with dreamy, wistful eyes gazing
on the high road.
One evening-ah, to the last day of
her life every detail of it was vivid
and clear to Inez Lynne-she was
walking as usual in the grounds. For
years afterwards she remembered how
the sun shone and the flowers
blOomed, how the birds sang and the
deep blue sky seemed to smile upon
her. Her beautiful, restless face was
turned to the long road that led to the
city, when she heard the sound of a
horse galloping quickly. Looking
back she saw a horseman vainly try
ing to restrain his steed. 1t had taken
fright, and seemed anxious only to
throw its rider and make it's escape
For many minutes the young girl
watched that encounter. Her face
grew white with fear; for the horse
appeared quite unmanageable; but she
could not help admiring the ease and
bravery of its rider. through all that
terrible contest he never once lost his
nerve or his self-possession. His
courage and calmness won the victory
at last, and the trembling steed recog-
niZed a masters hand.
To be Continued