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

renewed Even as she had lived
hoped, and planned for Blanca, so she
now lived and hoped for Inez. The
same ambition was renewed, the same
ideas were instilled into her mind
She devoted herself to the childs edu-
cation; she tried to make her all that
her mother had been; but no two car
acters were ever more dissimilar than
that of the young mother and her only
child. Blanca was gentle and yielding
1nez was proud and unbending; as
well to try to move rock as persuade
her to change when her mind was
once made up. Blanca had heard with
reverence of the glOries and honors of
her race; Inez was proud Of them, but
frankly told her Mortified grand
mamma that in her opinion a little
present comfort was worth all the
past grandeur put together.
Madame MonteleOne had managed
her own daughter admirably; but
Inez was beyond her abilities. She did
not understand the child's passionate,
ardent, artistic nature. She was
half-frightened when the rich musical
voice sang of the hopes and wishes al
ready forming in her young heart: she
did not understand her. She could
not tell why Inez craved to hear some
thing Of her absent English father,
and looked wearied and melancholy
when the poor lady spoke of the
MOnteleones. Then began that fatal
system of narrow restraint that ulti-
mately helped Inez Lynne on to a life
of woe and misery.
Something must be done at once -
her guardian thought, 'to control and
keep within proper bounds that wild
impetuous disposition
Unfortunately the wrong thing was
done. To all the young girls long
ing, eager questions of the world be
yOnd the bounds of SerrantO, the lady
turned a deaf ear. Like her mother,
she had no pleasures, no amusements,
no companions. Her day was divided
between dry mOnOtOnOus duties and
hard study; Madame Monteleone sell
dom left her home, and the child was
never allowed to leave the boundary
the absent father whose name she
scarcely knew; by madame's wish she
was called by her own name of Monte
leone, and it was many years before
she knew that she had any other
1t was like old times at Serranto;
the only difference was that every one
was older. Even the servants forgot
nj 10 Nv
Blanca"
Madame MonteleOne never once
thought that the life Inez led was
dull; Blanca had not found it so; she
had never complained; she had never
asked questions of the great I'M
known world nor seemed to long to
join it. She never tired of study as
Inez did, for that young lady at times
flung down her books and passiOnately
declared that she would never read
another line.
Il want to see men, and women, and
children she cried one day to her
Mortified listener. Il see no one but
you and the servants; I am tired of
you all, tired of my books and my
~. IL,
or | shall die
Then did poor Madame Monteleone
clasp her hands and mourn over the
degeneracy of her daughters child.
The life that had contented Blanca
MonteleOne, was one monOtonous
wearying round to her beautiful and
hirrI, ,i,,ito
it became less endurable. A new
knowledge was growing upon her,
the knowledge of her loneliness. Child
as she was, she understood that the
face which smiled at her from the
depths of the old mirrors was beautf-
full beyond words. The bright dark
eyes that flashed there had world Of
strange meaning in them.
What is the use Of it all?' sighed
the girl; Il am young, and my face is
like the picture in the gallery; but who
cares for it?-whO sees me?-who
cares for my singing, for anything
else that I do? Was ever life so bare
and dull as mine?"
Long hours in the evening gloam-
world was like beyod Serranto,-th
bright world where gay cavaliers
Wooed and won beautiful ladies, where
dancing and music and song gladdened
young faces and light hearts, that
world of which the few romaces she
had read. unknown to Madame Mon
teleone, gave her so fair glimpse.
IIa,. or cd
young girl through all these scenes
Dreaming among the oranges and
myrtles, she saw herself a queen
among gay and gallant cavaliers, the
queen of the tournament, the belle
of the ball, for whose smiles and kind
words men fought and struggled. The
time must come for her, as for al
would be whispered to her in the
twilight, when her smile would give
rapture and her frown despair. Al
these pictures she made for herself
and while the sun was still golden If
the sky, before the flowers and birds
we're quite asleep, the sharp voice O
old Caterina would be heard calling
the young signora init was time K
close the house and go to rest.
After few cold formal words will
Madame Monteleone, the young cir
was dismissed to her room. Stand
ing by the window. watching the SUI
set and the moon rise over the Anda
lusian hills, the broken reveries wer
resumed. The dull, gloomy castl
ceased to exist for her; she was il
gay palaces and brilliant rooms. Low
aod homaoo surrounded her. til