The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-15

kept almost entirely from all contact
with women except Berenice, and she
| was my ideal; beside of all wo-
men | had seen seemed vain and artl-
| fetal. Their dyed hair and eyebrows,
penciled laShes and painted cheeks,
loud laughter, coarse and hippant
jokes, carousings and familiar associa-
tons with men,-and, above all,-their
immodest dress. made me shrink from
becoming more intimately acquainted
with them when I thought Of Bere-
nice.
Her manners were always soft and
pleasing. She moved quietly without
rustic of starch or silk. Her hair was
dark brown with little waves and
wrinkles all over it. Her laughter was
light and musical and was seldom
heard; her jests were never pointed
with envy. Was it any wonder that
l loved her?
Among the guests at the hotel in
Naples where we were boarding was a
young man of 30 years. He and l soon
became fast friends, and he was the
only man | had ever known intimate
ly; for I could scarcely be said to
know well Mr.. Fiola, with whom l had
lived so long.
The summer passed in a listless lazy,
happy way and my health was grad
udtlY improving. 1ueTG arose not q
cloud to obscure my skies, and my
love-making progressed rapidly. Bere-
nice and l were married one day in
Augusta beautiful, bright, sunshin-
ing Gay, when the Italian sky was
an intense, pure blue, rivaIed only by
its image in the serene sea. That fall
we left for Berlin and my musical
career began again. l was burdened
with no money arrangements. My
only duty was to supply money, and
what l received on my tours, outside
our expenses and pocket-money, all
passed into Berenices hands.
The winter had hardly begun be-
fore my friend appeared in Berlin. He
at once sought me out and renewed
our acquaintance, but 1 noticed that in
his manner towards Mr.. Fiola and
Berenice, and at times even towards
myself, there was something strained
and unnatural. 1 waited patiently for
things to explain themselves, but moth
ing was done.
As l entered the house one after
noon, having returned nearly an hour
before 1 was expected, 1 heard voices,
raised apparently in anger, and 1 rec
ognized those of Mr.. Fiola and my
friend. I sprang quickly up the stairs
and was led by the sounds towards
the library, over the door of which
and as / paused for a moment be-
fore entering 1 heard my name spoken.
In voice of determination l heard my
friend say words to Mr. Fiola that
rooted me to the spot.
l heard Mr.. Fiola's feeble attempt at
denial; I heard Berenice's plea for
mercy; my friends conditions on
which he would spare both her and
my outraged feelings; they were that
Mr.. Fiola should Immediately resign,
from some excuse or other. the man
agement of my affairs, and leave Bere-
nice with me; that ne should never,
hereafter, attempt any communication
with her or with myself
Then in a moment a hot wave of
wonderment of fear, of comprehen-
sion, Of intense and unutterable anger.
swept over me; 1 felt a choking in
my throat ringing in my eyes, a hot
blur before my eyes, and then l fell
senseless to the floor.
Three weeks later. as I opened my
eyes to consciousness, and glanced in
surprise at the rows Of white cots in