Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-29

agony. Rome was to her an earthly
paradise, and she found in Nigel
Wallace a companion who was as
keenly alive to it's beauties as she
herself and who possessed the under
standing possible only by perfect
sympathy. He was sharing a studio
with friend and the girl had come
to Rome with her maid at his earnest
reuest and was staying at the Grand
hotel.
One acknowledgements January
evening they made their first visit to
st. Peters. Both felt, as many of us
do when the heavy portiere is pushed
aside and the interior of that
magnificent structure meets our gaze
for the first time, that everything hut
the sense Of passionate appreciation
of it's marvellous beauty seem
paralyzed. They walked about in
awed silence and Steua's soft dark
eyes we're full of tears. She seemed
to Understand all at once what people
meant when they said that things
made them feel good" In all the
course of her life of fancied and
artificial pleasure she had not felt
particularly inclined to ''be good"
although many circumstances had
tended to make her utterly reckless
and inclined to let things go as they
would with no regard for con
sequences.
Now she turned to Nigel and
slipped her hand into his with almost
chlIuIsh confidence. LET us come"
she said. He nodded, and together
they stole out and down the wide
steps.
"You would rather walk" queried
Nigel, ''just anywhere to bring us
back to earth again?"
Eyes, please, answered Stella
after all that wealth Of artistic
beauty it will be relief to come
back to streets and shops and cabs
and all the ugliness of modern things.
My brain is quite dizzy. When l first
got in I felt absolutely stunned and
overpowered."
They wandered on, not caring
where they went, down dark, little
streets in which the inhabitants were
toiling at their various trades of
copper work and carving in small,
dmily lighted shops, though an oc>
casional gas jet made an orange glow
which shown softly across the deep
ell 10 Of irTn iptn lie
was all so restful; they could feel the
throb of human life beating around
them, and yet it seemed far away and
sufficiently dreamy to lose none of
its peacefulness, while still retaining
the comfortable sense of companion
i'll do without.
Stella felt that her quivering nerves
were being gently unstrung instead
of being allowed to come down with a
rum
ct is so late she said at length;
'tit has been glorious. You will come
tonight as you promised, will you
not? We will dine in my sitting
room. I am too full of happiness and
emotion to talk. Do you think me
silly?"
MY darling" he answered, 81 feel
just as you do, quite stunned. and tits
heaven to me to know that you under
stand and sympathize."
He called cab and saw her into it
and then went back to his studio to
dress. An hour later he was at the
hotel, in SteIla's coy sitting room.
A small table laid for two and ex-
quisitely arranged with masses Of
Neapolitan violets stood by the fire,
and at the writing table sat Stella
herself. She was wearing a yellow
chiffon dress, which suited her dark
hair and eyes and soft skin to per-
lection. Nigel thought he had never
seen her look so beautiful. She
turned her head as he entered.
PHASE sit down and do not talk to
me just for a moment" she said. 81
am answering a horrid letter; l will
tell you about it after dinner" and
she resumed her writing.
The presence of the waiter during
dinner prevented much private con-
versation, and it was only when he
had removed the table and they had
established themselves by the wood
fire which was throwing out cherry
glow, that both felt that the best part
of the whole day had come.
Nigel smoked in silence for a few
seconds and the girl watched him.
Stella" he said at last, there is
some,-Ing l want to tell you, but
have a horrible presenument that our
evenings of bliss are going to be put
an end to, and l hate to spoil one of
them"
well, please DO not attempt it,
she answered. suppose tell you in
stead when 1 first began to love you.
That is much more important than
your information which makes you
look so solemn. She left her seat
and slipped down on the hearth rug,
where she sat with one arm resting
on his chair, gazing straight before
her into the fire. ct was that night
you brought me home from the
Savoy she began dreamily. you
remember when you said good night
you kissed me? Well, before that l
had not been absolutely sure of my