The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-10-28
CHAPTER xNNII.
ROMA DECIDES.

On returning from Knowlesworth
hall to Hadley manor, Dunstan Bur-
bage once more took up his work under
Slgnor Veneto. who was still busy in
perfecting his wonderful clock, and in
striving to complete other inventions,
some of which have since been pat
ented by him.
Becoming aware that whenever he
ventured abroad his movements We're
closely watched, Dunstan now seldom
manor house. Nor did he feel the re-
strictions or monotony hat such Sc
clusion imposed on him, as he might
at another time when his mind was
less occupied, his life less full. For 1t
seemed. at this period, as If a new era
was opening before him, giving Gimp
ses of happiness which he had not ven-
tured to expect.
Dunstan had nothing in him of that
sterner stuff which forces a man to
Continue living in the face OF despair.
On the contrary, his need Of affection,
his longing sympathy for his happiness
on a responsive nature; and, therefore,
within a little time of Edith's engage
ment to Godfrey. Dunstan began to
turn to Roma.
And like a man whose eyes are newly
opened, he noticed the SURPRISING
beauty Of her leaf-brown hair with its
undertints of gold. the sea-blue depths
of her heavy fringed eyes. until he
wondered how he could SO long have
remained blind to such attractiveness
as hers.
Nor was Roma long in discovering
his awakening. His expectant glance
as she entered the room, the brightness
of his face When they met unexpected
ly, the tones of his voice when he spoke
to her. all told her that the love she
had once desired was hers.
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she had stood at the window of her
own room. looking with inward eyes
upon herself. she had resolved to over
come her i%nfatuation for n whose
love was given to another. Bitter as
the task had been 1t was gradually ac-
complished.
For to give her affection where it
was not desired, or sought, seemed to
her a painful humiliation. And Roma
was proud. From that hour she be-
gan to pity and despise herself for
having misplaced her devotion. and to
hope that the man to whom is was Of
fered had been unconscious of her gift.
BY way of solacing her wounded and
lonely heart, she recalled how patiently,
how faithfully, another man had loved
and waited for her. Count Sasari was
OF her own race. her fathers friend
and benefactor, her ill-recompensed
lover.
Roma reproached herself with the
thought that his loneliness was borne
for her sake. He had often assured
her he would never marry If she did
not become his wife. She felt sure
women, and she wondered what 1t was
he saw in her to keep him faithful to
herself. She wished she a been kind
er, more considerate to him, and she
sincerely pitied hin. From pity to
love Is but a step. What was most eff
fectuai In killing her love for Dunstan
was his weakness. Most women love
strength In men. and she was no ex-
ception to the rule. His easy submits
sion to the fate that left him under a
cloud: his want of courage and deter
mination to track and discover the
murderer of Richard Goffe. helped to
show her his infirmity and to strip him
Of the idealization with which she had
formerly clothed him.
One afternoon, when his work for the
day was finished earlier than usual, he
came down from the laboratory and
found Roma in the small oak-panelled
room with its curtains Of faded green
damask. Its figure of the dancing faun,
and Its portraits of Dante and Savon-
arola.
DO l disturb you?" he asked, as she
looked up.
Pray come in" she said invitingly.
When he seated himself at the op-
posite side of the fire, he Inquired what
was the book she had been reading,
and on hearing 1t was Tasso's poems,
he reminded her how long 1t was since
she had given him a lesson in Italian.
II had supposed o were very busy"
she told him.
Never too busy to hear you read"
Dunstan replied quickly.
Shall we get Dante?" she asked,
looking toward the bookshelf.
why not continue Tasso?" he sug-
gested; for he longed to near her speak
the burning lines of this poet Of lovers,
the poet she lac selected for her COM
panion this afternoon.
She began in a low voice, full of
fute-like music, a voice whose delici-
Gus softness could never fail to touch
him. but which, uttering such melodi-
Gus words. such heart-firing Images,
lulled him to ecstasy.
BY degrees, as she v her shy
ness. her tones became clearer. frmer.
vibrating with the expression Of the
poets fervor, until at the end Of q
%stanza, overcome by the passionate
rapture of the line, she suddenly laid
down the book and abandoned herself
to her thoughts.
AS she did so. Dunstan, leaning for
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