Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-20

cesca. | made a thousand excuses; but
YOU know Giovanni. He commanded, and
had to obey"
She hung her head. 1t grew so dark
in the chamber that neither could see
the Others face, and outside little
wind was rising little, moaning, soil
tary wind.
Il know know" whispered Fran
cesca NO one can cross Giovanni in his
whims. no one can stand up against him.
He is indeed the tyrant OF Rimini. Gio-
vanni. who fires towns and makes fields
red. turns happy wives to pale, mourning
widows. and robs fond mothers of their
sons. | tell you, Paolo, his hand is al
ways resting on his sword. and in his
sleep he starts, dreaming of battles
She moved away as she spoke and began
to walk up and down the long dark room.
wringing her hands why did they take
me from my convent and bring me 10
this great palace?' she went on And
why did | sec you, Paolo before | saw
him? Why did your brother send you to
fetch his bride? 1t wasn't kind, 1t was
cruel-cruel.'
"Hush!" He threw his head back and
stood up proud, young and resolute. DO
not let us touch on past things. Fran
cesca. let us forget the past"
why did you leave Rimini?" She
came close up to him as she asked the
question STEAL away from the mar
riage feast fly in the night? Giovanni
was wroth with you, Paolo He said it
showed discourtesy toward me-"
why did | leave Rimlni?' He repeat
ed her words Because 1 dared not stay
You were too sweet and young ever to
have been brought into these gloomy
walls; too flushed with spring, too frag-
rant from the fields. | dared not stay"
Il loved you as brother she whis-
pered the words-"I loved you as a
brother till you went away, Paolo; and
then, when you had gone and | began to
think of you, to miss YOU and to long
for your return-then you seemed less
the brother, more the" She paused
Sweet innocent" He took her hands
again. Il never was brother to YOU
never. For now | think, Francesca, by
| Gods truth, that we were lovers from
the very first. | believe that in some
| distant age our souls held fond converse
III the land of dreams. | think | loved
YOU long before your birth, for when we
met knew your face at once, and all
the hidden secrets of your eyes; and
there was nothing strange. dear. in Jour
voice You were the dear maid | had
found again. the maid who had been mine
since the beginning"
1T was the same with me. Paolo-
Just the same" She leaned her head
against his breast. Until you came
think | was asleep, but when | saw you,
then my soul woke up. | did not know
had a heart before, not till YOU made
it beat. and sting and burn"
Sweet love-sweet love!" He pressed
his lips to her cold brow what have
we done, Franeesca?" he went on-''we
who have yielded to this fatal love? You
should have torn me from your heart,
my dear. bruised your poor knees upon
the altar steps, prayed to the Virgin
Mother night and day" His voice was
full of agony. And II who had the
courage once to leave you, should never
have returned | should have told Clio
vanni the whole truth-told him | loved
you. and that must never more set foot
il Rimini''
Whats that?" She started, breaking
from his grasp. Il thought | heard the
sound of horses hoofs crossing the court
yard. I've must not be found hereto
gether'
He shook his head
NO one can enter the palace tonight
save Giovanni himself. Giovanni who is
miles from Rimin The fortress gates
are locked against the world. Do YOU
see my brothers ring?" He held up his
hand. mo, it is too dark" he muttered.
But | wear the tyrant's signet ring, and
except by my orders no one can leave or
enter Rimini tonight. Francesca, we are
here-we two-alone"
"Alone" She painted, all the woman
stirring in her, beating down the girl
Il think we were born for this night"
he went on slowly. "A dark night. Not
a star in all the sky; and yet we know
that darkness binds his arms about the
world and holds her warm and close, and
she is well content and asks no more
only to breathe and love"
Il am afraid-afraid of you, Paolo, and
of myself-afraid of the wild longing of
my heart, and of a voice which whispers
in my soul and tells me it were well to
Yield to love-
"Aladonna' His lips were hot on hers.
If love meant death, would you still love
Francesca? 2"
She smiled.
Life without love is death. All!
Paolo, we did not come to this pass will
inglv. but having come, we will have no
turning back"
She chung to him as she spoke, clung
with all her strength.
"Mine-mine!" He lifted her M in
his arms Mine, given to me by love,
claimed by love, sacred to love. Mine
mine!"
Then the winds began to shrek and
blow, and sweep their tapping wings
round Rimlni
Giovanni the Tyrant, he who had rid
den many weary mile because a sud.
den suspicion Of the truth had come to
nina sudden fear-passed softly into
his own castle OF Rimini. hushing those
who would have herdldcd his advent. and
rs he walked down the length of the