Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-03-29

divine right.
She had come close up TO the gen.
tlman. so close that her shoulder
almost touched his gray coat, but she
did NO. notice it, her eyes were fixed
so eagerly on the beautiful picture
above her. She did not even glance
at him when he hastily stepped back
"Lora!" sounded in n-r ear, IN a
doubtful questioning tone; then she
looked up at him quickly, and her
hand grasped the back of a prje-dieu,
which stood beside her, as II seeking
support. But she could not speak a
word
1t is true she had heard from her
mother that Ernest was in Italy for
his health, but she had spoken OF
Nice and Mentone. And here he was
in Rome; here they were together,
within the same walls; in the solemn
stiffness of the little church, alone
quite alone.
The general had disappeared with
the sacristan into side-chapel be-
hind the altar.
Raphaels angel-heads looked down
wonderingly upon them; they might
, have seen many young pair here
before, for all the young couples in
| Rome came to Santa Marie della
Pace for their first mass after the
| ceremony. But surely such a pale
young couple as this they had never
seen before.
| Lora was the first to recover, and
she held out her hand.
Il have not seen you since my sis
ter's death" she said, without looking
| at him. Il can assure you that
mourn with you deeply the loss of
your betrothed.'
When she had said this she breathed
| more free. In these few words she
had marked out for him the only
common ground on which they could
meet.
He touched her hand for mo-
ment and said, II thank you so Mrs
--v
Pale as she had been before she
now turned scarlet.
Uncle" she cried, turning quickly,
| and as the old gentleman came up to
her she added, This Is our poor
| Katie's betrothed.'
The gentlemen shook hands, The
| general muttered something between
his teeth that sounded like condol-
ence. and then he looked with some
| surprise at the unusually handsome
man. whose intelligent eyes and fine
face, on which still fingered the traces
of illness, greatly interested him
| Lora in the mean time went on from
| picture to picture. but she saw moth
was raging within her
She stood on the steps OF the high
altar and listened to long lecture
from the sacristan about the old
picture of the Madonna, but she did
not understand a word. She only
heard that voice that she had never
expected to hear again, as 1t came up
to her from below.
The gentlemen. in eager converse
ton, walked toward the door. When
he reached the door the general
looked round for Lora She hurried
up and went out past them into the
narrow street, and the others slowly
followed, The doctor seemed unable
TO keep his eyes off the slender.
elegant figure before him. as If he
must make up for the time she had
been lost to him.
She seemed to feel this gaze, and
she opened her parasol and laid 1t
over her shoulder, though the sun
was shining in her face.
AT length she stopped before the
Palazzo Madame. Il am very tired,
uncle" she said.
you had better drive home, then,
, and | win trot after you" replied the
old gentleman. looking anxiously at
her pale face. Il have company; do
you lie down and rest" And he called
for a carriage.
Yes good-by," She nodded pleas.
antly, and the carriage rolled away.
At home she lay down obediently,
and closed her eyes. which burned
like fire. She longed so for rest, but
her heart beat and throbbed horribly
II she only need never have seen him
again,
IF only uncle will not bring him
home TO dinner" she thought: Il can
not bear it," And yet she hoped for
| 1t.
No. the old gentleman came alone.
But they had made an appointment
for the following day. to visit the
Lateran Museum.
But Lora would not go out the
! next morning. What allied herr She
twas not usually 50 capricious. The
general went away alone, grumbling.
He had appointed a meeting with
Schonberg at a restaurant on the
Circo, and he turned his steps thither.
Lora sat down by the open door
or the balcony. for the sun was shin
ing outside, and filled the little court
with delightful warmth She had
taken up piece of work, and as the
Hoops formed themselves under her