Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-20
THE LOVES OF PA0L0
AND FRANCESCA.

at her hand and rained down kisses. He
was as white as the foam of the sea, pale
as any wandering ghost; but his eyes
were lamps of love. Did she fear? Fran
cesca smiled family; then pulled her
cool, small hands away, for it must not
be that Paolo should kiss them, Paolo,
brother to her husband Giovanni, tyrant
of Rimini, Paolo, who was of her own
years. young, brave and beautiful. She
thought of Giovanni-gray haired, stern
featured. repellant, the man they had
married her to for political reasons-and
she sighed.
"Why do you sigh, Madonna p His
voice was deep and soft; his breast
heaved
Il wish''-she said the words with the
soft simplicity of her 16 years-"that
had never left the convent, Paolo. 1t
was 50 peaceful there, so quiet. The
sun, slantine through the stained glass
windows. gave al the color we needed;
the music was so sweet, the light so dim;
the outside world dazzles met is all so
fierce and bright"
You are unhappy" He moved closer
to her forgetting the great love he bore
his brother. forget ing everything except
the corn-gold color of Francesca's hair,
the soft eyes that were like violets
drenched in dew, and her slim body's
loneliness.
"Frightened!' She trembed as she
spoke, and her heart tluttered wildly
under her pearl embroidered bodice. He
is so grave-so old--this husband they
have wed my youth to- When he puts
his hand about my neck all my blood
chills; and his voice-can he never speak
low. Paolo2 Is he always thinking of
bloodshed and battle?'
"Francesca"-he took her hands again
and pressed them passionately-last
night | dreamed a dream"
1T was a tender dream" he went on
softly, but one that never must be
dreamed again You were my wife,
Francesca, in that dream"
Your wife?" The blood rushed to her
face, then died away, leaving her as pale
as he sad white roses, flowers of burial.
MY wife" He repeated the words
firmly. "And we were strolling in the
meadows together; it was the spring
tide. Birds sang; the green carpet of
grass was enameled with flowers. There
was no sound of armed men or clank of
swords, no gray castle, no dark tapestry.
We were in the meadows; it was spring"
II have had that dream. too" She
sighed a little, and cast down her eyes.
why is one always so happy in ones
dreams" she went on slowly and re-
tlectively, yet so sad and weary in the
waking hours, 50 chill and cold?' She
and glanced over her shoulder.
She was standing in a chamber of the
Rimini palace, a large tapestry hung
room. furnished with a certain attempt
after rude splendor, but an air of mys-
terry and gloom hung over the whole
apartment There was nothing in COM
mon between its stately furnishings and
Francescas bright youth.
Are dreams always happy?' Paolo
looked very earnestly at his brothers
wife. For | dreamed" he went on, his
voice taking on an almost tragic tone.
his eyes deep and reflective, "of a place
other than garden" He paused
Go on muttered Francesca breath
lessly-"go on" She clasped her small
white hands.
"A place of darkness" he continued.
in low tones, and yet there is always
strange red glow there--a hot and fiery
red glow. Francesca. And 10. ] hear the
roaring of the winds, such strange, tu-
mulWous roaring."
The roaring of the winds!" She re-
peated the words in a soft wonder
The roaring of all the winds in all the
world. Francesca" he continued; and |
see two souls tossed by these raging
winds as autumn leaves are tossed blown
about sky whose gloomy darkness
mergeS into flame. Oh, Francesca. what
do you think of this wild dream of mine?
And are you sorry for those two pale
sous-the playthings of the wind and of
the fire."
who were they oncc2" She asked
the question in troubled tones Her
sweet childish face had lost its look of
dreamy innocence.
"A man and woman" He put his
hands upon her shoulders as she spoke,
and gazed with almost cruel directness
into her eyes. "A man and woman-~two
poor, longing souls who loved and
sjunad."
"Who loved and smned@ She muir
INJURED the words after him. "Nho loved
and siuucd uuwillingiy." he went on All,
yes. Francesca, | am quite sure they
s;uued unwillmgly. And because of that.
God, being sorry for them both. ordained
I that they should share their punishment
/ tuccther-alWavs together
I Would it be puni,hment9' She asked
/ the question with fine simplicity. For
think OF it-oh. Paolo. think Of it. To
be alone-alonc with one Won love.
eircled with fire and yelled about with
winds; whirled in mad gusto and then
tossed back again. to whirl once more in
frenzy round the world, blown through
the ages. Call that pmishmeut."
/ Francesca He neld her close.
/ Francesca"
She drew back pale, shudderinc. her
face an "shE white. her eve. full of
startled fear.