The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-07-25

face with one long, deathly-white
hand, and again Herbert Bell thought
of his dream and shuddered. He bent
over the woman who was dearer than
life to him, and would have taken
her, in his arms, but she put up her
hands.
mo, no." she said, slowly. THAT
can never be, Herbert. l am his wife.
Oh, God! pity me. But thought him
dead. Oh, Herbert, / thought him
dead until this moment"
Again the stranger laughed. Il am
sorry / was so selfish as to live" he
said, but that being the case, what
more natural than that l should fol-
low my wife. | am glad to find her
so faithful" and the fierce eyes like
Goals of fire, we're lifted to Herbert
Bells face.
And now" he continued, having
found her, I shall hasten with her
over the sea, where her numerous
friends are anxiously waiting. We
will start early in the morning, my
love. The house is full, understand,
but | will accommodate myself with
the sofa and my cloak during the
night, and tomorrow morning, remem-
Der, we will GO"
Yes" she said, slowly, 81 will CO."
But in the morning, while Paul
Inerzo lay in a sound sleep upon the
sofa. Viva Marohwell was many
leagues distant. and under the door
of Herbert Bells room she had slipped
this note:
Dear Herbert: Yes. dearer to me
than any other man was, is, or ever
will he. ] am going away and you
may never see me again, but | want
TO tell you who and what | am. My
real name Is Viviance Markweller. l
am an Italian, and was born in Flor
ence. In my infancy l was betrothed
to Paul lnerZo, a Spanish nobleman's
son. AS soon as we grew older the
thought of the union became more
and more distasteful to me, and when
at IS my parents commanded the nup-
tials to be celebrated. my whole soul
abhorred 1t. He was vicious, wild,
bad, unprincipled. But they forced
me to il. Herbert, they made me mar
ry him. He was very wealthy, and
one of a noble race, and / was mar
lied to him, and then when the whole
terrible truth rushed over me, that l
vas chained for life to this man,
led from him-from the very altar
! ire the words were scarcely said
which made us one. Out into the
night sped through streets and by
alleys until reached my home. Then
swiftly covering my bridal robes with
thick. dark cloak. ] sped out again
on. on. | knew not whittier. / was
mad. ! think, and never paused un-
| III the morning light broke upon me.
Then sank exhausted at peasants
threshold and begged for food and
shelter. / drew off one Of my rings
and gave II to her, asking, imploring
protection. For one day ! rested
here. and then on again, anywhere
only to fee from this man; sometimes
resting a few days with the peasants
and buying their protection. for had
gold and iewels-oh, beautiful, price
less Jewels on neck and arms and
hands. At last, through one kind
good mans aid | was on board ship
bound for America | had purchased
clothing and all things ready for the
life upon the ocean and in the un-
known land to which ] was going. We
were rocking upon the waves almost
within an hour of sailing, when sud
denly, as ] sat upon the deok, hand
was laid upon my shoulder, and turn
ing, | met the dark, evil eyes of Paul
Inerzo My dear he said, I have
concluded to accompany you on your
trip TO the new world. How pleasant
1t will be to spend our honeymoon
thus!' And then he leaned upon the
rail and looked mockingly in my face.
The boat rocked suddenly Just then,
and ! saw him reel and fall down
down. Man overheard the cry rang
out and the boats were lowered, but
later and we were out at sea. Free,
free | cried, with great Joy in my
heart | came to America, entered an
academy as teacher of Italian, living
much secluded and retired. l have
been in America two years and l
never knew what subtle instinct led
me down to the seashore for a season
of rest and recuperation. had
thought, after | met you, 1t was OF
divine origin. | think now my evil
genius told me to go. But for this
he would not have found me, / some
times think But ] am going to flee
from him even If 1t is to the utmost
extremity of the earth And now
dear Herbert farewell. v. NJ"
And Herbert Bell, he went back to
his old home, and every Sabbath the
grand organ rolled out its wonderful
symphonies beneath his touch, only
with new and added beauty and vol
ume, and the great love and grief of
his life found utterance thus, and so
he lived until two years passed away.