Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-08-01

thought you were dead. | saw you go
downtown into the sea. Must you
haunt me even after you are dead?"
The stranger laughed 81 am sorry
| was so selfish as to i've" he
said, but that being the case, what
more natural than that / should fol-
low my wife. l am glad to find her
so faithful" and the fierce eyes like
Goals of fire, were lifted to Herbert
Bells face.
And now" he continued, having
found her, l 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 CO."
YES" she said, slowly. II will co.
But in the morning, while Paul
Inerzo lay in sound sleep upon the
sofa, Viva Marchwell 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 be. l am going away and you
may never see me again, but l want
to tell you who and what 1 am. My
real name is viviance Markweller.
am an Italian, and was born In Flor
ence In my infancy l was betrothed
to Paul Inerzo, 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 1t. Herbert, they made me mar
ry him. He was very wealthy. and
one of noble race, and l was mar
ried to him, and then when the whole
terrible truth rushed over me, that l
was chained for life to this man, l
fed from him--from the very altar
ere the words we're 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
a thick, dark cloak, / sped out again
on, on, knew not whittier. l was
mad, ! think and I never paused I'M
til the morning light broke upon me.
Then I sank exhausted at peasants
threshold and begged for food and
shelter. / drew off one of my rings
and gave 1t 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 l had
gold and jewels-oh, beautiful, price
| less jewels on neck and arms and
hands. At last, through one kind
good mans aid was on board a ship
bound for America. l had purchased
clothing and all things ready for the
life upon the ocean and In the I'M
known land to which was going We
were rocking upon the waves almost
within an hour of sailing, when sud
denly, as l sat upon the deck, a hand
was laid upon my shoulder, and turn
ing, l met the dark, evil eyes of Paul
Inerzo My dear he said, have
concluded TO accompany you on your
trip to the new world. How pleasant
it 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 l saw him reel and fall down
down. Man overheard the cry rang
out, and the boats were lowered, but
he was not found A few moments
later and we were out at sea. Free,
free / cried, with great Joy in my
heart l came to America, entered an
academy as teacher Of Italian, living
much secluded and retired. I have
been in America two years and /
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 I am going to flee
from him even II it is to the utmost
eAITSullIy VI TIC edTIu. ana now,
dear Herbert, farewell. V. M"
And Herbert Bell, he went back to
his old home, and every Sabbath the
grand organ rolled out it's wonderful
symphonies beneath his touch, only
with a new and added beauty and vol
ume, and the great love and grief of
his life found utterance thus, and so
hn turS
Then one morning a note was hand
ed him by boy. "A lady from the
White Inn, sir, sent this" he said. 1t
was only this
He is dead and am free. VIM"
But Herbert Bell understood, and
with a great JOY in his heart he went
to her. She was alone, and without
one word he took her in his arms. 81
have been very patient" he said, at
| length for | felt sure God would