Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-24
Continued

ness binders us from taking true and
Just views, and perhaps Carlos love
blinded him to some extent with re-
gard to Nlta. He credited her with
virtues which she did not possess
aud then was wounded when in daily
life she was weighed in the balance
and found wanting. He would say 70
himself. rs she not the child Of my
father and mother? Then how is ii
possible that she should not at heart
be really loving, really true% But
he did not realize, as a dispassiogate
spectator would have done. that, al
though Nita might originally have In
herited many good gifts. her life and
education had been quite enough to
paralyze them.
In fact. her character was the natu
raj outcome of a long course of tyr
amy. Tyranny in the convent had
frs4 taught her TO be deceitful; deceit
had by degrees become iugrained in
her nature; she had cone TO think
Of lying as very venial sin, and It
did not in the least trouble her to
gain the ends she desired by crooked
means. Was she not Obliged to out.
wit tyrants? At her marriage she had
escaped into what she had imagined
would prove love and liberty but in
three months. time she had learned
that she had made terrible mistake,
and had sold herself into a slavery al
most intoierable
When woman MAJ es so terrible
a discovery there are onir two courses
open to her--either she must sink or
she must swim--there Is no idle drift
ing in such case. Nita never at
tempted to love her husband, she
never tried to bridge over the differ.
ences between hem: be tyrannized
over her as was his nature. and she
yielded In miserable, slayish despair.
fearing him and hating him with her
whole heart. So, inevitably she sank
and here was not wanting-there
neevr Is wanting Comerio to help
her. Sardoni considered her heart.
less and commonplace. and so she
was, yet not so heartless as to be In.
sensible 10 the charm of Comerio's
devotion when contrasted with her
husbands cruelty, and commonplace
enough to fall with tho greatest ease
into the trap laid for her. Comerios
eyil influence increased with q speed
which alarmed her; she stood on the
very brink Of the precipice, but y~t
at the supreme moment some blind
impulse had made her turn and rush
back 10 her mother. Then she had
thrown herself upon Carlos mercy
had confessed all. and begged his
help; he had replied by the GIFT Of
his life and now, the danger for the
moment tided over. poor Nita felt a
sudden reaction. and wished with all
her heart that she had acted differ
emily In her worse moments she
hated Carlo for having ousted her
lover. In her better moments she
triNd to- goad herself into a sort OF
gratitude 20 him for what he had
done: while often. In revenge Tor the
humiliation of feeling that he knew
her weakness, she delighted In trying
his temper, and showing to the troupe
that she had not the least intention
of Joining in the chorus Of admira
tion which the outer world accorded
10 fha neSv baritone
Tyranny induces deceit. and Il also
engenders the desire TO tyrannlze
Nita. who had been made so miserable
by her husbands overbearing nature
retaliated whenever she could on
Gigi. or on her luckless dresser. or
strange to say. most frequently of all
on Carlo. She was so certain of his
love, so sure that ne would never
fail her that she was not afraid to do
this: and at present the consciousness
that she could pain him was rather
pleasant than otherwise, 1t gave her
feeling OF power which battered her
pride
You seem to have worke ed up Mer
limo into pleasant state" she said.
saroastieally. in reply to Carlos greet.
ing.
He disliked her way Of speaking
against her husband, and tried 20
turn the subject
There has oeen good deal 10
worry him today. but all is stralgh;
now, We have been down at the
theater; it seems a better one than
should have expected"
An Is straight, You should say. with
the exception OF the imp: esario's tenn
per" said Nita, sharply Il wish
you would leave him alone and mt
interfere YOU only make 1t a great
deal worse for ne"
Nita's unrea4onableness Was az
times enough TO madden man. and
Carlo could not help sympathizing a
little with MeYliuo he knew quite
we'll that If he had not gone 10 the
theatcr her renrnach would have been.
You never try 70 put Mer'iuo into a
better temper; you never try 10
smooth matters for me
He was silcut ami Nita, who had
hoped TO stir up a discussion, dndn.
IL impossible to quarrel alone. walked
over 10 the window where Gigi was
contenfodly PLAYING with his soldiers.
ard without word Of warning swept
the TOYS from her path
.tf1. nr-.,t-, W., ~. 49,. $3.50. .-.--