The Heir of Mondolfo [pp. 12-23]

APPLEITONS' JO U-RNAL.
deed, enjoyed more liberty than ever, and his cruel able fire-flies, which flashed now low on the ground,
father confined himself alone to the restricting of discovering the flowers as they slept hushed and
him more than ever in money. His policy was ap- closed in night, now high among the branches, and
parent: Ludovico had resisted every temptation of their light was reflected by the shining leaves of ilex
gambling and other modes of expense thrown in his and laurel. Viola's wandering eye unconsciously
way. Fernando had long wished to bring his son to selected one and followed it as it flew, and ever
a painful sense of his poverty and dependence, and and anon cast aside its veil of darkness and shed a
to oblige him to seek the necessary funds in such a wide pallor around its own form. At length it
career as would necessitate his desertion of the pa- nestled itself in a bower of green leaves formed by
ternal roof. He had wound many snares around the a clump of united laurels and myrtles; and there
boy, and all were snapped by his firm but almost un- it staid, flashing its beautiful light, which, coming
conscious resistance; but now, without seeking, with- from among the boughs, seemed as if the brightest
out expectation, the occasion came of itself which star of the heavens had wandered from its course,
would lead him to require far more than his father and, trembling at its temerity, sat panting on its
had at any time allowed him, and now that allow- earthly perch. Ludovico sat near the laurel-Viola
ance was restricted, yet Ludovico did not murmur- saw him-her breath came quick-she spoke not and until now he had had enough. but stepped lightly to him-and looked with such
A long time Fernando abstained from all allu- mazed ecstasy of thought that she felt, nay, almost
sion to the connection of his son; but one evening, heard, her heart beat with her emotion. At length
at a banquet, gayety overcame his caution-a gayety she spoke-she uttered his name, and he looked
which ever led him to sport with his son's feelings, up on her gentle face, her beaming eyes and her
and to excite a pain which might repress the smile sylph-like form bent over him. He forgot his fears,
that his new state of mind caused to make frequent and his hopes were soon confirmed. For the first
visits to his countenance. time he pressed the trembling lips of Viola, and
"Here," cried Fernando, as he filled a goblet- then tore himself away to think with rapture and
"here, Ludovico, is to the health of your violet-girl!" wonder on all that had taken place.
and he concluded his speech with some indecorous Ludovico ever acted with energy and prompt allusion that suffused Ludovico's cheek with red. ness. He returned only to plan with Viola when
Without replying he arose to depart. they might be united. A small chapel in the Apen "And whither are you going, sir?" cried his fa- nines, sequestered and unknown, was selected; a
ther. "Take yon cup to answer my pledge, for, by priest was easily procured from a neighboring con Bacchus! none that sit at my table shall pass it un- vent and easily bribed to silence. Ludovico led
courteously by." back his bride to the cottage in the forest. There
Ludovico, still standing, filled his cup and raised she continued to reside; for worlds he would not
it as he was about to speak and retort to his father's have had her change her habitation; all his wealth
speech, but the memory of his words and the inno- was expended in decorating it, yet his all only suf cence of Viola pressed upon him and filled his heart ficed to render it tolerable. But they were happy.
almost to bursting. He put down his cup, pushed The small circlet of earth's expanse that held in his
aside the people who sought to detain him, and left Viola was the universe to her husband. His heart
the castle, and soon the laughter of the revelers was and imagination widened and filled it until it encomno more heard by him, though it had loudly rung passed all of beautiful, and was inhabited by all of
and was echoed through the lofty halls. The words excellent, this world contains. She sang to him; he
of Fernando had awakened a strange spirit in Lu- listened, and the notes built around him a magic
dovico. "Viola! can she love me? Do I love bower of delight. He trod the soil of paradise,
her?" The last question was quickly answered. and its winds fed his mind to intoxication. The
Passion, suddenly awake, made every artery tingle inhabitants of Mondolfo could not recognize the
by its thrilling presence. His cheeks burned and his haughty, resentful Ludovico in the benign and gentle
heart danced with strange exultation as he hastened husband of Viola. His father's taunts were untoward the cottage, unheeding all but the universe heeded, for he did not hear them. He no longer
of sensation that dwelt within him. He reached its trod the earth, but, angel-like, sustained by the wings
door. Blank and dark the walls rose before him, of love, skimmed over it, so that he felt not its ineand the boughs of the wood waved and sighed over qualities nor was touched by its rude obstacles. And
him. Until now he had felt impatience alone-the Viola, with deep gratitude and passionate tendersickness of fear-fear of finding a cold return to his ness, repaid his love. She thought of him only,
passion's feeling now entered his heart; and, retreat- lived for him, and with unwearied attention kept
ing a little from the cottage, he sat on a bank, and alive in his mind the first dream of passion.
hid his face in his hands, while passionate tears Thus nearly two years passed, and a lovely child
gushed from his eyes and trickled from between his appeared to bind the lovers with closer ties, and to
fingers. Viola opened the door of her cottage; Lu- fill their humble roof with smiles and joy.
dovico had failed in his daily visit, and she was un- Ludovico seldom went to Mondolfo; and his fahappy. She looked on the sky-the sun had set, and ther, continuing his ancient policy, and glad that in
Hesperus glowed in the west; the dark, ilex-trees his attachment to a peasant-girl he had relieved his
made a deep shade, which was broken by innumer- mind from the fear of brilliant connections and able
I6