The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-14
"Do you 20 soon ?"

DO yOu 30 bUOu
"I shall stay merely for celebration
that my countrymen enjoy at this sea-
son, and which I am pledged to attend"
"I know" said the countess. "It is
November"
He went off bravely enough, leaving
the little woman standing with her
pretty head on one side and her eyes
cast down.
1t ought to be easy for young fellow
of fortune, cf talent, of many resources
both within and outside of himself, to
shake off the thought of little woman
standing with her eyes cast down. To
that end the American occupied him
self during the days that intervened be-
fore the Thanksgiving dinner. Besides
having promised to be present he
feared his absence, coupled with break
ing off his known intimacy with the
Countess Vittoria, would give rise to
remark and set gossip all agog.
One, two, three times twenty four
hours went slowly round. 1t was the
eve of Thanksgiving day; it would be
his last evening in the Comparini pal
ace, his last but one in Rome. Poor
Thorn was seized with desire to see
once more the face that had cost him so
much divine misery, to look once more
into the eyes that had banished him-a
foolish, inconsistent impulse known
only to lovers. Half unconsDiously he
tramped out into the great Railways
and up and down the cold staircases,
imperfectly lighted by wretched oil
lamps. There was confusion on the
| floor where the countess lived. People
were hurrying in at the doors, and then
men seemed carrying in great boxes.
He could hear Teresa's shrill voice call
ing on the Madonna as they stumbled
awkwardly under their burdens. The
noise of arrivals ent on for a long
time; then it was hard to hear anything
distinctly, the place was so large and
the walls so thick. Yet there was the
sound of voices and laughter, and at
last some serving-men went out in a
crowd, and Teresa's shrill whisper called
after them "Bring enough for them all
to eat"
Enough for them all to eat." It
was party, then. Perhaps more had
come than were expected, and the care
ful Teresa had to make provision duly.
In moment Thorn convinced himself
that the stout marquis, who had proba-
bly, recovered from his tumble, was
being entertained by Countess Vittoria's s
most winning smiles. In his excited
mind he could see them both; that
waxed mustache (how he hated it y !;
and Vittoria--from her dainty foot to
the topmost braid of her little head, he
could see her, too-see her smile and
coquet and handy compliments with
that detested fat fellow he had knocked
| downstairs. Thorn ragged, shut. him.
self in the studio, walked up and down
all night, and looked like a specter in
the morning. Toward noon he fell
asleep, and waking with q start at 5
o'clock, he got up to dress for the din
ner, heartily wishing it all over. Trying
to cogitate some verse, or toast, or epi-
gram for the occasion, he spied among
the brushes on the dressing-table az
dainty envelope. Evidently Giuseppe
had brought it while he slept. "The
Countess Comparini's compliments, and
she would be happy to see Signor
Thorn" (the h very carefully written)
"at o'clock"
Thorn vowed he wouldn't go; then,
seeing it was already o'clock, hur-
ried his toilet. He whisked out a
clean handkerchief, he dashed little
Cologne water about, still swore he
wouldn't go and be tortured anew, hasti-
| ly left his rooms, and marched straight
down to the familiar great door on the
second story. He was ushered as far as
the little antechamber. The drawing
room was closely shut. From another
entrance the countess advanced to meet
him. She was charmingly dressed, but
very gentle and shy.
She hoped she saw the signore well.
"That could hardly be expected" he
answered, all resentment gone, as he
looked down upon the tender, girlish
little creature who was so dear to him
al have been," she faltered, "think.
ing very seriously since we talked tn
other day; and last evening"
Thorn braced himself to hear she had
accepted the marquis at the party.
"-last evening made up my mind.
II want you to feel at home, so I
arranged little surprise. hope you
will like it," Here she opened the
drawing-room door. 'SThey make a
dreadful noise, but it pleases me-for
your SAKE.
The tears were in her eyes, she was
ready for his arms, yet Thorn stood in
mute amazement. The Comparini draw
ing-roOm was half filled with tables,
and on every table was a crowd of gob-
bling, screeching, fapping. living tur-
keys, some tethered, some cooped, but
all joining in the dreadful din.
"What is the meaning" Thorn be-
gan, in wild astonishment
The countess broke down completely.
It's the custom of your country on
this day-you told me so-turkeys on
tables" she sobbed. "I'll try to be a
perfect American"
You're perfect angel, said Thorn,
and all Countess Vittoria's tears, by
/ some strange law of hydraulies ran