The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-14
THE COUNTESS.

&@1 WV Az u 4l0kS.
"It's the loneliest old place in Rom =,
this Palazzo Comparini," said Tn or .,
an American painter, TO Giuseppe, the
porter. Giuseppe always lCunged at q
door that led from the courtyard into
darkness and dampness supposed to be
his apartment. Giuseppe YVES white
haired and bent, and after the fashion
of the italian lower orders, felt almost
past work at fifty, but certainly not past
the pleasures of conversation.
"Certa, signore, the palace is lonely
enough nowadays, but the Comparinis
used to be rich, and kept up great
state. No grass in the court then, no
mold on those marble steps, no silence,
no foreign painters on the top floor
without offense to you, signore). Then
the young count-ah, we'll, he was
rare one"-here the old porter fell to
Iaughing-"snd gay one, and care
less one. He went to Paris. and. whewl
away went the money. The villa was
sold, the property on the Corso was
sold, the palace at Naples was sold, and
back came the count, as merry "a ever
and got married Married young wife,
and then away went ber fortune. Paris
again; horses, gambling, betting, and
worse. Five years ago he died-died
nerry, too. A pleasant man was the
count"
Very pleampt man." said Thorn
grimly. "Ihen he squandered every
thing?"
Except this palace; and that would
hava ..ov.o - ho baH liua1
"How about his wife ?"
swell, her father gave heI some
thing more, and then here's the palace
ct. Wait, signore."
Giuseppe shufied off toward Young
lady who had just entered, and who
beokoned him from the staircase. She
was y title ferson, with low brow an
wonderful liquid Southern eyes and =
row Of small teeth like, as Thorn men
tally remarked, sweet corn. She had q
dimple in one cheek only. You couldn't
ask mate in the other cheek, for such
dimple couldn't possibly be repeated.
She had small straight nose ands full
mouth; she was brown, and she vas
quick, yet languid. She talked with
Giuseppe in lively fashion, yet leaned
against pedestal, like weary nymph
in picture. All this Thorn noted
Then he caught Giuseppe's name as she
pronounced it, with that gentle separa-
tion of the syllables, as if for lingering
more tenderly on each.
What lovely name the old wretch
has !" he thought. AS the little lady
tripped lightly up the stairs he was very
glad to ask the old wretch, and right
eagerly too, "Who is the signorina2"
"The Countess Vittoria Comparini." +"
"Does she live here p
"Of course. On the second floor"
"Does she-does anybody-does she
have many visitors {" stammered Thorn,
addings to himself, "Confound this
foreign tongue it won't let fellow say
what he means"
Giuseppe caught the meaning pretty
surely, for he answered: Certainly,
signore, the countess sees her own
friends"
"You mean the foreigners-th&5 is,
the Romans"
"I mean the Romans, not the for
eigners. Ladies like herself, and gen.
tlemen like the count, her late hus-
band"
AAAo buo AohOW bAh1 SPcnb u6I
dowry."
81 mean gentlemen-people who
don't work as do, or as"
"Ha ha as do" laughed Thorn.
"Well-yes, signore," said Giuseppe,
with polite hesitation.
"Here's a genuine old woSld crea-
ture," thought Mr.. Thorn, Lot little
amused, untouched by repuSlicanism,
communism or nihilism. Pray that his
mistress is DNr moderr aud so, access
ible."
A vain prayer it seemed, for in pay.
ment of month of cold sentinel duty
on the marble stairs, often an hour at q
time, Mr.. Thorn had met the Countess
Oomparini but twice. Once she passed
him with slight bow and downcast
eyes as he politely lifted his hat; and
one morning she looked up with {
"Grszie, signore," as he restored the
prayer-book that she had let fall on re
turning from early mass. This wasn't
the American way of getting on with I
lovely woman, so Thorn applied to al
italian fellow at the bankers who talked
English.
"Posseeble to know the Countess
Comparibi, my dear fellow? No. Th'
countessa is of an old house. She like
not the foreigners. Imposseeble, m.
dear boy"