The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24
.sons for asking. 1 was induleing

reasons for asking. | was induleing in
q hope which | fear is vain"
then went down stairs and explained
to my wife in few words the result Of
my interview with the old gentleman.
:" Good gracious! how extremely be-
culiarr' she exclaimed. "And you don't
mean to say John that you have been
imprudent enough to leave him all alone
in the drawing-room, with all my blue
china and things lying about!'
Don't be alarmed, my DEAR" an
swered, aroused by her dismay.. II will
be responsible for his honesty. The china
is perfectly safe with him."
Well, then. he must be lunatic. =
she replied, with woman's logic. "Who
ever heard of a sane man coming into a
respectable house and making such re-
questP''
" L don't suppose he means any harm.
He is very old and shaky, and has no
doubt some sentimental reason for wish
ing to see the rooms. Surely there can
be no great objections to my gratifying
his wish"
Butt dom t like the idea of strangers
going into the bedrooms. Besides, how
am to be sure that Carry's room is par
ticularly tidy? it isn't as rule, you
know"
80, he won't pay any attention to
such trifles, and | can't, out of common
civiiity, refuse such small thing to a
man who has travelled such distance y
Well, if you must take him, take
him." SAID my wife at last. ''Only get
rid of him as quickly as you can. The
tea Il iiags will be in presently ants E e..
children will be so troublesome if you
keep them waiting.''
Armed with my wife's grudgingly
given consent rejoined the Count.
''Sir. | am entirely at your SERVICE" |
said, If you will please follow me
will conduct you upstairs"
Visibly moved the old gentleman rose
in silence, bowed once more gravely as
opened the door for him, and walked
up slowly, under my escort to the rooms
on the next landing.
At his own request we entered my
daughters chamber. 1t was pleasant
room, looking to the north and on to the
garden, or rather a succession of gar
| uChos All UllC oDdCC lllC DlSh was oil
open one, studded with fine trees of
goodly growth, which, in the summer,
when in leaf, presented charmingly
green and rural aspect--quite cheer
ing and refreshing view not often to be
obtained from houses situated in such a
dense and central district as ours. l
glanced at the Count. The sight of the
room caused so deep an emotion in him
that made haste toprocure him chair
lest he should fall.
He thanked me feebly.
said, ''at the effect produced on me, but
you must know that forty years ago l
lived in this very room. My poor Te-
resa-my wife, sir--was with me and
died here. Our son Carlo was born
here. He is also no more; he died the
death of brave man at Salferino while
| fighting for the land of his forefathers.
l am alone now in my old age, and this
is all that remains to me of the past"
1t would be impossible for me to ade-
quately describe the sad, grave dignity
with which he spoke-the broken voice,
and the old gentleman's deeply sorrow
full, yet resigned, attitude. l own that,
though by nature not particularly i'm,
questionable or given to tenderness,
was myself moved by such utter and
hopeless solitude. DESTROYS of respect
ing his honorable grief, l held my
! tongue.
1--WE were very poor" he resumed,
dreamily; ''but we were young, full of
hope, and rejoiced to have escaped a
great danger, / had been compromised
as an intimate friend of Count Confa-
| lioneri-vou may have heard of the great
Italian patriot, sir?-and l was about to
be arrested. A companion warned me,
and | succeeded in escaping from the
Austrian bloodhounds. | fled to En-
gland, and my fond Teresa followed me
here to this house, to this very room, and
shared my lot. My land, my estates,
were all contiscated. Though absent, l
was sentenced to death as traitor to my
country, and had to struggle for daily
bread as teacher of languages. But
we were happy in spite of our poverty.
When | came home, Teresa was waiting
with smile to receive me. In the sum-
mer, however poor we might be, that
window-sill was gay with flowers; and
those gardens, sir-those gardens, sir,
were her particular delight. She gave
them the name of Bosco Bello.. All the
birds knew her, and came to her, and
helped her to sing songs TO our little
Carlo. They are both dead, and the room
is good deal changed, but the garden,
the trees, are here still.'
The old Count simple, touching words
caused strange sensations within me.
He put the picture so wildly before me
that | actually seemed to see him young
again, in the company of a loving and
perhaps beautiful woman, looking out
on the little old smoRe-stained trees, and
deriving little sweet comfort in exile
from the sight.
Gan is over now" said the old gen.
tleman, making an effort to control his
feelings. any title, my riches; have
long since been restored to me; but what
are they to me? One more request, sir;
know l have been most selfishly in
truding upon your time and privacy, but
grant me yet one more favor before
take,my leave. May l look behind that
shutter by the Window"
THAT shutterr' said l, surprised.
EYES," he replied. at is sheer folly
on my part, know, after somany years
have passed; but l still feel mad hope
in me to find something there that re-
member well in the old days"
'Look, by all means" said I, triHe