New-York tribune., 1886-01-17

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to say nothing of the fond caIesses lavished on
Lucia. were meant TO drive those unfortunate
My health and strength were so improved that
now often Joined the Doctor, his daughters and
one two of their friends in long walks abont the
country. i used to hire the only thing on wheels
village afforded; we would start early after
our coffee and rolls for some town or village hom
which we could make our excursion, put up the
trap and horse and ramble about for hours amidst
some of the most exquisite scenery have ever
seen. The Doctor fetched some wine and beer from
IA tiny 4" osteria" built in the shadow OF the black
gorge and within perpetual sound OF that roaring
Maggia and having unpacked our provisl0ns-cold
fowl, sa ami Ia kind of sausage) ana bread we sat
down under some Spanish chestnut trees, on the
soitest moss and among the lOveliest wild towers,
to take our midday meal. On these occasions the
Doctor would hold forth on philosophy, poetry,
creeds and politics. lie was strange mixture OF
mind and matter, and with HIM one had always 10
be on ones guard, Tor he would suddenly come
down from the most transcendental heights with
a rush to some Rabelals'an remark that quite
startled ones weak nerves.
Near our village stood a rather fine country
house generally called the Palazzo" 1t belonged
to a certain Signor Cesare Vilaspina whose father.
a schoolfellow and friend of the Doctors had been
dead some years. The father had been soldier;
The son, having tried diplomacy for time and
passed some years as attache III London ana atis'
had now settled down III Florence as dIlettante
in art and letters. IL. c;or
Cesare was expected shortly at the Palazzo. ne
was pleased as a child over this little excitement,
and insisted on our all going oier with HIM TO
inspect the house and grounds. My mother ana |
decided that. with plenty OF warm YET supuGen
looped back with Indian silk scarves, the hnge
haunted rooms could be made quite habitahle.
Pa hstened intelgently and with pressure 10 tne
description / gave her OF carly English chimney
pieces carved oak panels ana cabinets old cnina
and flowers and towei-stands and all the other
things that we lOvo to beautfy our homes with ,
asked the Doctor what sort of man was the
owner o. ;he PalaZZo. He laughed.
lie is my opposite i'll everything. And so was
his father the colonel. and yet We were excellent
friends. Cesare is aristoerat TO has Enger-tips,
and am a republican; he likes the lie oil courts,
and here the Doctor became a little pomD0ns as
he nncousciousy fell into his fayontc io1e Oh
Circinnatus planting cnbbages-" the free life of
the country. | tend my vines and make my own
wine / take life seriously while he plays at art'
plays at literature and probably plays at love-
a%h hat will such a man do hcref'
awe shall very little OF him he repled.
lie comes for "A month at time TO PallanZa, puts
mn at the Grand Hotel, and runs over here occa.
sonally with friend TO spend the day and nsh;
Here he caught sight OF Signor NlllasplnaS
steward, and ran OIL to catch him for gossip.
When lie rejoned ms il was to impart the astound-
ing news that the padrone had ordered them to
begin putting everything into thorough repair
that in future he meant to spend part of each year
at thc PalaZzO In order to devote himself more
exclusively to his literary pursuits than II was
possible TO DO in Florence. Rome or even Faiianza.
Until his arrival they were TO go TO Dr Cattaneo
for orders OH any doubtful point.
He is not so unpractcal, aiter all, sald lhc
Doctor he might 40 worse
The girls had been invited to supper las the 6
o'clock meal is called in these parts and TO dance
al the Rusninis W no the parents of 'Centlna
bosom FRIEND Lucia. SignOr Ruspni was the only
doctor of =, for when our host had retired on
his laurels hc had quite given up practising as n
One of his fads was that the two girls should
never spend the evening out at the same time and
1t goes without saving that fla almost inyaria1ly
gave uI the coveted pleasure to her sister The
Doctor as usual. went himself TO fetch home his
daughter, starting early in order TO come III for
any finn that might be going which he enjoyed as
n,ncb as n schoolboy out for holiday especially
when away from Signorina Modestas dlsapprovlng
slances which always succeeded In qnelling his
spirits when they ran too high. .hl ihere wa was
ular soirfc The Doctor walked up and down like
Gagged lion until the hour came when he could
decently start and as soon as the door had closed
ON him Siguora Teresa and her daughter began 10
chatter eagerly N the dialetto or Italian OF the
lakes very different matter to the "lngua
toscaua in bocco romano" and quite beyond my
compreienson; but noticed that 'Certina's name
came very frequently into the conversation. Fla
was preocrupied. and did not take her usual
interest in her book, for tins was the only hour
when she had leisure TO read. She knew French
we'll and during the winter i had taught her
sufficient English TO enable her 10 ENJOY thfe
various magazines and periodicals with which
kt about half past 10 a sound of merry voices
and laughter announced tne return 81 tng Doctor
sparkling with pleasure as she entered fol
lowed by an adorng guard OF honor there
oncn-coilared, frlzzed-headed young haIitue'
Of the afternoon dances, and a wonderful I'm
provement on the gilded youth OF = IN
Stranger who was presently introduced TO us as Dr.
Ruspini's son, young Dr. Carlo RuspiLi. DR.. Cat
taneo insisted on the gentlemcn stopping to taste
bis famous wne and noticed that on TINS occasion
Dr Carlo was evidently the bonored Gucst.
The next day was sitting in my iavOr'te nook
among the citroDs when SgnOrna Modesto. eSpy.
iuq me came up with her Leys. "A camp stool and
asr 1f my sfpTN seated herself
She began by assuring me how iully they apPTeci
atcd the friendly interest we TOOK ~ them al thai
thcy would feel they were sighting us II they
concealed any family matters from us In short
what did think of DI. Carlo kasp.nii SAID he
had struck me rs on intcIlg gent 9hd wei. hammered
young man. She looked pleased. and after getting
M to Iccr round tie c!Gon trees lest any one should
lie within hearing she drew her stool "a degree
q lie Is Very much taken with 'Centina There
will be money tlicuties, but they can be snOothed
over; old Dr Rusp.ni IS going TO retire. and Carlo
hall the dOwGy down; but ho Mill propose ia keel
the yOung couple here until he can pay the rest
"And how about Pia's iuturref" ! asked. Say
ebe never marries what is 10 become Of her and
little Marietta if their father dies ~
Heaven spare him long SIZE said deyoutly
q and then all will be well. foL see cara sisnora
him to save tlis remnant OF our fathers property
If be is spared for some years longer hen The
whole Of 'Centina's dow'y IS pald should thii
marriage come Oal-then The young couple viii
probably 90 and live with Carlos parents and VIC
must then think OF providing for Marietta; and II
she too marries well, my brother will then he at
liberty to leave Pa well OIL. with tins villa and al
the vineyards She is a good girl, aud If SIC does
nothing to forfeit our approval, my mother and
will also leave her our share IN the little estate
But cara pdzienzd! ] am too indlscroet i'll thus
troubling you with our affairs"
/ assured her was sincerely interested in heI
family and in all concerning hem: and she
presently trOtted on 10 see that cttina and epa did
not gossip TOO much as they hung out the linen "a
dry. Although II seems terribly COld-blOOdcd and
unpoetical to hear much of the money question
but approve the care these people have for their
chldfen's future independence when compare
II win the apres mons le dcuec" sort of Conduci
too often displayed by our own cOuntrylOlk with
regard to their offspring.
The uSua! quittudc OF The Villa Magnolia WAS nC
lon ger unbrOlen the advent of Il suItOT had caused
the greatest excitement. not only iii the household
Il LII L-..l