Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-09-06

! the progress of the clock hands.
Don Agostino was the first to return to
the house, even more lugubrious than
usual.
He did not turn his head, but simply
glanced around him out Of the corners Of
his eyes. Then, Strengthening up, he went
out upon the balcony.
The bell rang.
He did not bulge.
Teresa arrived, alone!
She put her arms around her fathers
neck.
"a hundred of these fine days, very
dear father of mine!"
"Thank you, Teresa" said he, kissing
her on the forehead.
Growing more nervous, he looked at
the door, then he gave sigh.
OF relief, without any doubt, and per-
haps Of anger.
Another ring of the bell was heard.
There! that was Orlando! His wife
had come first; he followed, having been
detained by Mazuccio, whom he had met.
Donna Bettina dropped upon chair.
Supporting herself against the table,
Donna Mariuccia, who had just seen her
brother give start, clasped her hands
in fervent prayer. As for Teresa, she
maintained an aggressive attitude, ready
to leave at once if any one should offend
her husband.
That lasted two minutes-long enough
for the servant to go to the door and
open it.
The two wild animals were about to
meet.
Orlandos strong and joyous voice rang
out in the silence, full of terror and
solemnity:
"A hundred of these fine days, Don
Agostino!'
Thanks from my heart, Orlando" re-
sponded the father, feebly.
+ And the mother, the aunt and the
young wife. with eyes and mouth wide
open, looked on with inexpressible amaze
ment as Don Agostino opened his arms
and Orlando kissed him, in accordance
with the custom of the country; after
which the poor father slipped his arm
under that of his son-in-law, and said in
voice vibrating with emotion:
Anu NOu hAo", vi We nav q
very good dinner. | have chosen myself
muscatel wine-oh! such wine! You
will see"
Then, with an engaging air, he led him
] to the table and placed him beside him.
/ The choicest bits were given to Orlando.
/ II any stranger had found himself
there by chance he would have supposed
Monteforte to be the prodigal son, the
loved one returned, for whom they had
/ killed the fatted calf
"This fish chowder, do you like it,
! Orlando? Don't eat those chicken lvers;
here is some calamajo fan Italian dishl
| This fried mixture is very good, isn't it?''
The astonishment of the women made
the dinner a silent one, though it was
none the less gay on that account.
Teresa triumphed. The aunt and the
mother occasionally looked at each other
with moist eyes. They said not word,
fearing that the charm might vanish.
But it was not an empty dream; its
reality became apparent after dinner.
When they rose to make the coffee
themselves in the parlor, and while
Maria was preparing the liqueurs, Don
| Ayostino started for the library. He came
back with some cigars, which he laid be-
fore Orlando.
"Here," said he, ''smoke some of these;
they are Havanas."
! "Ohw murmured Donna Bettina, trans
lating the thought of the others, ''he ex-
pected him!"
While smoking. Don Agostino led his
son-in-law to his private room. Perhaps
he wanted sole possession of him.
Had he not been long held apart like
castaway? The others had enjoyed the
children, their happiness, their intimacy,
giving many things which he had seen
carried away, as if it were necessary to
hide everything from him, as il, indeed.
he were an avaricious villain.
Had not his poor heart needed rs much
as theirs the joy of the young people?
The old man did not know how to lead
UP to the Expression of his feeling; for
he wished too to go to that top story
in the Strada Magno CaSallo. where
perched the pretty pair of birds SO dear
to his misunderstood heart.
But Orlando did not understand, did
not divine what his agitated father-in-
law was driving at.
Then, Don Agostino saw that he must
do the whole thing himself; SO. summon
ing all his diplomatic skill, he delivered
himself of this naive utterance:
"And up there, at that height, you
must be very uncomfortable"
"How so? Why uncomfortable" ex-
claimed Monteforte, with a satisfied
laugh. "But it is paradise, Don Agos-
tino, really. need light for my
studio; it is roomy, and not expensive;
the chambers are fine; we can step
lout upon pretty roof. Wouldn't you