Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-13

lilies OF Anjou, and the feathered pen, the
armorial cognizance of its founders. But
when the beggar, still with his upturned
yellow eyes fixed upon the building, set up
his loud, monotonous cry-"For the pity of
God"-the tourist stood corrected, perceiv-
ing that he was blind.
As the blind beggar sat there on this
April morning, staring at the Palazzo. he
became the subject Of its conversation.
Though it was as yet only midday, the
Countess Medina had a visitor. The
Countess herself was a pale, elegant Flor.
entine, with black hair and melancholy
eyes. She was known in the great Neapol-
itan world for her rigid devoutness, and
strange spiritual expression about her meek
eyebrows and forehead suggested that her
thoughts were not of earth, and recalled
some OF Rafaelle's Madonnas. Some physical
debility, or shyness which she was unable
to overcome, prevented her looking her
guests straight in the face. Her voice was
low and caressing, and in moments of ex-
citement the pulse in her temples was seen
10 beat.
$50, mia cara" she said to her visitor and
nextdoor neighbor, a painted butterfly of
English fashion, who had married q
Neapolitan Jew for his millions and pre-
tended to be eternally iegretting the step;
$50, she said, sour poor, blind warden,
Arpino, appears to you to be shockingP'
The Baroness Bravura, nee Emily Trevor,
who had the evening before returned from
one of her annual visits to her native land
more bigotedly English than ever, answered,
smoothing some creases out of an exquisite
silk gown:
"My dear, it's only in Italy that one can
be confronted with such horrors"
Poor Arpino! He would be panied If
he heard youp'
"Of that have no doubt. But why does
the wretch sit stuck outside your gate?"
"Carissims. how should 1 know? Some
beggar's whimp'
IT dare say. A whim prompted by
rumors of your charity. Arpino, will be
bound, is amassing an independence.
"Well, his cry, For the pity Of GodP
hurts me. I always give him something
when 60 out"
"Arplno," said the Baroness Bravurs,
"wlll die in villa. That is cIearP' She
rose from her seat. and, stroiling indolently
to the window, looked through the drawn
blinds down into the sun-smitten
street below. An intolerable glare
devoured the Strada Banchi N0uvi.
Passers-by moved languidly, shelter
ing themselves from the fierce heavens
D
ing pavement, there Arpino sat in his eter-
nal attitude; his gaunt hands clasping his
knees; the yellow whites of his sightless
eyes upturned. The Baroness laughed sar-
casticallly.
''Yes," she said, lounging back into the
most comfortable armchair. 1.-THE stead
fast sentinel is still at his postl But will
he not be getting anxious? Has not the
fulluess of time come to throw him lira?"
The Countess looked at her guest re-
proachfully. "You are sarcastic, she said,
''but that blind man has sat there so long
before my doors-it is three months, Il think,
tor he took up his position some two weeks
after my husbands return from Africa
that have come to look upon him quite as
DEPENDENT You will call me superstitious
and laugh at me probably. but do you know
that should really look upon it as a
bad omen If that blind beggar were to dis
appear from his customary seat before the
Palazzo?
"You really surprise me. my friend" said
the Baroness. "Were I in your place,
nothing would please me better"
"Ahl but you do not know poor Arpino's
qualifications. He is such an attractive
6eggar, hideous though he is. You smile,
mia biondina; but the proof of what say
lies in the fact that people who never dream
of giving to other beggars give to himl
There is my husband, for instance" she
went on-and here certain unsteadiness
showed itself in her voice. "Msy 1 trouble
you Tor that fan, hanging on the wall,
carissima? I thank you. The heat is in
supportable. Well, the Count always takes
a great interest In Arpino whenever I speak
of him."
ST confess I am surprised to hear it," said
the Baroness, yawning.
Surprised you may well be, but it ID
true. Why, this very morning, before my
husband started for Caserta, almost his last
words al parting had reference to the blind
beggar."
aH'm," says the BsronssA Then she, too,