The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-05-25

s
my DAUGHTERp SCREAMED THE OLD
| PERSONS.
Poor Oflandol What a festival! He
had forgotten his usual fears, and was
even humming a tune as he walked along
on his way back to the CardeIiis. Light
/ ly he assembled the steps. He thrust the
! key into the lock; in vain did he turn it.
The door did not open. BY Baccifusi
Had they pushed the bolt? His father
in-law undoubtedly supposed that he had
come in.
For only then did he begin to consider
1t must be very late; past midnight per-
haps.
In the neighboring chapel three strokes
sounded.
'sPshawl only IL o'clock and three
/ quarters" said Orlando TO himself.
But in Che distance sounded the clock
Of the Madonna de Grazie-~one. two,
| three.
what" ne exclaimed, in astonish-
ment 'sWhy it is 3 o'clock in the morn
ing. Impossiblel'
Yet he could not stay on the landing.
| What a stupid idea to have pushed the
bolt without ascertaining if every one had
come inl
! It being impossible to do otherwise, he
rang.
He had not to wait long; some one was
stationed near the door. The grinding Of
latches, chains and bolts was heard. The
! Incredible care with which they had se-
cured the house!
The door. as it opened, revealed the
father-in-law, cold and solemn. With a
stately gesture he pointed to the parlor
door, without word.
Good night, Don Agostino," said
Monteforte. "It is late; am going to
bed"
'Signor, your wife awaits you in the
parlor." said the father-in-law, in cav
ernous voice.
In the parlorp' cried the young hus-
band, ready to burst with laughter at
this unexpected declaration.
But Don Agostino's hostile attitude,
big with threats, extinguished the mad
laugh in advance.
With patient resignation he followed
the Indication of his father-in-law, who
walked behind him.
What spectacle awaited him!
The mother-in-law was there, in her
day toilet, very serious, with compressed
lips.
Teresa, red, vibrating and with swollen
eyes, turned away from him.
The dried up maiden aunt, with eyes
glowing like dying embers, moved her
hands in little gestures of Indignation,
murmuring between her sharp white
teeth: "Gesu! Gesuv'
''Ten minutes past 3r' remarked the
father. in-law, in voice like the roar of
a trumpet.
And these four persons looked at
Monteforte, with the insane hope of over
whelning him.
But Orlando had just drawn on good
sources for an energy that had long been
lacking from his will The contact with
friends had strengthened his courage.
He felt that he had become superior in
some indisputable way, and simply an
swered:
s'Ten minutes past 8? And you, who
have been doing nothing, are not yet in
| bed?"
His judges fairly leaped in astonish-
ment.
That was the way with artists-no
conscience!
Monsieur" said Don Agostino. with
repressed anger, lido you think that this
is proper conduct for married man,
for an honest man-to return to his
home at ten minutes past 8 in the morn
ing?"
"Bahr' said Monteforte, with forced
gayety. ''T7ather-in-law. once is not a
habit. The Rienzis have returned;
! they
| ssAhl you bad man!'' cried Teresa, un-
able to contain herself any longer. ~
know where you have been and what you
have done. am well acquainted with
your ways. l know it well; you do not
love mel ALL how unhappy amp
"Come, Teresa, that viii do" said he,
dryly; ''let us 20 to our room. At this
hour reasonable women are in their beds
"Ahi yes. said she, bursting out again
sand husbands meanwhile go gadding
about. All. you bad manl'
| Monteforte shrugged his shoulders,
very weary Of this sort of thing.
"But tell you that was with Rienzi.
| Then, in spite of his impatience, he
made the concession of attempting to de
fend himself.
'.Mnae. de Rienzi was with us. Ferucc
was there"
| "Another bohemian," interrupted the
mother disdainfully.
/ "a friend, Donna Bettina.
sFine. friendsr she continued. sllrug
ging her siaoulders. ..SLaEgeIipgs!''