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


MP the street, crossed it at,the top, then came
down the other side and glided into the
Palazzo Medinal 1t is true that Arpino'
fixed, upturned yellow eyes were riveted on
the PalaZzo as those light, swift steps entered
ii. But, then, Arpino was blind.
As this episode terminated in the scorch-
ing street below, the awkward silence which
had reigned in the Countess boudoir was
broken.
"Well," says the Baroness Bravura, "I
have offended you, l seei So that the best
thing l can do is to take my leave, after
having first admired your new ornaments. "
The Countess boudoir was i'd truth a
perfect brIc-a-brac shop, exquisitely fur
niShed, for the absent Count had taste and
was a great collector. Exquisite inlaid
cabinets occupied corners, and their open
doors permitted an inspection OF European
masterpieces in the art of miniature.
Amid other fine pictures on the walls hung
a Correggio which the directors of the Ma
tioual Museum had vainly tried to buy.
Mementoes of the absent Counts wander
ings in strange countries mingled gro-
tesquely with these objects of virtu. Here
hung i brightly painted bow and bunch OF
poisoned arrows from the Orlnoco. Here a
deadly club, which had been welded in
Central African forests, supported a guam
titv of talismans which had once perhaps
belonged to the clubs owner. In one cor
ner of the room a large, heavy ebony chest
stood open, whose contents still further re-
called Africa, or the magnificent lions
skin hanging half in and malt out OF ii
seemed to catch all the concentrated light in
this dim boudoir, and was shown to striking
advantage.
The Baroness Bravura's attention was at
tracted TO this skin, which she had never
seen before; and the Countess, who had re-
covered from her displeasure, was languidly
informing her that it had once belonged to
the Nubian lion whose claws had disfgured
one side OF her husbands face, when the
sound of shoes creaking apologetically was
heard, and a decorously-dressed fat man
deierentially entered the room. This was
Sorra, the confidential servant of the family.
He was a man with short-clipped black
whiskers, a white, podgy face, bald,
shining head, and black eyebrows raised
over half-closed eyes. HIS manner was e1-
ceedingly grave, as ofone performing sacred
functions. This man eyed the Baroness
Bravura corner-wise, and, approaching the
Countess with almost i religious air, handed
her a small note on a silver salver.
The pulses in the Countess Medina's tenn
pies beat violently. She took the note with
a nervous movement, and as she said, 'Very
well, Sorra," her voice futtered.
The steward bowed and departed, reverent
and dIcnifed as ever. The sound of the
creaking shoes died decorously in the corri-
dor.
"Ah," said the Baroness Bravura, you
expect some one?" But the Countess re-
piled at once with a sort of nervous irrita-
tion, and forcing her unsteady glance to
meet the Baroness eyes.
''No! 1 expect no one"
"All the same, I will CO." says the Baro.
ness, and she lounged to the window once
more, buttnning her gloves.
The Countess, stanuing behind her with
both hands on her shoulders, said: "Well,
Carissima, do come and see me again to-
morrow. 1t always seems to me that you
are bringing me luck - What is it?''
she asked as the Baroness, who was looking
out OF the window. gave 4 little start.
"Well," said the Baroness, eff 1 bring
YOU luck it's fortunate thing that have
returned to Naples, since one of your luck
bringers has deserted you"
"What do YOU mean?"
"The blind beCgar has vanished!"
"Arpino gone!" cried the Countess. "Im-
possible!' She in her turn looked out of
the window. ''Why, for three months he
has never moved"
well, he's moved now," said the Bar
oness. Then noticing that the Countess
face had fallen, she said, shaking both her
hands, and kissing her, You must take care
OF yourself, my dear. Do you know, you
look to NE as if your nerves were going
wrong"
The Countess shook her head, and smiled
the sad. resigned smile of a sanity woman
who suffers; then the jangle of the Baroness
Bravura's innumerabie bracelets and BAN
giles died gradually in the track OF Sorra's
creaking shoes.
This dlguitary was waiting below to show
the visitor out. He loathed the English,
and being Neapolitan born and bred, was
utterly unable to understand how any
woman who had 4 carriage could walk to
the next house.
Having, therefore, followed the Baroness
retreating footsteps with a disdainful eye,
, he retired 10 his sanctum--a small room off
the entrance going into the courtyard-and,
having taken glass of Vesuvio and lighted
a black cigar, stretched himself in an arm
chair, prepared equally Tor sleep or contem-
plation.
81 shall not be wanted for the rest of the
morning, that is clear" he said to himself.
a significant smile PLAYED about his fat
lips He smoked his cigar lazily till it
went out, and presently he fell into ster-
torous siesta.