The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-08


impulse.
A party of pleasure were on a visit to
little town called Portici. built on the
site of the ancient city of Herculaneum,
which nearly two thousand years ago
was buried by an eruption of the volcano
Vesuvius. Upon the arrival of the train
they were greeted by their friends. The
party consisted of sixteen persons.
NJ. and Nine. de Rienzi.
The painter Marco de Angelic and his
wife, residents of Portici.
Then a young pupil of Rienzi, named
CASTOR Sauviret, who had come from
France with him. This lad of 10, as long
''as day without Bread" said the In
habitants of Bougival, his native place,
answered generally to his studio n.me,
Billiard Cue.
Finally, two young girls, whose fam
lilies were spending the summer at Por-
tici. They came almost every day to
visit Nine. de Rienzi
One of them, pretty and the daughter
of the painter Michele Falcone, professor
in the School of Fine Arts at Naples, was
very musical and already sang charm
ingly. The great baritone Monteforte
had been giving her lessons for year,
for he, too, lived at Portici when resting
between two theatrical seasons.
The other, Teresa Cardelli, seemed to
have come to serve as foil to the pretty
Rosa Falcone. She was homely, thin,
black haired, dark skinned, dry, angular;
ri,
black eyes of aome beauty; too well
dressed, like little wooden idol; 20
years old.
She was the daughter of NJ. Cardelli,
familiarly called Don Agostino Her
father was an excellent man at bottom,
but very solemn ON the surface, with an
air of great Importance; retired from
business, and rich. He had made for
tune by establishing bazar on the Via
Toledo, in which everything was sold as
in Parisian bazar, On the front of
this establishment some facetious fellow
probably sign painter of French
origin, refugee of the Communicated
painted in golden letters, in French, the
words: ''Parisian trumpery." Never had
the proprietor suspected the real mean
ing Of these words, for beneath them he
had added in Italian: "Reliable mer-
chandise" The characteristic Of this
bazar of Partisan style was that they
did not speak French there.
But all business he had now put aside,
the merchandise, whether trumpery or
not, having made his fortune. Conse-
quently the family had great prStensions
regarding Teresa, an only daughter and
thoroughly adored by her father and
mother, and even by a maiden aunt who
lived in the house of her brother, M. Car
delli
The first thing needful to the party
after the journey was refreshments. A
table was laid by the women, Wine
spafkled in immense clear bottles. Two
dry cheeses, gourd shaped, and basket
of oranges completed the menu. The
more patient ones had prepared appetiz-
ing side dishes, composed of mild pep
pers, picked peaches and fruits, black
olives and anchovy tillets,
Then Joseph de Rienzi took his last sur
vey, and his voice rang out in tone of
real satisfaction:
''Now to the table,"
Just at this moment new guests were
announced,
"There they are! there they arer' cried
some.
And two late comers appeared at the
top of the stairs.
''Bravor shouted Rienzi. "I was as
tonished at not seeing you. Welcome,
my old Feruccl"
A tall, dry, good natured looking man,
very erect and poorly dressed, preceded
a young, handsome, well built fellow,
with a merry face.
He approached Nine. de Rienzi to de.
posit chivalrous kiss upon each of her
hands.
One of the party, the idealist painter,
Del Vecchio, had already taken posses
sion of the younger man, whom he de-
sired to introduce to the hostess.
"Madammina," said Del Vecchio, with
show of ceremony, "allow me to pre-
sent NJ. Monteforte, fervent admirer of
your husband. Rienzi, you remember
Monteforte, don't you?"
Certainly" said Rienzi, vainly ran
sacking his memory. "Welcome, my
dear SIR"
"Madame," continued Del Vecchio,
with very serious air, "Signor Monte
forte is better known under another char
acteristic name.. He is commonly called
'the handsome Orlando"
The young man was not at all discon-
certed. He assumed a comical air of
compassion.
"Signora," said he, gravely, 81 beg
your indulgence for the brain of our
friend Del Vecchio. To it owe this in