The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-22

quarters, said Orlando to himself.
But in the distance sounded the clock
of the Madonna de Grazie-one, two,
three.
"What" he exclaimed, in astonish-
ment "Why it is o'clock in the morn
ing. Impossibler'
What stupid idea to have pushed the
bolt without ascertaining if every one had
come in!
1t 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 Sc
cured the house!
The door, as it opened, revealed the
fatherin-law, cold and solemn. With
stately gesture he pointed to the parlor
door, without q word.
"Good night, Don Agostino," said
Monteforte. sit is late; 1 am going to
bed"
"Signor, your wife awaits you in the
parlor," said the father-in-law, in a cav
ernous voice.
"In the parlor!'' 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 a 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! Gesur'
Ten minutes past 81 remarked the
father in-law, in voice like the roar of
trumpet.
And these four persons looked at
Monteforte, with the insane hope of over
whelming 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:
"Ten minutes past 3? And you, who
have been doing nothing, are not yet in
bed?"
His judges fairly leaped in aston!sh-
ment.
That was the way with artists-no
conscience!
Monsieur" said Don Agostino, with
repressed anger, edo you think that this
is proper conduct for married man,
for an honest man-to return to his
home at ten minutes past 3 in the morn
ing?"
"Bah!' said Monteforte, with forced
gayety. "Father-in-law, once is not
habit. The Rienzis have returned;
they''-
"Ah! you bad mani" cried Teresa, I'M
able to contain herself any longer. 81
know where you have been and what you
have done. am well acquainted with
your ways. I know it we'll; you do not
love me! All! how unhappy 1 ami"
"Come, Teresa, that will do" said he,
dryly; "let us go to our room. At this
hour reasonable women are in their beds"
"Ah! yes" said she, bursting out again,
land husbands meanwhile go gadding
about. All! you bad mani"
Monteforte shrugged his shoulders,
very weary of this sort of thing.
"But tell you that was with Rienzi."
Then, in spite of his impotence, he
made the concession of attempting to de-
fend himself.
''Mme. de Rienzi was with us. Ferucci
was there"
Another bohemian" interrupted the
mother disdainfully. -
ga friend, Donna Bettina."
"Fine friends!" she continued, shrug-
ging her shoulders. "Starvelingsv'
"And your five hundred francs from
the Society for the Promotion of Art,
monsieur" inquired Don Agostino.
Monteforte was on the point of not an
swering and turning his back.
Finally he explained:
''There are no longer five hundred
francs. First paid Tipaldis bill, two
hundred francs. And them
He stopped, and added more timidly:
Il paid for the drinks at the cafe"
"You see!" cried all the women stimuli
taneously.
"Monsieur!' exclaimed the choking
father, 1--WE did not give you our only
daughter, our Teresa, that you might
make her so unhappy"
"Give! givey" cried Orlando, furiously;
"but tell me, then, did l WANT
He stopped. Whatever his impotence,
he did not wish to wound his wife
Again he interrupted himself, and, i'm
PEELED by desire of ending without get
ting angry, he repeated:
Come, Teresa, come to. bed"
'No, monsieur" cried the father in
tone of authority; "you shall hear what
we have to say"
The young man Strengthened up: the
handsome Orlando had just revived.
He came from on high, from enchanted
palaces inhabited by chimera; in his
presence living beings had personified
the sublimest realities; in his eyes still
remained the vision of dazzling radiance.
Don Agostino, with stupid eloquence,
hurled at his head solemn platitudes, re-
proaches, the value of money, the re-
quirements of duty, family virtues and
respect for this, that and the other.
he showed no sign, of ending; he did
NO no OIL