The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-08


Ier's birthday party and hopes to overcome the
with the custom Of the country; after
which the poor father slipped lis arm
under that OF his son-in-law, and said in
q voice vibrating with emotion:
and you know, Orlando, we have
very good dinner. l have chosen myself
a muscatel wine-oh! such a winel You
will see.
Then, with an engaging air, he led hiIn
to the table and placed him beside him.
The choicest bits were given to Orlando.
II any stranger had found himself
there by chance he would have supposed
Monteforte to be the prodigal son, the
loved one returned, for whom they had
killed the fatted calf.
ssThis fish chowder, do you like it,
Orlando? Don't eat those chicken hvers;
here is some calamajo ian Italian dishl
This fried mixture is very good. isn't its''
The establishment Of the women made
the dinner silent one, though it was
none the less gay on that account.
Teresa triumphed. The aunt and the
mother occasionally looked at each other
with moist eyes. They said not a word,
fearing that the charm might vanish.
But it was not an empty dream; its
reality became apparent after dinner.
When they rose to make the coffee
themselves in the parler, and while
Maria was preparing the liqueurs, Don
Agostino started for the library. He came
back with some cigars, which he laid be-
fore Orlando.
Here, said he, smoke some of these;
they are Havanas."
s.Ohw murmured Donna Bettina, trans
lating the thought of the others, she ex-
pected hiIn,'
While smoking, Don Agostino led his
son-in-law to his private room. Perhaps
he wanted sole possession of him.
Had he not been long held apart like
castaway? The others had enjoyed the
children, their happiness, their intimacy,
giving many things which he had seen
carried away, as if it were necessary to
hide everything from him, as if, indeed,
he were an avaricious villain.
Had not his poor heart needed as much
as theirs the joy of the young people?
The old man did not know how to lead
up to the expression Of his feeling; for
he wished too to go to that top story
in the Strada Magno-Cavallo. where
perched the pretty pair of birds so dear
to his misunderstood heart.
But Orlando did not understand, did
not divine what his agitated fnther-in-
law was driving at.
Then, Don Agostino saw TIA he must
do the whole thing himself; 81, summon
ing all his diplomatic skill, he delivered
himself of this naive utterance:
'sAnd UP there, at that height, you
must be very uncomfortable"
"How sos Why uncomfortable ex-
claimed Monteforte, with a satisfied
laugh. s'But it is paradise, Don Agos-
tino. really. l need light for my
studio; it is roomy, and not expensive;
the chambers are fine; we can step
out upon q pretty roof. Wouldn't you
like to walk over there, just to stretch
our legs?"
Eyes, yes, said the father, sitting with
Joy. II should rather like to take look
at it.
And in a tone of triumphant defiance,
like the echo Of victory won over the
others, he cried from distance, as they
went out:
Eve are going to Orlando's!"
Don Agostino was surprised at the
cheerful and comfortable appearance of
the little suite of rooms He took great
delight in being there. His happiness
lent sunshine to the atmosphere about
him.
But with prying look he searched for
an empty corner. something to furnish,
TO Substitute. Discovering nothing, he
said, discontentedly:
'tBut you lack everything herev'
How sol? protested 9Ionteforte. "On
the contrary, / emphatically assure you
that there are few young households as
well provided as cur"
Indeed, indeedr' said the father, in
tone of conviction. Il understand and |
viii think about it."
Then he rested the better to absorb his
intense joy, looking religiously at every
thing about him. Orlando smoked one
Of the famous cigars; the father tasted
the profound and hitherto unknown sat
isfaction of being accepted, of finding
himself at last in the young peoples
home. He told stories, and wanted Or
lando to love him more, much more,
than the others. In short, the exalted
and tender numbskull dreamed Of hav-
ing them entirely to himself, not per-
ceiving that his projects, on the contra
ry, would really give him entirely to
these dear needless tyrants.
Thenceforth the whole world belonged
70 the young people. Nothing was done
in the family without first considering
what Orlando would think about it.
no despot ever was less conscious Of
his sway, none ever established and kept
it with as little effost-