The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-11

| but Dy 100 great SuDServ1ence TO their
reputation, Flavia and Ernesto began to
become rather tiresome; that is to say,
not to themselves, but to the people who
frequented them. 1t is natural that
brilliant people have many exactions, it
| is natural that they live life different
from that of the multitude. For ex-
ample, when they met at a ball, Ernesto
saluted the countess and spoke with her
for one moment, then took little turn
and came back to say something to her,
without even stopping long, but return
ing often, and people around said that
he was right to do so, because she alone
could understand him. They frequently
danced together for the same reason
and the other admirers of the witty
countess were left badly off, disap-
pointed of the mazurka or quadrille
hoped for in vain When Flavia went
away the marquis moved about the
rooms for little while longer with a
bored air; then put on his overcoat and
departed because he had no longer any
one to talk with.
At the theater Ernesto remained
much longer than was his duty in her
box, for it is very common to make short
visits to ladies. If some poor mortal, in
form of dark youth in dress coat,
marmoreally polished shirt front and
the relative crush hat, presented him
self to the Countess Flavia-if this un-
happy but contemplate young man
dared venture the customary compli-
ments-an impairment little laugh
stirred the lips of the marquis and cut
ting reply came from the rosy mouth of
the countess. The result was the pre-
cipitate fight Of the young man There
was a rumor that the Marquis Ernesto
had paid assiduous court to the young
Duchess Cesira Galbiati, a very beauti-
full young woman, tail, with statuesqe
outlines, great Junonian eyes, long gold
en- hair, flower of womanhood, but in
the way of intelligence, a goose of the
ingenious and conscientious sort; well,
it was to be supposed that the Countess
Flavia had exploded more than one cpl
gram at the marquis, for he ceased to
hover around the Duchess Cesira.
Again, the countess and the marquis
had reserved to themselves the privilege
of many, very many strange ideas,
which they never failed to put in to exc
cution. When all the stream of car
riages was at the Riviera di Chiaia.
Flavia made hers turn by the corner of
Piedigotta and go by the Corso Vittoris
Emanuel; Ernesto described circle,
went by way of the Toledo and the Sal
vator Rosa and came to meet her. In
the winter season, in midst of the
amusements, festivals, balls, Flavia fled
away all alone to Sorrento, and after
three days Ernesto appeared there, bored
by the city. At first Flavia hsd recep-
ton day, then annuled it, seeing that all
the other women, her friends, had one,
and also because the marquis made fun
of days.
The marquis had lost his inveterate
babit of going to hunt every year in
Calabria- So, little by little, a certain
isolation was made around them; the
world confessed aloud that in those two
was contained the entire wit of Naples,
but added, soto voce, that it was bet
ter to leave the two models of wit to
fight it out between themselves. Flavia
and Ernesto did not perceive this, and
when the tardy moment came, in which
they found themselves alone, one facing
the other, it seemed to them very SIM
pie thing. The public had withdrawn
itself-but not in vain was the invention
Of art for arts sake.
One evening, be it known, in autumn
the conversation between those two Ian
guished, exhausted. Not that they found
nothing more to say, but a certain sense
of WEAKNESS descended upon them. All
the evening their wit had sparkled bril-
iantly, and the charming epigran, deli
cate ironies, courteous implications,
biting amiabilfties had showered unin-
termittently. Now they were silent.
The countess extended herself slightly
in her armchair; she was adorable under
the quiet lamplight; but the marquis,
while recognizing this fact, had the good
taste not to speak of it. He was playing
with mother of pearl pen handle.
Marriage is very fine thing" he
murmured, with a pretended air of con-
viotion.
"For the unmarried, yes" the countess
quickly retorted.
And she adjusted her lace cravat
Ernesto took book from the table, read
the title and laid it down again.
"Do you know what they say down
there about usi'
81 do not know. And I do not care to
know"
''Then It's sign that l ought to tell
you. Many of our mutual friends are
agreed in the opinion that we two are
persons of too much wit ever to marry
each other"
'rBahr' said the countess, Struggling
her shoulders.
eff in order to prove ourselves witty
we should do just the contrary. What
DO you say, countess? 1t would be
,harmingi" and he opened the Pungolo
newspaper to read the locals.
Charming. indeed" she replied, put
ding out her hand TO take her fan
Translated from the Italian of Matilde
Serao by E. Cavazza for Short Stories.
Many condemn the use Of perfume as
vulgar, but as long as we have wives
and sisters and daughters and sweet