The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-05
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| wnlcn Sne Qulchiy unuolstoOu anu 40
cepted. Was ever man in the position
of being delicately. iattered by his OWL
wife before? 1 think not! Generally
married persons are like candid friend:
fond of telling each other very I'M
pleasant truths, and altogether avoiding
| the least soupcon of fattery. Though
l was not so much fattered as amused
considering the position Of affairs Just
then servant threw open the door and
| announced dinner. ] set my child very
gently down from my knee and whisper
| ingly told her that l would come and see
! her soon again. She smiled trustfully,
aud then in obedience to her mother:
| imparitive gesture, slipped quietly out
| of the room. As soon as he had gone,
| praised her beauty warmly-for she was
really lovely little thing-but could
see my admiration of her was not very
| acceptable to either my wife or her lover
We all went to dinner,-I, as guest, hav-
ing privilege of escorting my fair and
spotless spouse. On our reaching the
dining-room, Nina said
''You are such an old friend of the
family, COnte, that perhaps you will not
mind sitting at the head of the tablet"
"Tropp' onore, Signoraw answered,
bowling gallently.
as / at once resumed my rightful place
at my own table, Ferrari placing himself
on my right hand, Nina on my left. The
butler, my fathers servant and mine,
stood as of old behind my chair, and |
noticed that each time he supplied me
with wine he eyed me with certain
timid curiosity-but l knew had sin
gular and conspicuous appearance.
which easily accounted for his inquisi-
tiveness. Opposite to where l sat hung
my fathers portrait-the character
persoDated permitted me to look at i.
fixedly and give full vent to the deer
sigh which in very earnest broke from
my heart. The eyes OF the picturv
seemed to gaze into mine with a SOr
rowful ompassion-almost / fancied
the iirm-set lips trembled and moved to
echo my sigh.
sis that a good likeneSs?" Ferrari
asked suddenly.
1 started. and recollecting myself, an
Swered-
Excellent! So true a resemblance
that it arouses long train of memories
in my mind-memories both bitter and
sweet. All! what proud fellow he
was!"
'Fabio was also very proud" chimed
in my wife's sweet voice. Very cold
and naughty"
Little liarl How dared she utter this
libel on my memory! Naughty, 1 might
have been to others, but never to her.
and GOODNESS was no part of my nature
Would that it werel Would that l had
been pillar of ice, incapable of thaw-
ing in the sunlight of her witching
smile! Had she forgotten what slave
i was to her? what a poor, adoring,
passionate fool became under the in
tluence of her hypOcritical caresses! |
thought this to myself, but l answered
aloud
Indeed! l am surprised to hear that.
The Romani hauteur had ever to my
mind something genial and yielding
about i'll know my friend was always
most gentle to his dependants.'
The butler here cOughed APOLOGIZE
cally behind his hand-an old trick of
his, and one which signified his intense
desire to speak.
Ferrari laughed, as he held out his
glass for more wine.
''Here is old Giacomo," he said, nod
ding to him lightly.
He remembers both the Romans
ask him his opinion of Fabio-he wor-
shipped his master"
l turned to my servant, and with a
Dinignant air addressed him
Your face is not familiar to me, my
'riend," l said. perhaps you were not
mere when 1 visited the elder Count
Romani?''
mo, EccelIenza," replied Giacomo.
'ubbing his withered hands nervously |
ogether, and speaking with a !
sort of suppressed eagerness, 81
anne into my lords service only |
. year before the Countess died. mean |
he mother of the young Count"
"Ah. then missed making your ac-
luaintance," l said kindly, plying the
DOor old fellow, as noticed how his lips
rembled, and how altogether broken he
OOked. You knew the last Count from
childhood, them"
Il did, Eccelenzaw And his bleared
yes roved over me with a sort of
Harmed inquiry.
lyon loved him well?' l said compos-
dly, observing his embarrassment.
''EccellenZa, i never wish to serve a
letter master. He was goodness itself
fife, handsome, generous lad-the
aints have his soul in their keeping!
though sometimes l cannot believe he
5 dead-my old heart almost broke when
heard it. have never been the same
ince,-my lady will tell you so-she is
ften displeaSed with me-"
And he looked wistfully at her; there
'as a note of pleading in his hesitating
ccents. My wife's delicate brows drew
Dgether in a frOwn: frown that had
nee thought came from mere petulance,
ut which | was now inclined to accept
5 a sign of temper.
ITO BE CONTINUED