The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-05-29


well she moved to leave the room
Both Ferrari and myself fastened to es.
coTt her downstairs to her carriage,
which stood in waiting at the door-the
very carriage and pair Of chestnut ponies
which / myself had given her as birth
day present. Ferrari offered to assist her
in mounting the step of the vehicle; she
put his arm aside with a light testing
word and accepted mine instead. L
helped her In, aud arranged her en-
broidered wraps about her feet, and she
nodded gaily to US both as we stood bare
headed in the afternoon sunlight watch
ing her departure. The horses started
at g brisk canter, and in couple OF
minutes the dainty equipage was out Of
sight. When nothing more of it could
be seen than the cloud Of dust stirred up
by its rolling wheels, turned to look at
my companion. His face was stern, and
his brows were drawn together in q
frown. Stung already! l thought.
Already the little asp Of Jealousy
t6Ihmenced its bitter work! The trifling
favour his light-o'love and my wife had
extended to me in choosing my arm
instead of his as momentafy support,
had evidently been sufficient to pique
his pride. Godl what blind bats men
are! With all their high capabilities
and immortal desti1ies, with all the
world before them to conquer, they can
sink unnerved and beaten down to i'm
potent weakness before the sighting
word or insolent gesture of a frivolous
feminine creature, whose best deyotions
are paid to the mirror that reflects her
in the most becoming light! How easy
would be my vengeance, l unused, as
watched Ferrari. / touched him on the
Shoulder; he started from his uncomfort-
able reverie and forced smile. l held
out cigar case.
What are you dreaming off" asked
him neutrality-suspicious. as she waited on
the gods, or Venus as she rose in bare
beauty from the wavesS Either, neither,
or both2 l assure you comfortable
smoke is as pleasant in its way as the
smile of a womon."
He took a cigar and lit it, but made no
answer.
"You are dull, my friend, continued
gaily, hooking my arm through his and
pacing him up and down on the turf in
front of his studio "Wit, they say.
should be sharpened by the glance of a
of your converse seems blunted? Per
haps your feelings are too deep for wordsf
If so, l do not wonder at it, for the lady
is extremely lovely"
He glanced quickly at me.
ibid not say SOP" he exclaimed. 'tOf|
all creatures under heaven she is surely
the most perfect Even you, Conte, with
your cynical ideas about women-even
you were quite subdued and Influenced
by her; 1 could see it!''
l pulled slowly at my cigar and pre-
tended to mediate.
"Was IP'' said at last, with an air OF
well-acted surprise. Really subdued
and influenced2 do not think so. But
admit have never seen any woman SC
entirely beautiful"
He stopped in his walk, loosened his
arm from mine, and regarded me fixedly.
II told you So" he said deliberately.
"You must remember that told you So
And now, perhaps, ought to warn
you"
Warn meI' 1 exclaimed in feigned
alarm. ''Of what-against whom?
Surely not the Contessa Romani, to
whom you were so anxious to introduce
me? She has no illness, no infectious
disorder She is not dangerous to life
or limb, is sheP''
Ferrari laughed at the anxiety / dis
played for my own bodily safety-an
anxiety which managed to render al
most comic-but he looked somewhat re-
lieved too.
Oh, no." he said, ~ meant nothing of
that kind. l only think it fair to tell
you that she has very seductive manners,
and she may pay you little attentions
which would flatter any man who was
not aware that they are only a part of
her child-like manner, pretty ways; in
short they might lead him enormously
to suppose himself the object of her
particular preference, and"
broke into a violent 1T OF laughter.
and clapped him roughly on the shoulder
Your warning is quite necessary, my
good young friend" said. Come, now,
do look likely man to attract the atten-
ton Of an adored and capricious beauty?
Besides at my age the idea is montrous!
1 could figure as her father, or yours, if
you like, but in the capacity of lover
impossible!"
He eyed me attentively.
''She said you did not seem DID," he
murmured, half to himself and half 10
me.
"Oh, grant you she made me that
little compliment, certainly,"I answered, |
amused at the suspicious that evidently |
tortured his mind; land accepted it as |
1t was meant in kindness am well |
aware what q battered and unsightly |
wreck OF man must appear in her |
eyes when contrasted with you, Sir An |
tinousr'
He flushed warmly. Then, with half
apologize air. he said
"Well, you must forgive me il 1 have |
seemed over-scrupulous- The Contessa |
Is Ike "a sister to me: in fact, my lac
friend Fabio encouraged fraternal af-
lection between US, and now he is gone |
feel it more than ever my duty to protect |
her, as it were, from herself. She is so |
young and light-hearted and thoughtless
that-but you understand me, do you
not?''
bowed. understood him perfectly.
IA wanted no more poachers on the land
he himself had pilfered. Quite right.
from his point Of view! But was the
rightful owner Of the land after all. and
naturally had a different opinion of the
matter. However, ] made no remark,
and feigned to be rather bored BY the
turn the conversation was taking. See
ing this, Ferrari exerted himself to be
agreeable; he became gay and enter
tslning companion once more, and after
he had fixed the hour for our visit to the
Villa Romani the next afternoon, our
talk turned upon various matters con-
nected with Naples and its inhabitants,
and their mode of life. / hazarded
a few remarks on the general
and loose principles that
prevailed among the people, just
to drrw my companion out and {
sound his character more thoroughly,-l
though I thought knew his opinions
we'll II