Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-05-16

For q moment ala not answer her.
Ferrari took It upon himself TO reply
roughly:
"Don't talk nonsense, baby! You know
your papa has gone away-you were too
naughty for him, and he will never come
back again. He has gone TO place
where there arc no tiresome little girls
to tease him."
Thoughtless and cruel words! l at
once understood the secret grief that
weighed on the child's mind. Whenever
she was fretful or petulant, they EVIL
IDENTIFY impressed upon her that her father
had left her because OF her naughtiness.
She had taken this deeply to heart; no
doubt she had brooded upon IL In her
vague childish fashion, and had
puzzled her little brain US TO what
she could possibly have done TO dis
please her father so greatly that he had
actually gone away, never to return.
Whatever her thoughts were, she did not
on this occasion give vent to them by
tears or words. She only turned her
eyes on ~Fcrrari with q look of intense
pride and scorn. strange to see in so lit
tie creature-a true ROmani look, such
as had often noticed In my fathers
eyes, and such as knew must be fire..
qucntly visible in my own. Fcrrari saw
1t. and burst out laughing loudly.
"There!" he exclaimed. Like that
she exactly resembles her father. 1t is
positively ludicrous! Fabio
all over! She only wants one thing to
make the portrait perfect" And APP
preaching her, he snatched one Of her
long curls and endcavored to twist 1t
over her mouth in the form Of NOUS
tache. The child struggled angrily, aud
hid her face against my coat. The more
she tried to defend herself, the greater
the malice with which Ferrari tormented
her. Her mother did not intcrfere--she
only laughed. l held tho little thing
closely sheltered In my embrace. and
stcadying down the culver of indignation
In my voice, said with quiet tirmness-
Fair play, Signor! Fair play!
Strength becomes mere bullying when 1t
is employed against absolute weakness.
Ferrari laughed again, but this time
uneasily, and ceasing his monkeyish
pranks. walked to the window. Smooth
ing Stella's tumbled hair, / added with
sarcastic smile
"Tnis little donzella will have her re-
venge when she grows up. RecOllecting
how one man leased her in childhood.
she, In retun, will consider herself justi-
fed In teasing all men. Do you not
agree with me, Madame?" l said, turn
ing to my wife, who gave me sweetly
coquettish look as she answered.
"Well really, Conte, do not know!
For with the remembrance OF one man
who leased her, must come also the
thought OF another who was kind to her
-yourself-she will find 1t difficult to
decide the juste mllieu."
A subtle compliment was meant to be
conveyed in these words-I acknowledged
II by silent gesture Of admiration,
which she quickly understood and ac-
cepted. Was ever man In the position
of being delicately flattered by his own
wife before? | think not! Generally,
married persons are like candid friends
fond of telling each other very UNI
pleasant truths, and altogether avoiding
the least soupcon of fattery. Though
/ was not so much flattered 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 would come and see
her soon again. She smiled trustfully,
aud then in obedience to her mothers
imparitive gesture, slipped quietly out
Of the room. AS soon as he had gone,
praised her beauty warmly-for she was
1nttal,, liffla fhfnn-hnt / nnnI1
see my admiration OF her was not very
acceptable to either my wife or her lover
We all went TO dnner,-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 table,"
"Tropp' onore, Signora!" answered,
bowling gallently.
rs ut once resumed my rightful place
at my own table, Ferrari placing himself
on my right hand, Nina on my left. The
butter, my fathers servant and mine,
stood as Of old behind my chair, and l
noticed that each time he supplied me
with wine he eyed me with certain
tlmlQ curlOSlLy-Dub kHeW Huu Sih-
gular and conspicuous appearance,
which easily accounted for his inQuisi-
tiveness. Opposite to where l sat hung
my fathers portrait-tho character l
personated permitted me to look ut II
fixedly and give full vent TO the deep
sigh which in very earnest broke from
my heart. The eyes Of the picture
seemed to gaze into mine with sor-
rowful mpassion-almost l fancied
the frm-set lips trembled and moved to
echo my sigh.
ais that q good likeness?" Fcrrari
asked suddenly.
1 started, and recollecting myself, an
swered-
Excellent! So true q resemblance
That 1t arouses o long train Of memories
IN my mind-memories both bitter and
sweet All! what a proud fellow he
was!'
"Fabio was also very proud" chimed
in my wife's sweet voice. Very cold