Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-09-19

She smiled GxpreStiV6ly and sWeetly.
toyed with the flowers had given her,
and turned her eyes again 70 the stage.
/ said no more and was Q somewhat
moody companion for the rest Of the ovo-
ming. Az we ell left the theater one Of
the ladies who had accompanied Nina
said lightly.
"You seem dull and out Of spirits,
Confer"
I forced o smile.
mot I, signora! Surely you do not
find me guilty Of such ungallantry?
We're dull in your company should
prove myself the most ungrateful OF my
SEX"
She sighed somewhat impatiently. She
! wss very young and very lovely, and, rs
| far as knew, Innocent, and OF more
thoughtful and poetical temperament
than most women.
THAT Is the mere language Of COM
pliment," she said, looking straightly ut
me with her clear candid eyes. "You
are q true courtier! Yet often think
your courtesy Is reluctant"
looked at her in some surprise.
Reluctant? Signora, pardon me II l
do not understand"
~ mean," she continued, still regard
Ing me steadily, though faint blush
warmed the clear palor OF her delicate
complexion, ''that you do not really like
us women; you say pretty things to us,
and you try to be amiabl0 In our COM
pany, but you are in truth averse to our
ways-you are sceptical-you think we
are all hypocrites.
/ laughed little coldly.
"Really, signora, your words place me
In very awkward position. Were to
tell you my real sentiments"
She interrupted me with touch Of
her fan on my arm, and smiled gravely.
"You would say, Yes, you are right,
signora l never see one OF your sex
without suspecting treacherY.' All,
Signor Conto, we women are indeed full
Of faults, but nothing can blind our in
stinctI" She paused, and her brilliant
eyes softened as she added gently, ."
pray your marriage may be very happy
one."
was silent was not even courte-
Gus enough to thank her for the wish.
was half angered that this girl should
have been able to probe my thoughts so
quickly and unerringly. Was ! so bad
an actor after all? glanced down at
her as she leaned lightly on my arm.
.Marriage is mere comedietta, " said
abruptly and harshly. 1--WE have seen
1t acted tonight In few days / shall
play the part Of the chief buff0on-in
other words, the husband"
And laughed My young companion
looked startled, almost frightened, and
over her fair face there fitted an ex-
preston OF something like aversion.
did not care.-why should I?-and there
was no time for more words between us,
for we had reached the outer vestibule
OF the theatre.
My wife's carriage was drawn up at
the entrance;-my wife herself was step
ping into 1t. / assisted her, and also
her two friends, and then stood with I'M
covered head at the door wishing them
all the 'felicissima notte." Nina put
her tiny jewelled hand through the car
riage window,-I stopped and kissed II
lightly. Drawing 1t back quickly, she
selected white gardenia from her bou-
Quet and gave 1t to me with bewitch-
ing smile,
Then the glittering equipage dashed
away with whirl and clatter or pranc-
ing hoofs and rapid wheels, and l stood
alone under the wide portico Of the the
atre-alone amid the pressing throngs
of the people who were still coming out
OF the house-holding the strongly
scented gardenia in my hand as vaguely
as fevered man who finds strange
Anuar In nnn nf hic Siply 6raamG
After minute or two l suddenly rec
objected myself, and throwing the bios
som on the ground ! crushed 1t savagely
beneath my heel. The penetrating
odour rose from its slain petals as
though vessel OF incense had been
emptied at my feet. There was a nau-
seating influence in 1t; where had in
hailed that subtle perfume last? re-
membered-Guido Ferrari had worn one
of those flowers in his coat at my ban
Duet; Il had been still In his buttonhole
when killed him!
strobe onward and homeward; the |
streets were full OF mirth and music, but
| needed none OF IL. felt, rather than
saw, the quiet sky bending above me
dotted with its countless millions OF lu-
minous worlds; was family conscious
OF the soft splash Of murmuring waves
mingling with the dulcet chords OF deft-
ly-played mandolines echoing from some
where down by the shore; but my soul
was, as 1t were, benumbed, mind
always on the alert, was for once utter.
ly tired out.-my very limbs ached, and
when ut last flung myself on my bed,
exhausted. my eyes closed instantly, aud
/ slept the heavy, motionless sleep OF
man weary unto death.
TO BE CONTINUED.