San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-28

] Il
aside and feigned to be absorbed iu the
view. My coffee was brought paiC
for it and tossed the waiter an unusually
large gratuity,-he naturally found il
incumbent upon him TO polish my table
with extra zeal, and to secure all the
newspapers, pictorial or otherwise. thai
of obsequiously depositing them in
addressed this amiable garcon
in the harsh and deliberate accents of my
carefully disguised voice.
by the way, / suppose you know
Naples well?"
''Oh, 81, Signor!"
"Ebbene, can you tell me the way to
the house of one Count Fabio Romani, a
wealthy nobleman of this city?'
''Ha! a good hit this time Though
apparently not looking at him saw Fer
rari start, as though he had been stung,
and then compose himself in his seat
with an air of attention. The waiter
| meanwhile, in answer to my question,
raised his hands, eyes, and shoulders all
| together with shrug expressive of re-
signed melancholy.
"Ah gran, bio! e. mortor"
Dedu! lehCldlIneu WIFI IL pTeUeUUeO
start of shocked surprise. 80 young?
Impossible?'
"Eh! what will you, Signor? 1t was
la pesta; there was no remedy. La
pesta cares nothing for youth or age,
and spares neither rich nor poor.'1
For momeut leaned my head on my
hand, affecting to be overcome by the
suddenness of the news. Then looking
up, l said regretfully:
"AlaS! | am too late! was friend
Of his fathers. l have been away for
many years, and 1 had great wish to
meet the young Romani whom last saw
as child. Are there any relations of
his living? was he married."
The waiter, whose countenance had
assumed a fitting righteousness in &C
cordance with what he imagined were
my feelings, frightened up Immediately
as he replied eagerly;
''Oh, 81, Signor! The Countessa Ro-
mania lives up at the Villa. though l
believe she receives no more since her
husbands death. She is young and
beautiful as an angel, There is a
little child, too"
a haSty movement on the part of
Ferrari caused me to turn my eyes, or
rather my spectacles in his direction. He
leaned forward, and raising his hat
with the old courteous grace | knew so
well, said politely:
"Pardon me, Signor, for my interrupt
ing you! l knew the late young Count
Romani well-perhaps better than my
man in Naples. l shall be delighted to
afford you any information you may seek
concerning him."
Oh, the old mellow music Of his voice!
how it struck on my heart and pierced
it like the refrain of familiar song
loved in the days Of our youth. For an
instant could not speak,-wrath and
sorrow choked my utterance Forum
ately this feeling was but mOmentary-
slowly / raised my hat in response to his
salution, and answered Stiifiy.
II am your servant, SignOr. You will
oblige me indeed If you, can place me
in communication with the relatives
of this unfortunate young nobleman.
The elder Count Romani was dearer to
me than a brother men have
such attachments occasionally. Permit
me to introduce myself" and | handed
him my visiting card with a slight and
formal bow. He accepted it, and as he
read the name it bore, he gave me a
quick glance of respect mingled with
pleased surprise.
THE COnte Cesare Olivia" he ex-
claimed. 81 esteem myself most fortu-
nate to have met you! Your arrival has
already notified to us by the avant-cou-
rier of the fashionable intelligence, so
that we are we'll aware" here laughing
lightly, ''of the distinctive right you
have to a hearty welcome in Naples. l
am only sorry that any distressing news
should have darkened the occasion of
your return here after so long an alb
sence. Permit me to express the hope
that it may at least be the only cloud for
you on our southern SunShine!"
And he extended his hand with that
ready frankness and bOnhomie which
are always a part of the Italian temper
ament, aud were especially so of his. A
cold Shudder ran through my veins.
Cod could | take his hand in mine? |
muSt-if | wOuid act my part thor
oughly-for should | refuse he would
think it Strange-even rude-l should
lose the game by one false move. With
a forced smile | hcSitatingly held out my
hand also; it was gloved, yet as he
Casped it heartily in his own the warm
pressure burnt through the glove like
fire. | could have cried out in agony,
so eXCruciating was the mental torture
which | endured at that moment. But
it passed, the ordeal was over, and l
knew that from henceforth should be
able to shOke hands with him as often
and as indefferently as with any other
man. 1t was only this first time that it
CALLED me to the quick. Ferrari
noticed nothing of my emOtion-he
was in excellent spirits, and, turning to
the waiter who had fingered to watch us
make each others acquaintance, he OK
claimed: