Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-04-25
CHAPTER XII.-CoNTINuED.

nike SO Iar as ngure goes, providing they
are well made"
Ferraris brow was contracted In 9
musing fr0wn and he answered not. He
still looked at me, and returned his
look without embarrassment Finally
he reused himself, smiled, and finished
drinking his glass Of Montepulciano.
Then he rose to go.
"YOu will permit me to mention your
name to the Countess Romani, hope?"
he said cordially. ~ am certain she will
receive you, should you desire It,"
feiRned sort OF vexation, and made
an abrupt movement Of Impotence.
"The fact Is" said OF last II very
much dislike talking to women. They
are always illogical. and their frlvolity
wearies me. But you have been so
friendly that / will give you message
for the countess, II you have no Objec-
tion to deliver 1t. / should be sorry to
trouble you nnecessarily-andy you per-
haps will not have an opportunity OF see
ing her for some days?"
He colored slightly and moved UNI
easily. Then with kind OF effort he
replied.
ION the contrary, am going to see
her this very evening. assure you 1t
Will be pleasure to me 10 convey To her
any greeting you may desire to send"
"Oh, 1t Is no greeting" continued
calmly, noting the various signs OF en-
barrassment in his manner with care
fnl eye. ut is q mere message, which,
however, may enable you to understand
whV / nnyfAnc n thn q M N
who Is dead. In my early manhood the
elder Count Romani did me an incstim-
able service. / never forgot his
kindness-(my memory is extra
ordinarily tenacious OF both benefits
and injuricsl-and have always
desired to repay 1t in some suitable man
ner. have with me few jewels of al
most priceless value.-I have myself col
lected them. and l reserved them as u
present TO the son Of my old friend. SIM
ply as trifing souvenir, or expression OF
gratitude for past favours received from
his family. His sudden death has de-
prlved me of the pleasure Of fulfilling
this intentiOn,-but rs tho jewels are
quite useless to me, am perfectly will
ing to hand them over TO the Countess
Romani, should she care to have them.
They would have been hers had her has
band lived, they should be hers nov. IL
you, Signor, will report these facts 10
her, and learn her wishes with rcspeut to
the matter, shall be much indebted TO
you"
II shall be delighted to obey you." re-
piled Ferrari courteously, rising at the
same time to take his leave. II am
proud to be the bearer Of so plcaSin. an
errand. Beautiful women love Jewels,
and who shall blame them? Bright eyes
and diamonds go well together! A river
derci, Signor Conte! / trust We shall
meet often"
II hSve no doubt we SHALL" / answered
quietly.
He shook hands cordially II responded
to his farewell salutations with the brief
GOODNESS which was now my habitual
manner, and we parted. From the win
dow of my saloon / could see him saunt-
ering easily down the hotel steps and
thence along the street. How cursed
him as he stepped jauntily on,-How l
hated his debonair grace and easy man
ner! watched the even poise OF his
handsome head and shoulders, / noted
the assured tread, the air Of conscious
vanity,-the whole demeanOr OF the
man bespoke his perfect dissatisfaction
and his absolute confidence In the bright
ness Of the future that awaited him, when
that stipulated ak months OF pretended
mourning for my untimely death should
have expired. Once as he walked on
his way he turned aud paused, Hooking
back.-he raised his hat to enjoy the
GOODNESS Of the breeze on his forehead and
hair. The light Of the moon fell full on his
features and showed them in profile, like
a fnelY-cut cameo against the dense
dark-blue background of the evening
sky. gazcd at him with sort Of grim
fascination-the fascination Of a hunter
for the stag when It stands at bay, just
before he draws his knife across its
throat He was in my power, he had de-
liberately thrown himself in the trap
had set for him. He lay at the mercy OF
pne in whom there was no mercy. He
had said and done nothing to deter me
from my settled plans. Had he shown
the least tenderness Of recollection for
me as Fabio Romani, his friend and bene-
factor, had he hallowed my memory by
one generous word, had he expressed
one regret for my loss, / might have
hestitated, / might have somewhat
changed my course Of action so that
punishment should have fallen more
lighthly on him than ON her. For
knew well enough that she, my wife, was
the worst sinner Of the two. Had she
chosen to respect herself, not all the
forbidden love in the world could have
touched her honor. Therefore the least
sign OF conjunction or affection from
Ferrari for me, his supposed dead
friend, would have turned the scale in
his favor, and in spite Of his treachery.
remembering how she must have en-
couraged him, I would at least have