The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-08-21


"Liarr shouted Ferrari,-and with all
q madman's fury he dashed his brim.
ming glass Of champagne full in my face!
In second the widest scene OF con-
fusion ensue6 Every man left his
place at table and surrounded US.
l stood erect and perfectly calm-wiping
with my handkerchief the little runlets
of wine that dripped from my clothing
the glass had fallen at my feet, striking
the table as it fell sno splitting itself to
atoms.
"Are you drunk or mad, Ferrari?''
cried Captain de Hamal, selling him by
the arm-'do yon know what you have
done?"
Ferrari glared about him like tiger at
bay-his face was flushed and swollen
like that of . man in apoplexy-the
veins in his forehead stood out like
knotted cords-his breath came and
went hard " though he had been
running. He turned his rolling eyes upon
me. Damn you!" he muttered through
his clenched teeth-then suddenly
raising his voice to positive shrek, he
cried, 81 will Lave your blood II l tear
your heart out for it!"-and he made an
effort to spring upon me. The Marquis
D'Avencourt quietly caught his other
arm and held Il as in wise.
mot so fast, not so fast, mon cherl"
he said coolly. ave are not murderers,
we! What devil possesses you, that you
offer such unwarrantable insult to our
host?"
ASK him!~ replied Ferrari fiepcely,
struggling to release himself from the
Al k.,,1
knows, well enough! Ask him!"
All eyes were turned inquirlngly upon
me. was silent.
THE noble Conte is really not bound
to give any explanation" remarked Cap,
tain Freccia, --''even admitting he were
able TO do So"
81 assure you, my friends" said, II
am ignorant OF the cause of this fracas,
except that this young gentleman has
pretensions himself to the hand Of the
lady whose name affects him so seri.
ously!"
For moment thought FerrarI would
have choked.
"Pretensions-preten gasped.
''Gran Dio. Hear him!-hear the miser-
able scoundrelr'
"Ah, bastaw exclaimed Chevalier
Mancini scornfullv-''is that all? A
mere bagateIlsi Ferrari, you were wont
to be more seusible! What! quarrel with
an excellent friend for the sake OF a
woman who happens to prefer him to
you! Ma chef Women are plentiful
friends are few"
wiping the stains of wine from my coat
and vest-"if SignOr Ferrari's extraor-
binary display of temper is a mere out
come of natural disappointment, I am
willing to excuse 1t. He is young and
hot-blooded-iet him apologize, and
hall freely pardon him."
by my faithr' said the Duke di Ma
rina with indignation, "such generosity
is unheard of Conte! Permit me to re-
mark that it u altogether exceptional.
after such unBentlemanly conduct"
Ferrari looked from one to the other
in silent fury. His face had grown pale
as death. He wrenched himself from
the grasp of D'Avencourt and De Ha-
NAL.
Fools! let me go!'' he said savagely.
None of you are on my side,-I see
that!' He stepped to the table. poured
out glass of water and drank IL off. He
then turned and faced me,-his head
thrown back, his eyes blazing with wrath
and pain.
"Liar!" he cried again, "double-faced
accursed liar! You have stolen her,-you
have fooled me,--but, by Cd, you shall
pay for it with your life!'
"Willingly" l said with hooking
smile, restraining by gesture the hasty
EXPLANATIONS of those around me who re-
sented this fresh attack,-"most willing
ly caro- Signor! But excuse me If
fail to see wherein you con-
slider yourself wronged. The lady
who is now my fiancee has
not the slightest affection for you,-she
told me so herself. Had she enter
tanned any such feeling 1 might have
withdrawn ny proposals,-but as mat
ters stand, what hefm have done
you?"
A chorus Of indignant voices inter-
rupted me. SHANE Oh you, Ferrari!"
cried GualdrO. THE Count speaks like
a gentleman Ind . man of honour Were
in his place you should have no word
OF explanation whatever. 1 would not
have condescanded to parley with you
by Heaven l would mott"
Nor L." said the Duke stiffly.
'Nor r. said MancinL
Surely" said Luciano Salustri,
"Ferrari will make the amende honora-
ble."
There was Q pause. Each man looked
at Ferrari with some anxiety. The sud-
denness OF the quarrel had sober.d
the whole party more effectually than
a cold douche. Ferrari's face grew
more and more livid till his very lips
turned CHASTITY blue-he laughed aloud
in bitter scorn Then, walking steadily
up to me, with his eyes full of a baff1ed
VindictivenesS he said in a low clear
tone:-
lyon say that-you say she never
cared for me--you! and am to apologize
70 you. Thief, coward, traitor!-take
hat for nv Bpologyw And he struck
-. across the mouth with his bare hand
fercely that the diamond ring he wore
my diamond ringl cut1 my flesh and
slightly drew blood. A perfect shout of
anger broke from all present / turned
% the Marquis D'Avencourt
There can be but one answer to this, "
said with Indifferent coldness 'Signor |
'errari has brought it on himself Mar
Iuis, will you do me the honour to ar
ange the AFFAIR.""
The Marquis bowed, 81 shall be most |
lappy!"
Ferrari glared about him for a mo-
nent and then said, "Freccis, you will
econd me?"
Captain Frsccis shrugged his should
rs. "You must positively excuse me-"
e said. my conscience will not per-
nit me to take up such remarkably
1rong case az yours. caro- miol shall
e pleased to act with D'Avencourt for
be Count, If he will permit me-" The
Iarquis received him. with eaydialitY, !