The Sunday morning news., 1891-09-06
A NON CON DUCTOll.
The Story Of d Cequetle from The
Italian Of Sofia lsini.

a-@1S Aek acquaintance 1T q ball, sur
rounded by an infinite variety Of ador-
ers, smiling, disdainful, allowing herself
70 be worshiped, completely Indifferent.
Naturally. after turn of the waltz. IN
which she hoated. light and elegant, /
remained an enthusiast In regard TO her,
and since the reputation Of a skeptic,
given me by my friends, was not well
mer1ted, Joined the crowd Of vain wor-
sLlpers that surrounded the goddess.
Did she notice my devotion2 l do not
knowl know that sometimes the pro-
found gaze of her large black eyes. rest
ing upon me, seemed to become melan-
choly, thoughtful. But it was momen-
tary for then that expression disappeared
under her customary smile. That espe-
cial evening, leaning her arm on the rail-
ing OF her theater box, she had turned
toward income of her reniginatical glances,
accompanied by slight bending of the
head.
confess that started, and that a
thousand thoughts Hoclsed into my
mind. Was the ice melted, perhapsa
Had that atrophied heart begun to beats
did not delude myself, I might be her
father; she was twenty-six years of age;
almost fifty, although tried not to
show them.
Yet could not resist, and soon after
my hand pushed open the door Of box
No. A.
"Finallyl' exclaimed the countess
You really leave people to wish for
your company"
'Signora," replied, ssyou are pleased
to hatter me"
II never fatter my friends, and re-
gard you as one of them. It is SO long
that we have known each other"
SO longl It was not even month; not
knowing what to reply, silently assent
ed with a smile. She did not appear
satisfied with my manner, and bursting
into one of her gay laughs, she said;
But do not you remember? AT Venice,
ON the Lido, came with my cousin,
Signora Lini, and you with Giorgio Ri
goli; have you forgotten Us? | am sorry,
because | wished this evening, recalling
those memories, that you should pay d
little court to mel"
Decidedly. She was coquette, | an
i1mbecile. But as a gallant squire Of
DANES, was to remain defeated?
"CoHntessF' exclaimed, s.if were to
take your words seriously, be warned
that you would have assumed terrible
responsibility"
Il am not afraid; believe that my
signature is still negotiable"
Take care countess, you are always
playing with dangers; are you sure of
conquering thens"
IF there were no obstacles victory
would have no value.
"Well, you always succeed.
Certainly. When / set about an un-
dertaking never draw back"
ssAnd now you have undertaken to
make me lose my head"
.sWho knowsa Would you be sorry to
devote it to me?7
'sFor you, countess, would sacrifice
myself"
ssFor PHYS sake, do not let us go into
the usual commonplace phrases Of seci-
ETY.; like eccentricity, do you knowi
wish TO find in you an exception; then
do not try to pay court to me, leave that
privilege to the boys; but you! A seri-
oua man, skeptical, almost a philosopher!
To care for an atoml That would be an
antithesisw
She was laughing at me. Irose to
take leave.
.'Wait moment, beg of you. /
have something to ask you,D and her
voice trembled slightly.
Countess, am at your orders.n
ssAre you a friend to me-a friend in
the true sense of the wordgs'
II hope sor' / replied.
"Well, tell me, away there in Africa,
is Giorgio happy"
"What! You still remember him;
but, your marriageT
sWas imposed upon me-" she added
excitedly. but do not let us speak of
that! 1t is of him that wish for news,
/ have wanted so long to hear from
him."
What was to tell her? That he lived
there alone, disconsolate, with her MEM
ory stamped upon his heart? Reawaken
the affection, sleeping, but not yet dead?
Tell her that in every letter of his, over
flowing with bitterness, Giorgio asked
after her, but that, believing himself
forgotten, he had sworn never to see her
again? She must not know it.
ssHappiness is chimera, countess;
but he lives tranquil, surrounded by af-
lection and good will"
ssBut is his life in peril, does no one
make war upon himl'
"He is very much liked, and is pro-
tected by the consul; he lives in that
family as if he were member Of it,"
"Ah. are there many European fam.
lies there?" And she fixed her great
eyes, with jealous anxiety, upon my
face.
..Many. / should not be surprised,
indeed, to hear some day that Giorgio
would settle permanently in Africa,
making himself a home Of his own
there.
was silent. Some people came into
the box. withdrew to the back Of it.
The countess had become very pale, tears
were trembling in her eyes. With a
resolute gesture, as if in answer to an in
ward question, she turned her dark head
toward the parquette. When she turned
It toward me again. her face was serene,
t1a nsral smile curved her lips.