Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-07-25


stand, can kiss them all II like"
A shout OF merriment and cries Of
"Ohl Oh!' greeted this remark, which
Ferrari, however, did not seem inclined
TO take in good part
"All?" he said with dubious dir.
'You mean oil except the married
ones?"
The Chevalier put on his spectacles
and surveyed him with sort Of comic
severity,
"When said all, meant ALL" he re-
turned-"the married ones In particular.
They, poor things, need such attentions
and often invite them-why not?
Their husbands have most likely ceased
to be amorous after the first months Of
marriage"
burst out laughing. "I on are right"
Mancini," i said; land even II the
husbands are fools enou, i TO continue
their gallantries they Laserve TO be
duped-and they generally are! Come,
amicor l added, turning 10 Ferrari,
"those are your own slntiments-you
have often declared them to me-"
He smiled uncomfori ably, and his
brows contracted. / could easily per-
ceive that he was ANNOYED. To change
the tone OF the COW, .'sation gave Q
signal for the music o re-cOmmence,
and instantly the melody Of slow volup-
tuOus Hungarian waltz-measure foated
through the room. The dinner was
now fairly on Its way; the appetites OF
my guests were stimulated and tempted
BY the choicest and most savoury viands
prepared with all the taste and intelli-
gencc iirst-rate chef can bestow on his
work, and good wine flowed freely.
Vincenzo, obediently following my in
structions, stood behind my chair, and
seldom moved except to refill Ferraris
glass and occasionally to proffcr some
fresh vintage to the Duke di Mari
ma. He, however, was an abstemi-
Gus and careful man, and fol-
lowed the good example shown
by the wisest Italians, who never mix
their wines. He remained faithful TO
the first beverage he had selected-a
specially fine Chianti, of which he par
took freely without its causing the
slightest flush TO appear on his pale
aristocratic features. Its warm and
mellow favour did but brighten his eyes
and loosen his tongue, inasmuch that he
became almos, as elegant a talker as the
Marchese GualdrO. This latter. who
scarce had scudo 10 call his own, and
who dined sumptuously every day at
other peoples expense for the sake OF
the pleasure his company afforded, was
by this time entertaining every one near
him by the mo sparkling stories and
witty pleasar' IS.
The merrii (. increased as the vari-
Gus courses served; shouts OF laugh
ter frequent! Iterrupted the loud buzz
Of converse u. mingling with the
clinking of ..iasses and gathering OF
porcelain. l. iery now and then might
be heard the smooth voice Of Captain
Frcccia rolling out his favourite oaths
with the sorority and expression OF
primo tenore, sometimes the elegant
French Of the Marquis DAvencourt,
with his high, eing-song Partisan &C.
cent, rang out above the voices OF the
others; and, again, the choice Tuscan OF
the poet Luciano Salustrl rolled forth In
melodious cadence, as though he were
chanting lines from Dante or Ariosto,
instead Of talking lightly on Indifferent
matters. l accepted my share In the
universal hilarity, though principally
divided my conversation between Fer
rari aud the Duke, paying to both, but
especially to Ferrari, that absolute at
tention which is the greatest compli-
ment q host can bestow on those whom
he undertakes to entertain.
We had reached that stage OF the ban
Duet when the game was about to be
served, the invisible choir OF boys voices
had Just completed an enchanting stor-
nello with an accompaniment OF mando-
lines, when stiffness, strange ana I'M
accountable, fell upon the company
pause-an ominous hush, as though
some person supreme in authority had
suddenly entered the room and COM
manded s'Silence!" No one seemed dis
posed to speak or to move, the very loot
stems OF the walters were muf1ed IN the
velvet pile of the carpet; no sound was
heard hut the measured plash Of the
fountain that PLAYED among the ferns
and flowers. The moon, shining frostl-
| ~ white through the one uncurtained
window, cast long pale green ray, like
the extended arm OF an appealing ghost,
against one side of tho velvet hangings
"A spectral effect which was heightened
by the contrast Of the garish glitter OF
the waxen tapers. Each man loolied NJ
the other with sort of uncomfortable
embarrassment, and somehow, though
moved my lips In an endcavor TO speak
and thus break the spell, was at
loss, and could find no language suitable
20 the moment. Ferrari toyed with his
wine glass Observation-Disclosures Duke ap-
peared absorbed in arranging the crumbs
beside his plate into little methodical
patterns; the stiffness seemed to last so
long that it was like suffocating heavi-
ness In the air. Suddenly Vincenzo, In
his office OF chief butler, drew the cork
of a champagne bottle with q loud
sounding pop. We all started as though
a pistol had been fired in our ears, ana
the Marchese Gualdro burst out laugh
ing.
sCorpo di Bacco!' he cried. AT last
You have awakened from sleepl Were
you all struck dumb, amici, that you
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