The record-union., 1891-10-24
A NONCONDUCTOR.

They told me that she was soulless
creature, frivolous and light that the sole
preoccupation, the one aim of her life, was
pleasure. In fact | had made her ac-
quaintance at ball, surrounded by an
infinite variety of adorers, smiling. dis
dainful, allowing herself to be worshiped,
completely Indifferent. Naturally, after
a turn of the waltz, in which she floated,
light and elegant, I remained an enthu-
siast IN regard to her, and since the reputa-
ton of skeptic, given me by my friends,
was not well merited, l joined the crowd
OF vain worshipers that surrounded the
goddess. Did she notice my devotion
do not know! / know that sometimes
the profound gaze of her large black eyes,
resting upon me, seemed to become
melancholy, thoughtful. But it was
momentary, for then that expression dis
appeared under her customary smile.
That especial evening, leaning her arm
on the railing of her theater- box, she had
turned toward me one of her enigmatical
glanees, accompanied by slight bending
of the head.
| confess that started, and that thou
sand thoughts flocked into my mind.
| w as LlS lCG IlSll6Nl, pcTAtpS! Itdu IudG
| atrophied heart begun 10 beat? ] did not
| delude myself, might be her father; she
was twenty-six years of age, l almost
| fifty, although tried not TO show them.
| Yet / could not resist and soon after
| my hand pushed open the door of box 4.
"FinallyW exclaimed the Countess.
You really leave people to wish for your
''signora," I replied, ''you are pleased
| to fiatter me.n
II never fatter my friends, and re-
! gard you as one OF them. 1t is SO long
that we have known each other"
SO long! 1t was not even month; not
knowing. what to reply, | silently as
| sented with 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 Ven
ice, on the Lido came with my cousin,
| Signora Lini, and you with Giorgio Ri
! goL; have you forgotten US? l ann sorry,
| because l wished this evening, recalling
| those memories, that you should pay d
! little court to mel"
| Decidedly. She was coquette, l an
! lmbeciie. But as a gallant squire of
DANES was | to remain defeated?
"Countess!" / exclaimed, ''if 1 were to
take your words seriously, be warned
that you would have assumed a terrible
| responsibility"
!
nature is still negotiable"
! Take care, Countess, you are always
| playing with dangers; are you sure of
conquering them?"
If there were no obstacles victory
would have no value.''
well, you always succeed"
Certainly. When l set about an un-
dertaking never draw back"
And now you have undertaken to
! make me lose my head.'
Who knows? Would you be sorry to
! devote it to me?''
For you, Countess, would sacrifice
myself
For PHYS sake, do not let us go into
| the usual commonplace phrases of So
ciety; like eccentricity, do you know! l
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 serious
man, skeptical, almost philosopher!
To care for an atom! That would be an
antithesisl''
She was laughing at me. rose to take
leave.
wait moment, beg of you. 1 have
something to ask you," and her voice
trembled slightly.
Countess, / am at your ordersi"
Are you friend to me--a friend in
the true sense of the word?n
Il hope sop I replied.
We'll, tell me, away there in Africa, is
Giorgio happy?"
What! You still remember him; but
your marriage?"
WAS imposed upon me,n she added
| excitedly. But do not let us speak OF
| that. It 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 for
gotten, he had sworn never to see her
again? She must not know it.
Happiness is q chimera, Countess;
but he lives tranquil, surrounded by af-
fection and good will"
''But is his life in peril, does no one
make war upon him?"
HE is very much liked, and is pro-
tected by the Consul; he lives in that fam
| lily as though he were member of it."
''Ah! Are there many European fam
lilies there" And she fixed her great
eyes with jealous anxiety upon my face.
Many. l should not be surprised, in
deed, to hear some day that Giorgio would
settle permanently in Africa, making
himself 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, the usual smile curved her lips.
"Then good-by, signor,o she said to me
ironically, 'or rather, au revoir, for
hope, despite the total difference of our
artistic opinions, that you will remain a
friend to me-"
And extending her hand: "I receive
every Friday evening. / hope to see
you there"
| 1 bowed and went out slowly, while
she, playfully and with extreme volubil-
ity, interrogated the newcomers about
the things Of the day.
The next day letter was sent to Gior-
gio. "Do not return, my FRIEND"
told him. "You would have a disap-
pointment. She lives tranquil and
happy and has asked me nothing about
you; forget her, she deserves nothing
else I"
To those hearts be peace! As for the
husband, he may rest secure. She, with
the safeguard of the memory of her only
love, will fearlessly meet the battles oi
| life. = Translated from the Italian ot
Sofia Bini," by E. Cavazza fpr "Short
Stories"
LIFE is misery to thousands of people
who have the taint of scrofula in their
blood. There is no other remedy equal
to Hoods Sarsaparilla for scrofula, sail
| m ND Of