San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-30

her, as it were, from herself She Is 50
young and light-hearted and thoughtless
that-but you understand me, do you
not?"
bowed. understood him perfectly.
He wanted no more poachers on the land
he himself had pilfered. Quite right,
from his point of view! But was the
rightful owner of the land after ALL and
naturally had different opinion of the
matter. However, l made no remark,
and feigned to be rather bored by the
turn the conversation was taking. See
ing this, Ferrari exerted himself to be
agreeable: he became gay and enter
| tanning companion once more, and after
he had fixed the hour for our visit to the
Villa Romani the next afternoon, our
talk turned upon various matters con-
nected with Naples and its inhabitants,
and their mode of life. l hazarded
a few, remarks on the general
immortality and loose principles that
| prevailed among the people, just
to drrw my companion out and
sound his character more thoroughly
though thought knew his opinions
well.
L 1OOn, my u6dT SOule, IC eACldiluCu
with light laugh, as he threw away the
end of his cigar, and watched it as 1t
burned DULY IKE little red lamp among
the green grass where it had fallen,
"what is immortality after all? Merely
matter of opinion. Take the hackneyed
virtue of conngal fidelity. When fol-
lowed out to the bitter end what is the
good of it-where does it lead? Why
should a man be tied to one woman when
he has love enough for twenty?
The pretty slender girl whom he chose
as partner in his impulsive youth
may become fat, coarse, red
| facee female horror by the time he has
| attained to the full vigor of manhood;
| and yet, as long as she lives, the law in
sists that the full tide of his passion shall
| flow always in one direction-aways TO
the same dull, level, Improbable shore!
The law is absurd, but it exists; and the
natural consequence is that we break it.
| Society pretends to be Mortified when we
do-yes, know; but it is all pretence
And the thing is no worse in Naples than
it is in London, the capital Of the moral
British race, only here we are perfectly
frank and make no effort to hide our
little sins, while there they cover them
up carefully and make believe to be vir-
tuous. 1t is the veriest humbug-the
parable of Pharisee and Publican over
again"
Not quite" observed, "for the Pub
lican was repentant, and Naples is not. "
why should she be?" demanded Fer
rari, gaily; ''what in the name of heaven
is the good of being penitent about any
thing? Will it mend matters? Who is
to be pacified or pleased by our contri-
ton? God? My dear Conte, there are
very few of us nowadays who believe in
Deity. Creation is a mere caprice Of
the natural elements. The best thing
we can do is to enjoy ourselves while we
live; we have very short time OF it,
and when we die there is an end of all
things so far as we are concerned"
THAT is your creed?" l asked.
THAT is my creed, certainly. 1t was
Solomon's in his heart Of hearts. Eat,
drink and be merry, for tomorrow
we die 1t is the creed Of Naples, and
of nearly all Italy. OF course the vulgar
still cling to exploded theories OF super
stitious belief, but the educated classes
are far beyond the old-world notions"
81 believe you,' answered composed
". had no wish to argue with him; l
only sought to read his shallow soul
through and through, that l might be
convinced of his utter worthlessness.
According to modern civilization there
is really no special need to
be virtuous unless it suits us.
The only thing necessary for pleasant
living is to avoid public scandal"
"Just So!'' agreed Ferrari; land that
i 10 oil ra lyo
woman's reputation-nothiDg is so
easily lost, we all know, before she is
actually married; but marry her well, and
she is free She can have a dozen low
ers If she likes, and If she is good man
ager her husband need never be the
wiser. He has his amours of course
why should she not have hers also? Only
some women are clumsy, they are over
sensitive and betray themselves toe
easily; then the injured husband care
fully eOnCoaling his own little
peccadilloes) finds everything out
and there is devil of a row-a moral
row. which is the worst kind of row. But
future await you as you deserve"
/ She smiled, her tear-drOps vanished
like morning dew disappearing in the
suns heat.
| II thanK you lot your gOOu WISHES,
Conte," she said; but it rests with you
to commence my happy days by honour
ing me with a visit. You will come, will
| you not? My house and all that it con-
tains are at your service!"
l heSltated. Ferrari looked amused.
Madame is not aware of your dislike
| to the society of ladies, Conte," he said,
/ and there was a touch of mockery in his
/ tone. glanced at him coldly, and ad-
dressed my answer to my wife. "Signor
| Ferrari is perfectly right" / said, bend
ing over her, and speaking in a low tone;