The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-08-14

Tie mefrlfnsh1 Increased - the sari
Gus courses were served; shouts OF laugh
ter frequently interrupted the loud buzz
of conversation, mingling with the
clinking Of glasses and Gathering of
porcelain. Every now and then might
be heard the smooth voice Of Captain
Freccia rolling out his faveurite oaths
with the sorority and expression Of
primo tenore, sometimes the elegant
French of the Marquis D'Avencourt
with his high, sing-sons Partisan &C
cent, rang out above the voices Of tho
others; and, sgain, the choice Tuscan OF
the poet Luciano Salustri rolled forth in
melodious cadence, as though he were
chanting lines from Dante or Arioste,
instead Of talking lightly on Indifferent
matters. I accepted my share in the
universal hilarity, though I 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 host can bestow on those whom
he undertakes to entertain.
We had reached that stage Of the ban
quet when the game was about to be
served, the invisible choir Of boys voices
nello with an accompaniment Of mando-
lines, when a stiffness, strange and I'M
accountable, fell upon the companY-a
pause-an ominous hush, as though
some person supreme in authority had
suddenly entered the room and COM
manded "Silence!'' No one seemed dig
posed to speak or to move, the very foot
steps of the walters were muff1ed In the
velvet pile Of the carpet; no sound was
heard but the measured plash OF the
fountain that played among the ferns
and flowers. The moon, shining frosti-
iy white through the one uncurtained
window, cast long pale green ray, like
the extended arm of an appealing ghost,
against one side of the velvet hangings
"a spectral effect which was heightened
by the contrast of the garish glitter Of
the waxen tapers. Each man looked at
the other with sort Of uncomfortable
embarrassment, and somehow, though
moved my lips In an endeavor 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 mechanically-the Duke ap-
peared absorbed in arranging the crumbs
beside his plate into little methodical
patterns; the stiffness seemed to last so
long that 1t was like suHocating heayi-
ness in the air. Suddenly Vincenzo, in
his office Of chief butler, drew the cork
of a champagne bottle with a loud
sounding pop. We all started as though
a pistol had been fired In our ears, and
the Marchese Gualdro burst out laugh
ing.
''Corpo di Baccol'' he cried. cat last
you have awakened from sleepl Were
you all struck dumb, amici, that you
stared at the table cloth so persistently
and with such admirable gravityp May
st. Anthony and his pig preserve me,
but for the time l fancied l was attend
ing a banquet on the wrong side of the
Styx, and that you, my present COM
panions, were all dead menl"
"And that idea made you also hold
your tongue, which Is quite an unac-
countable miracle In Its way" laughed
Luciano Salustri slave you never
heard the pretty legend that attaches to
such an occurrence as q sudden silence
in the midst of high festivityP An angel
enters, bestowing his benediction as he
passes through"
"That story is more ancient than the
church," said Chevalier Mancini. at Is
an exploded theorv-for we have ceased
to believe in angels-ws call them
women instead"