The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-12

'Then will frankly confide in you.
do love the Contessa Love! it is to,
weak word to describe what feel
The touch OF her hand thrills me, he
very voice seems to shake my soul, he
eyes burn through me! All! you canno
know-you could not understand the JOY
the pain. ....."
Calm YOURSELF" said in a cool tone,
watching my victim as his pent--Ip emo
tion betrayed itself 1.-THE great thing
is to keep the head cool when the blood
burns You think she loves you2"
"Thinkl Gran Dio! She has" here
he paused and his face flushed deeply
may! l have no right to say anything
on that score. know she never cared
for her husband"
81 know that too!'' / answered stead
fail to notice it."
swell, and no wonderr' he exclaimed
warmly He was such an undemonstra-
| tive fooll What business had such
fellow as that to marry SO exquisite a
creature.
My heart leaped with a sudden i'm
pulse of fury, but Itontrolled my voice
and answered calmly
"Requiescat in pace! He is dead-let
him rest. Whatever his faults, his wife
of course was true to him while he
lived: she considered him worthy OF
fdelity-is it not SOP"
He lowered his eyes as he replied in
an indistinct tone,
''Oh, certainly!
"And you-you were a most loyal and
faithful friend to him, in spite OF the
tempting bright eyes of his lady?'
Again he answered huskily-"Why, OF
coursew But the shapely hand that
rested on the table so near to mine,
trembled.
well, them" 1 continued quietly,
''the love you bear now to his fair wild
ow is, imagine, precisely what he
would approve. Being, as you say, per-
fectly pure and blameless, what can
wish otherwise than this-may it meet
with the reward it deserves!"
While l spoke he moved uneasily in
his chair, and his eyes roved to nv faith
er's picture with restless annoyance. l
suppose he saw in it the likeness to his
dead friend. After moment or two of
silence he turned to me with forced
smile
And so you really entertain no adj
miration for the Contessa?"
'Oh, pardon me, l do en-
terrain very strong admira-
tion for her, but not of the kind you seem
to suspect If it will please you, can
guarantee that l shall never make love
to the lady unless"
"UnleSs what?" he asked eagerly.
"Uniess she happens to make love to
me, in which case it would be ungallant
not to reciprocater'
And laughed harshly. He stared at
me in nk.surprise. ''She make love
to you!" he exclaimed. You jest. She
would never do such thing"
"Of course not!' l answered, rising
and clapping him heavily on the Shout
der. Women meyer court men, it is
quite unheard of; aNreverse of the order
of nature! You are perfectly safe, my
friend; you will certainly win the rec
ompense you so richly merit. Come, let
us go and drink coffee with the fair
one"
And arm in arm we sauntered out to
the Verandah in the most friendly way
possible. Ferrari was completely re-
stored to good humor, and Nina, |
thought, was rather glad to see it. She
was evidently afraid of Ferrari, a good
point for me to remember. She smiled
welcome to us as we approached, and
began to pour out the fragrant coffee. 1t
was glorious evening; the moon was
already high in the heavens, and the
nightingales' voices echoed softly from
the distant woods. As l seated myself
in low chair that was placed invitingly
near that of my hostess, my ears were
startled by long melancholy howl,
which changed every now and then to an
impatient within.
what is that?" l asked, though the
question was needless, for l knew the
sound.
"Oh, it is that tiresome dog Wyvis,"
answered Nina in veXed tone. "He
belonged to Fabio. He makes the even
ing quite miserable with his moaning"
"Where is hep"
"Well, after my husbands death he
became so troublesome, roaming all
over the house and wailing;
and then he would insist on Sleep
side. He really worried me both day
and night, so was compelled to chain
him up"
Poor Wyvis! He was sorely punished
for his fidelity.
81 am very fond of dogs" l said slow
ly, land they generally take to me with
extraordinary devotion. May see this
one of yours?'
"Oh, certainly! Guido, will you so and
unfasten hfm?''
Guido did not move, he leaned easily
back In his chair slipping his coffee.
Many thanks" he answered with a
half laugh; perhaps you forget that
the last time l did so he nearly tore me
to pieces. If you do not object. would
rather Giacomo undertook the task"
After such an account of the animals
conduct, perhaps the COnte will not care
to see him. 1t is true enough" turning
to meas she spoke, "WyviS mas taken a
great dislike to Signor Ferrari-and yet
he is good natured dog, and plays with
my little girl all day if she goes to him.
Do you feel inclined still to see him?
YeS?" And, as | bowed in the affirma-
tive, she rang little bell twice, and the
butler'appeared.
''Giacomo," she continued, "unloose
Wyvis and send him here"
Giacomo gave me another of those
timid questioning glances, and departed
to execute his order. In another five
minutes, the bowling having suddenly
ceased, long, light, black, shadowy
creature came leaping wildly across the
moonlit lawn-Wyvis was racing at full
speed. He paid no heed to his mistress
or Ferrari; he rushed straight to me with
yelp of JOY. His huge tail wagged in
eeSsantly, he painted thirsty with ex-
aGS,-C5IsS5