The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-23

aOle 10 make YOU understand my rcat
suffering. All. bionda, if you could
only be persuaded to see the real light
The Baroness Bravura, somewhat os-
tcntatiously, applied to her tip-tiltcd
nose an exquisite lace handkerchief in
which miniature powder puff lay hid:
Let us hear this real suffcring,' she
said.
"My real suffering, a suffering hidden
from the world" the countess said,
but which is eating my heart out, is
this: my husband, not content with be-
ing an irfdel himself, insists on trying
to force his infidclity on me-"
"Ah-'
Like all men without religion. he
hates the sight of priest. lie is always
offending my ears with quotation
from some infidel French poet. ~
priest is Il cat, he says. When sec q
priest, feel myself q dog"
''Ahn
Ever since he returned suddenly
from Africa three months ago, lie has
forbidden me to attend confession"
The baroness Bravura raised herself
slightly in the arm chair and again adj
justed her pincenez.
My friend" She said, twas your
confcsSor Handsomely"
''Ah, you hurt me-" cried the coun-
tess.
A silence fell between these two-n
silence painful and prolonged The
baroness, consummatO woman of the
world as she was. felt that She had out
ragged her friends religious feelings so
deeply that for the moment it would be
wiscst to sit still and say and do moth
ing.
But as these two sat motionlcss in
the subdued light of the boulo;r, out
side there. below, in the terrible glare
of the Strada IIanchi Nuovi. another.
seemingly up to now eternally immo-
bile was suddenly stirred to action.
At the sound of light, swift footsteps
coming toward him OH the deserted
pavement. Arpino. the blind bcg~ar
who still kept the yellow whites of his
upturncd eyes rivctcd on the palazzo
raised his head abruptly. His mustachc
bristlcd.
For the pity OF God he cried in his
monotonons voice, and with his accus-
toned action extended his open hand.
This hand shook. The light, swift
footsteps were stayed. and low,
sweet voice sounded in the bcggar's
ears.
Afflicted brother, have You long
been bind?"
For ten years, my father"
Are YOU stone blind?'
''Stonc blind. my father"
''iIow came yon to know that a priest
spoke to you?'
WHO but a priest would call the out
east an afflicted brother"
THE blessings of heaven support
you i'll your aftliction. my SON
y lira note was placed in Arpino' :
hand, and the light, swift footsteps
passed on; passed on. and mingled with
the crowd, and died into indistinct ness
in the manv-voiccd murmurs of the
street. But Arpino listened. There
was something almost mcnacing in the
blind mans attitude of strained intent.
ness. Even his hearing. however, pre-
tcrnaturatly quiclsened as it was by his
other a(liiction. could not have traced
the course OF those light. swift footst steps
rs they passed mp the street, crossed it
nj the top then came down the other
side and gidcd into the Palazzo Medina.
II is true that .Arpino's fixed. upturncd
yellow eyes were rivcted on the palazzo
as those light. steps entered it, But.
then. Aipino was blind.
As this episode terminated in the
scorchng street below. the awkward
silence which had rcigncd in tn, coun-
tess boudoir was broken.
well" says the Baroness Bravura.
Il have offended you. see, So that
the best thing | can do is To take mv
leave. after having first admired your
new ornaments
The countess boudoir was in truth a
perfect bric-l-bra shop. exqusitaly
furnished for tic absent count had
taste and was great collector. Mar
velIoua iniaid CA bincts occupied corners
and their open doors permitted an in
spection OF European masterpieces in
the art of miniature. Amid other fine
pictures on tl.e walls hung a Correggio
which the directors of the National
Museum had vainly tried to buy. Me-
ncntos OF the absent counts wander
lngS in strange countries mingled gro
tesquely with these objects of virtu.
Here hung a brightly painted bow and
bunch of poisoned arrows from the
orinoco. Here deadly club, which
had been welded in Central African
forests, supported quantity of tails
mans which had once perhaps bel nged
to the clubs owner. In one corner OF
the room large. heavy ebony chest
stood open. whose contents still further
recalled Africa, for the magnificent
ions skin hanging half in and half on,
of it seemed 10 catch all the concen-
trated light in this dim boudoir, and
was shown to striking advantage.
Tho Baroness Bravura's attention
was attracted to this skin. which She