The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-07-17

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clock on the mantelpiece. The train
that brought home her husband was
just then entering the station, and that
phrase seemed to her suited to hasten
the denouement Of the comedy.
Precisely, marchesa. The difficulty
is, however, that l am very exacting
in this matter without any right to be
So"
II am not of your opinion, lieuten-
ant, as to your right, " said the lady,
with p~erfidious candor. "And I should
undertake willingly to discover some
perfection of a little girl who would
call herself happy to become Signora
Terbiani."
DO you believe it possible?'' asked
the young man, with southern ardor,
and he added, hesitating a little, ''This
encouragement, marchioness, offers me
the opportunity to ask you-to ask you
since you say"-
Steps were heard in the anteroom.
She interrupted him:
"Ah, I see that my sister Lucia has
greatly pleased you"
"Oh, certainly, certainly. The Sinor-
ina Lucia is one of the most charming
ladies. That can be seen. But as have
only seen her beside a sister-yourself. F"
"Her sister has been married for 10
years, my dear lieutenant. She is al
ready an old wife and an old mother, -
the marchesa said, laughing.
At that point the door opened, and
there appeared a handsome man, tall
and powerful Of person, followed by two
boys, with fresh, rosy faces, in travel
ing costume. All three flung themselves
upon the neck Of the marchesa without
even perceiving the presence of the poor
lieutenant, stupefied, turned to stone,
more immovable and mute than a statue.
1.-The Marchese Gamberti, my hus-
band, " the lady presented him after
having returned the family effusions.
Lieutenant Terbiani, an officer we
have the good fortune to entertain"
Il am rejoiced to make your %acquaint-
ance, lieutenant, " declared, with high
bred courtesy, the Marchese Gamberti.
"Now," said the pretty lady, with IN
lndescribable smile, which she was I'M
able to repress, a smile that curled
slightly the corners of her mouth
"now, come, lieutenant, let me present
you to the marchesa, Widow Gamberti,
mistress of the house and my mother
in-law."
So saying, she went toward an old
ge%ntlewoman, all wrapped up in a hood
ed cloak Of silk and lace, who followed
the marchese and the boys.
The word widow had been slightly
emphasized on purpose, but Terbiani,
who had not yet regained the use of
speech, bowed profoundly without even
appearing to comprehend the scene.
And neither the best wines of the dow
ayers cellar nor the hospitable kindness
of the marchese availed to give him
back his presence Of mind and his good
humor.
my love, your lieutenant is rather a
dismal bore, observed the Marchese
Gamberti when he found himself alone
with his wife in the intimacy of their
own room.
Rather, he was very brilliant, " the
marchesa assured him, bursting into
laughter. But it was the arrival Of all
you others that made him change his
mood. Fancy, at the moment you enter
ed, he had launched forth into no less
than an offer of marriage. He wanted
me-really me. Yes, I please him, as it
appears"
And gayly, while she loosened the
thick braids of her heavy dark hair, she
told the whole story in detail and by
what able maneuvers she had managed
the comedy to bring it to a denouement
just at the instant when her husband
her dear, adored husband-would ar
rive.
The story was long, so that the Mar
cheese and Marchesa Gamberti were still
asleep when the regiment went away
the next morning.
The snow had melted, like the hopes
of poor Terbiani, and folds of whitish
mist f1oated sadly here and there over
the plain like battered gauze.
1t was lugubrious, this departure be-
fore daybreak in that gray and frosty
April morning.
"Well, " asked Lieutenant Bompane
m~ischievously, when is the wedding
with your beautiful widow to take
placer"
"Weddingl shall never marry, re-
piled Terbiani, with a tragic air that
wished to appear scornfuL 81 only
wanted to make a little closer %acquaint-
ace with that brunette, and have play
ed a little bit Of sentimental comedy.
The Lord keep me from matrimony.
Women are too %perfidious.
And after this he added, with a sin
cere sigh:
'Pertidious as the wavesl'-Trans-
lated From the Italian of Countess Lara
For Short Stories.