The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-25

geonS dared to do, and, so FAR as the
phrase can ever be correct of human
action. saved his life. a year had
passed since then; the splendid vitality
of the Sicilian had returned to all It's
natural vigor; he was only "A years
of age and naturally strong as young
oak in the woods of Etna. But he had
a mother who loved him. and was anX-
ious; she begged the Englishman to re-
main awhile near him; the Sicillan
laughed but submitted; he and Damer
had travelled together during several
months. and We're about in another
month to part company; the Sicilian to
return to his own people. the English
man to occupy chair of physiology in
Il town of northern Europe. Their lives
had been briefly united by accident and
would have parted in peace; collar or
opals was by chance washed up
amongst the flags and burdocks of
Torcello and the shape of their fate was
altered
Damer was the son of a country ply
sician, but his father had been poor, the
family numerous, and he, a third son,
had been sent out into the world with
praoticed surgery to live; he prac-
ticed physiology to reach through 1t
that power and celebrity for which his
nature crayed and his mental capacity
fitted him. But at every step his mar
row means CALLED and fretted him, and
he had been demonstrators, an assist
ant, Il professor in schools, when his
vast ability and relentless will fitted
him for the position Of Helmholtz or
a Virchow in that new priesthood which
had arisen to claim the rule o. man
kind, and sacrifices to itself all sentient
races.
In Andreis he saw all the powers of
youth and wealth concentrated in one
who merely used them for a careless
enjoyment and Il thoughtless good
nature which seemed to himself as
senseleSs as the dance in the sun of an
amorous negro. Andreis and the
whole of his family had shown him the
utmost gratitude. liberality and con-
sideration, and the young prince bore
from him goOd-humoredly sarcasms and
satires which he would not have suf-
fered from an emperor: but Damer in
his turn felt for the SCilian and his
people nothing but the contempt of the
great intellect for the uncultured mind,
the irritation OF the wise man who sees
a child gayly making a kite to divert
itself out of the parchmentS of treatise
In an unknown tongue which, studied,
might have yielded up to the student
the secret of perished creeds and of
lost nations. There is no pride 50 ar
rogant. no supremacy so unbending,
as those of the intellect. 1t may stand,
like Relisarius, beggar at the gate;
but. like Belisarius. it deems itself the
superior of all the crowds who drop
their aims to it. and while it stretches
out its hand to them its lips curse them.
II wish | had lived when this collar
was new" Veronica Laranigra said
when her jewelers. returned to her the
opals restored to their pristine bril-
liancy. Life in Venice was one long
fiesta then. l have read of it. 1t was
all masque and serenade and cOurtship
| and magnificence. People We're not
philosophical about life then: they
lived-Mina Laranigra was a beautiful
woman. They have her portrait in
the Belle Arte. 1t is by Lucchi. She
holds rose to her lips and laughs
She was killed by her husband for an
amour. She had these opals on her
throat when he drove the stilettG
through it. At least so Carlo used t.
tell me. But perhaps it was not true"
DO not wear them" said Andreis
to whom she was speaking DO not
wear them if they are blood-stained
You know they are pierres de matheur."
She laughed
you Sicilians are superstitious. We
northerners are not. / like to wear
them for that very reason of their trag-
edy."
She took up the necklace and clasped
it round her throat; some tendrils OF
her hair caught in the clasp; she gave