Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-05
CHATTER. xxIv.(continued.

Hamal-his utterance was low and
ehick, but yet distinctly heard him
0a1merating, in somewhat coarse an
4&<szge, the exterior charms of a woman
what woman 1 did not stop to con-
afdcr-the burning idea struck me that
he was describing the physical perfec-
Ni1ns Il my wife to this de Hamal, q
mere ~spadaccino, to whom there was
snathing sacred In heaven or earth.
MY blood rapidly heated itself to boil
ing point-to this day l remember
hosv Ii throbbed In my t~emples-leav-
lug my hands and feet icy cold. 1
rtsss In my seat and tapped on the Ia
DIE TO call for silence and attention
bur for some time the argument and
the clatter OF tongues was so great
Una 1 could not make myself heard.
Tho Duke e~ndeavored to second my
aerorts, but in vain. At last Ferrari's
notice was attracted-he turned
ruund and, selling a dessert knife,
beat with ii on the table and on his
Own plate so noisily and persistently
viaat the loud laughter and CONVERSE
I ceased suddenly. The moment
hsd GOMEZ raised my head, fixed my
wussctacles more firmly over ny eyes,
and spoke In distinct and steady tones,
mrst of all stealing a covert glance to-
ward Ferrari. He had sunk back lazi-
Nv In his chair and was lighting a
cigarette.
Ny friends" I said, meeting with a
smile the inquiring looks that were d.
xe6-ted toward me, IL have presumed
I'm Interrupt your mirth for a moment,
NsG TO restrain IL, but rather to give it
. fresh impetus. / asked you all here
tu-night, as you know, tc honor me by
yunr presence and give a welcome to
sauEr mutua: friend, Signor Guido Fer
arsrL" Here l was interrupted by a
kfrad clapping OF hands and ejacula-
f1sxns Of approval, while Ferrari him
ssslf murmured affably between two
euarifs OF his cigarette: 'Tropp' onore,
sxlr1ico, tropp' cnoieI' I resumed.
This young and accomplished gentle
earxn, who is, / believe, a favorite with
you all, has been compelled, through
: dsDestic affairs, to absent himself
from our circle for the past few
vsaeks, and / think he must himself be
aware how much we have missed his
! peasant company. 1t will, however,
De agreeable for you, as 1t has been for
u2a TO know that he has returned TO
NAPLES a richer man than when he left
Ax-tlrat fortune he's done him justice.
Tr1 that, with the possession OF
abundant wealth, he is at last called
Upon 20 enjoy the reward due to his
nacFitsi'
Here there was more clapping of
ka and ordinations Of pleasure,
srniie those who were seated near
Eerrari raised their glasses and drank
On his health with congratulations, all
OF which courtesies he acknowledged
hy a nonchalant, self-satisfied bow. /
glanced at him again-how tranquil he
cooked! reclining among the
crimson cushions OF his chair, a brIm-
ealing glass Of champagne beside him,
the cigarette between his lips and his
handsome face slightly upturned,
Enough his eyes rested half-drowsily
<aa. the nncnrtained window through
which the Bay Of Naples was seen
.Eiittering in the moonlight.
continued: ut was, gentlemen,
chat you might welcome and congrat-
utate Signor Ferrarf as you have done,
chat l assembled you here to-night-or.
rather, let me say, ii was partly the
object of our present festivity-but
thre Ia yet another reason, which 1
Glall now have the pleasure of ex-
planning TO you-a reaso which, as it
~conceras myself and my immediate
happiness, will, l feel confident, Sc
cure your sympathy and good wishes"
This time every n was silent, In
stently following my words.
what l am about to say" l went
sn, calmly, may very possibly sur-
prise you. / have been known I o you
as n man OF few words, and, l fear, of
abrupt and brusque manners" cries
OF "No, no." mingled with various
complimentary assurances reached my
- E-.& H. - A. n
Bowed with a gratitied air, and. when
silence was r~estored-"At and rate.
you would not think me precisely the
sort of "a TO take n lady's fancy"
"A look of wonder and curiosity was
10 exchanged among my guests.
Eerrari took his cigarette out OF his
mouth and stared at me in blank as
tonishment.
NO" i went on, meditatiyely, ''old
n / am. and a a lf-blind invalid be-
sides, 1t seems incredible that any
woman should care to look at me
more than twice en- PEASANT. But l
have met-let me say With the Cheya-
dier Mancini-an angel, who has found
me not displeasiEg to her, and-in
sshort-I am going TO marry"
There was a pause. Ferrari raised
himself slightly fIom his reclining POI
r6iti0n and seemed about to speak. but
apparently changing his mind, he re-
manned silent-his face had somewhat
raled. The momentary hesitation
among my guests passed quickly. All
present except Guido broke into a cho-
rus of congratulations. mingled with
.Good-humored jesting and laughter.
Say fwarewell to jollity. Conte.''
cried Chevalier Mancini; 'once
drawn along by the rustling music OF
q woman's gown. no more such feasts
as we have had ~to-night!"
And he shok his head with tipsy
smelancholy.
BY all the Gods!' exclaimed Gual-
arc. "Your news has surprised me.
n should have thought you were the
Last nan to give up liberty for the
sake Of a woman. One woman, too.
Why, mon. freedom would give you
twenty!'
"Ah.' murmured Salustri. softly and
sentimentally, "but the one perfect
.pearl-the n dawiess Diamond