Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-26

&c. vile creature who
had been my souls
undoing? The answer came swiftly.
Even if l bad seen her when | was
free, l doubt IL l should have known
her value. We men OF the world who
have social positions to support, we
see little or nothing in the present
type Of womanhood; we must marry
ladies" so-called; educated girls who
are as well versed in the worlds ways
as ourselves. il not more 50. n so
we get the Cleopatras, the Du Barrys,
the Pompadours while unspoilt maid
ems such as Lila too often become the
household drudges of common mechan-
les or day kborers, living and dying in
the one routine of hard work, and
often knowing and caring for moth
ing better than the mountain hut, the
farm kitchen. or the covered stall in
the market place. Surely IL Is an i'll
balanced world, So many mistakes
are made: Fate plays us SO many APP
p~arently unnecessary tricks. we are all
OF US such blind madmen, knowing not
whittier we are going from one day to
another. / am told that il is no longer
fashionable TO believe in a devil; but
| care nothing for fashion. A devil
there is. | am sure, who for some in
scrutabIe reason has a share in the
ruling OF this planet; a devil who de-
lights in hooking US from the cradle
TO the grave. And perhaps we are
never so hopelessly, utterly fooled as
in our marriages.
Occupied in various thoughts, /
scarcely saw where / wandered, till a
ar-bG.r ,i;r, IF hlnn llnCSpmS re-
called me TO the object of my walk.
l had reached the Punto d'Angelo. 1t
az. as Lillt had said, q fat rock bare
in every place save at the summit,
where il was thickly covered with the
lovely gentians, lowers that are rare
in this part OF Italy. Here b the
tabled Angel paused in his Hight TO
bless the venerable sanctuary or
Monte Vergine. / stopped and looked
around me. The view Was indeed sup
erb-from the leafy bosom OF b II
ley. the gren hills like smooth, undu-
lating pillows rolled upwards, till thei-
@merad verdure was ost in b dense
purple shadows and tall peaks OF the
Apennines; the town of Ayelllno lay
ar my feet, small yet clearly defined
as a miniature painting on porcelain;
and a little further beyond and above
me rose the grey tower Of the Monte
yergine itself, the one sad and soil
tary looking object in all the l~uxuriant,
riante landscape.
i sat down To rest, not as an intru-
der on the angels fiower-embroidered
throne. but on a grassy knoll close by.
And then l bethought me of q packet
l had received from Naples that morn
ing a packet that / desired yet hesitat-
ed 10 open. II had been sent by the
Marquis D~'Ayencourt accompanied by
a courteous letter. which informed me
that Ferrari's body had been privately
buried with all the last religious rites
in the cemetery 'close to the funeral
vault Of the Romani family. wrote
D'Ayencourt, .as, from all we can hear
or discover, such seems TO have been
his own desire. he was. ii appears. a
sort of adopted brother of the late de-
ceased count, and on being informed of
this circumstance, we buried him in
accordance with the sentiments he
would no doubt have expressed had be
considered the possible nearness OF
his own end at the time of the COM
bat"
With regard TO the packet Enclosed.
D'Ayencourt coneluded:-"The accom-
p~anyingletters were found In Ferrari's
breast pocket, and on opening the first
one, IN the expectation of finding some
clue as to his last wishes. we came TO
the conclusion that you. as the future
husband of the lady whose signature
and hand writing you viii here recoc-
niZe should be made aware of the con-
tents. not only for your own sake. but
in justice to the deceased. If all the
letters are Of the same tone as the one
/ u~nknowingly opened, l have no
doubt Ferrari considered himself a suf-
fcientiy injured man. But Of that
You will judge for yourself. though,
IL 7 might venture so far in the way
OF friendship, L should recommend
you TO give careful consideration IN
the enclosed correspondence before
tying the matrimonial knot TO which
You alluded the other evening. Ii is
.Gs -sSS 40 walk on inc edge or a pre-
cipise with ones eyes shut, Captain
Ciabatti was the first TO inform me Of
what l TOW know for n fact-namely.
that Ferrari left n will in which every.
thing he possessed is made over un-
conditionally to the Countess Romani
You will Of course draw your own con
illusions. and pardon me IL I am guilty
OF trop de Zele in your service. I have
now only TO tell you that all the I'm.
pleasantness OF this affair is pasesp :
over very smoothly and without scan
dali have taken rare of thar. You
need not prolong your absence further
than you feel inclined. and I for ore
shall be charmed to welcome Won hack
TO Naples. With every sentiment OF
the highest consideration and reSar n
| ana, my dear Conte, your very trus
friend and servitor.
Philippe D'Avencourt."
I folded this letter carefully and pur
IL aside. The little package he had
sent me lay IN NV banda bundle 81
Ieat, fo;1ri letters tied together with
a narrow ribbon, and STRONGLY per
fumed with a faint sickiy perfume
knew and abhorred. I turned then
over and over; the edges of the not,
paper were stained with blood
Guides blccd--as though In it's las
sluggish flowing II had sndsayoreS