Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-18

NA<AG ~ fCEy ACW "a US
who believe i'm a Diety. Creation h q
mere caprice Of the natural elements
The best thing we can do is TO enjoy
ourselves while we live: we have q
very short time OF Ii. and when we die
there Is an end OF all things 50 far as
we are concerned"
That is your creed" asked
That il my creed. certainly. II
-as Solonon's la his heart Of hearts.
Eat, drink and be merry, for to-mor-
row we die 1t IL the creed OF Ma
pies, and OF nearly all Italy. OF course
the vulgar still cling 10 exploded theo-
ries of superstitious belief, but the
educated classes are far beyond the
old-world notions
Il believe you" I answered compos-
ejty. / had no wish 20 argue with
him; I only sought 10 read his shall
low soul through and through, that |
might be convinced of his utter worth
lessness. According TO modern civil
lization there is really no special need
10 be virtuous unless IL suits us. The
only thing necessary for pleasant liy-
ing Is 10 avoid public scandal"
Just sc-- agreed Ferrari; "and that
can always be easily managed.
Take a woman's reputation-nothing
is SO easily lost, we all know, before
she is actually married; but marry her
we'll and she Is free. She can have
a dozen lovers IL she likes, and IL she
is a good manager her husband need
never be the wiser. He has his
amours OF hy should she not
have hers also? Only some women are
clumsy, they are oyer-sensitiye and
betray themselves too easily; then the
injured husband carefully conceal ling
his own little peccadilloes) finds ey-
erything out and there is a devil Of a
row-a moral row, which Is the worst
kind Of q row. But a rsa!ly clever
woman can always steer clear Of SIAN
der IL she likes"
Contemplate ruffian, I thought.
glancing at the handsome face and
figure with scarcely yeiied contempt.
With all his advantages Of education
and his well-bred air he was yet ruff
fan TO the core-as low in nature, IL
not lower. than the half savage tramp
for whom no social law has ever exist
ed or will exist. But / merely observ-
ed:
at is easy TO see that you have a
kLiciouSl w frl-C VI Nht NOhit ~
its ways. / admire your perception.
From your remarks l judge that you
have no sympathy with martial
wrongs
"Not the least" he replied drily,
"they are too common, and % ludi-
crous. THE 'wronged husband as he
considers himself in such cases. al
ways cuts such an absurd figure
Always i inquired, with apparent
curiosity.
"Well. generally speaking, he does.
How can he remedy the matter? He
can only challenge his wife's lover.
A duel is fought, In which neither Of
the opponents are killed; they wound
each other slightly. embrace, weep,
have coffee together. and for the fu-
ture consent to share the lady's affec-
tons amicably."
"Veramente!" I exclaimed, with a
forced laugh, inwardly cursing his de-
testable f%iippancy; "that is the FASH
ionable mode of taking v~engeanceF"
Absolutely the q respectable way
Of doing it," he replied: lit is only the
canaille who draw hearts blood in
earnest"
Only the canailIe, I looked at him
fixediy. His smiling eyes met mine
with a frank and fearless candor.
Evidently he vas not ashamed Of his
opinions. he rather gloried In them.
As he stood there with his features
he seemed the very type of youthful
and splendid manhood; an Apollo In
exterior-in mind a Silenus. My soul
sickened at the sight Of him. I felt
that b sooner this strcng treacherous
life was crushed the better; there
would be one less traitor ia the world
at any rate. The thought of my dread
but just purpose passed over Inc like
the breath Of a bitter wind-a tremor
shook my nerves. My face must have
betrayed some sign of my inward
emotion. for Ferrari exclaimed
you are fatigued, conte? You are
i'll? Pray take my arm"
He extended IL as he spoke. l put Ii
gently but firmly aside.
1T Is nothing" I said coldly; "a
mere faintness which often overcomes
me, the remains OF a recent Illness"
Here I glanced at my watch; the after
o was waning rapidly.
IF you will excuse me-" I contin-
ued, 81 will now take leave of you.
Regarding the pictures you have per-
mitted me to select, my servant shall
call for them this evening to save you
the trouble Of sending them"
'It Is no trouble" began Ferrari.
Pardon me-" I interrupted him;
"you must allow me to arrange the
matter In my own way. I am some
what self-willed. as you know"
He bowed and smiled-the smile OF
a courtier and sycophant--a smile L
hated. He eagerly proposed to ac-
company me back to my hotel, but l
declined this somewhat peremptorily,
though at the same time thanking him
for his courtesy. The truth was, 1 had
had almost too much of his society:
the strain III my nerve began to tell;
l craved to be alone. I felt that IL I
were much longer with him l should
be tempted to spring at him and throt-
tie the life out of him. As 1t was, I
babe him adieu with friendly though
constrained ~politeness; he was pro-
fuse In his acknowledgements OF the
favor / had done him by purchasing
his pictures. I waived all thanks
aside, assuring him that my satisfac-
ton in the matter far exceeded his,
and that I was proud to be the pos
SCISSOR Of such valuable proofs of his
Dapiuo 10 oUaIlOvvor INV E.S-- 90