Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-25

II gA~ CgkakEkAANF1 A $500 E&AEfG
he is dead-my old heart almost broke
when | heard IL. 1 have never been
the same gince-my lady will tell you
so-she Is often ~displeased with me-
And he looked wisrfully at her. there
was a note Of pleading in his hesitat-
ing accent. Ny wife's delicate brows
drew together in a frown; n frown that
/ had once thought came from mere
petulance, but which I was now in
clined TO accept as q sign Of temper.
"Yes, indeed Giacomo," she said in
hard tones altogether unlike her usual
musical voice ~You are growing SO
~forgetful that 1t is positively annoying.
You know / have often 10 tell you the
same thing several times. One COM
mand ont 70 be sufficient for you"
Giacomo passed his hand over his
forehead in a troubled way, sighed
and was silent. Then, as II suddenly
r~ecollecting his duty. he refIled my
glass, and shrinking aside resumed
his former position behind my chair.
The conversation now turned OF de-
sultory and Indifferent matters. /
knew my wife was an excellent talk
er, but on that particular evening I
think she surprised herself. She had
resolved TO fascinate me, that / saw
at once, and she spared no pains TO
succeed in her ambition. Graceful
~sallies, witty bon-mots tipped with
the pungent sparkle OF satire, gay
stories well and briskly told, all came
easily from her lips, so that though
/ knew her so well, she almost sur
prIsed me by her variety and effuency.
Yet this gift Of good conversation in a
woman Is apt TO mislead the judgment
OF those who listen, for 1t Is seldom
the result Of thought, and still more
seldom Is Ii a proof Of intellectual
capacity. A woman talks as a brook
babbles; pleasantly but without
depth. Her information Is generally
of the most surface kind,-she skins
the cream Off each item of news, and
serves IL up to you In her own fash
ion, caring little whether IL be correct
or the reverse And the more viva
ciously she talks, the more likely she
Is TO dangerously insincere and cold
hearted, for the very sharpness of her
wit is apt TO spoil the more delicate
perceptions of her nature. Show me
a brilliant woman noted for turning
an epigram or pointing a satire, and
l will show you a creature whose life
Is a masquerade full Of vanity, SEN
suality and pride. The man who mar
ries such an one mus: be content 10
take the second place in the household
and play the character OF the henpeck-
ed, husband with what meekness he
best may. Answer me, We long suffer
ing spouses of "society-woman," how
much would you give to win back your
freedom and self-respectf to be able
70 hold your head up unabashed be-
fore your own servants? 10 feel that
you can actually give an order without
Its being instantly countermanded?
All, my dear friends! millions will not
purchase you such joy; as long as
your fascinating fair ones are, like
Caesars wife, above suspicion land
they are generally prudent managers)
so long must o dance to the chains
like the good natured clumsy bears
that you are, only giving ven to a
growl now and then. a growl which
at best only excites ridicuie. My wife
was of the true world worldly; never
had / seen her real character so plain
ly as now, when she exerted herself
to entertain and charm me. / had
thought her spiritueile, ethereal, an
gelic! never was there less of an angel
than She! While she talked / was quick
to observe the changes In Ferrari's
c~ouatenance. He became more silent
and sullen as her brightness and cor
diality increased. I would not appear
aware OF the growing stiffness In de-
meanor; / continued TO draw him into
the conversation, forcing him to give
OPTIONS on various subjects connect
cd with the art of which he was pro-
fessedly a follower. He was very re-
luctant to speak at all; and when
compelled to do so, his remarks were
curt and almost snappish, SO much
that my wife made a laughing COM
ment on his behavior.
"You are positively in-tempered,
Guido!' she exclaimed, then remem-
bering she had addressed him by his
Christian name, she turned 10 me, and
added-'I always call him Guido, en-
famille; you know he is just like a
brother to me-"
He looked at her and his eyes fash
ed dangerously, but he was mute.
Nina was evidently pleased to see him
In such vexed mood; she delighted to
pique his pride, and as. he steadily
gazed at her in a sort Of ~reproachful
wonder, she laughed ~joyously. Then
rising from the table, she made US a
coquettish courtesy.
81 will leave you two gentlemen to
finish your wine together" she said,
II know all men love to talk a little
scandal, and they must be alone to
enjoy 1t. Afterwards, will you join
me in the verandah? You will find cof-
fee ready"
l fastened to open the door for her
as she passed out smiling; then, re-
turning to the table, 1 poured out
more wine for myself and Ferrari,
who sat gloomily cycling his own re-
lection In the broad polished rim of
a silver fruit-dish that stood near him.
Giacomo the butler had long ago left
the room; we were entirely alone. l
thought ove my plans for a moment
or two; the game was as interesting
as a problem In chess. With the de-
liberation Of a prudent player l made
my next move.
"A lovely womant" I murmured,
meditatively, slipping my wine, ''and
intelligent also. i admire your taste,
signor!'
ua started yiolaptIv awhat-uhat