Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-12-05

edly.
II told you so," he said desperately.
'You must remember that told you
so. And now, perhaps, ought to
warn you"
"Warn mew exclaimed in feigned
alarm. ':Of what-asainst whom?
Surely not the Contessa Romani, to
whom you were so anxious to intro
duce me? She has no illness, no in
fectious disorder? She is not danger
Gus to life or limb. is she?"
Ferrari laughed at the anxiety dis
played for my own bodily safety; an
anxiety which l managed to render
almost comic; but he looked somewhat
relieved too.
''Oh. no." he said. Il meant nothing
of that kind. I only think it fair to
tell you that she has very seductive
manners, and she may pay you little
attentions which would flatter any
man who was not aware that they are
only a part of her child-like manner,
pretty ways; in short they might lead
him enormously to suppose himself
the object of her particular preference,
and"
broke into violent fit Of laughter,
and clapped him roughly on the Shout
der.
"Your warning is quite necessary,
my good young friend" said. "Come,
now, do I look likely to attract the at
tention of an adored and capricious
beauty? Besides at my age the idea
is, monstrous! could figure as her
father. or yours, If you like, but In the
capacity of alover-impossible"
He eyed me attentively.
':She said you did not seem DID," he
murmured, half to himself and half to
me.
''Oh. l grant you she made me that
compliment, certainly" answered,
amused at the suspicious that evident
ly tortured him: land accepted it as
it was meant in kindness. am well
aware what a battered and unsightly
wreck of q man I must appear in her
eyes when contrasted with you, Sir
Antinous!'
He flushed warmly. Then, with
half-apologetic air, he said
well. you must forgive me if I
have seemed prescriptions. Tho
Countess is like "a sister to me; in
fact my late friend, Fabio encouraged
fraternal affection between us, and
now he is gone feel it more than ever
my duty to protect her, as it were.
from herself. She is so young. and
light-hearted and thoughtless that
but you understand me, do you not?'
bowed. understood him perfect
ly. He wanted no more pOachers on
the land he himself had pilfered.
Quite right, from his point of view!
But 1 was the rightful owner of the
land after all, and I naturally had a
different opinion of the matter. How
ever, I made no remark, and feiyned
to be rather bored by the turn the con-
versation was taking. Seeing this,
Ferrari exerted himself to be agree
Die; he became {: gay and entertaining
companion once more. and after he
had fixed the hoI. for our visit to the
Villa ROmani the next afternoon, our
talk turned upon various matters con-
nected with Naples and its inhabitants
and their mode Of life. I hazarded q
few remarks on the general immorali-
ty among the people. just to draw my
companion out and sound his charac-
ter more thoroughly-though thought
] knew his opinions WELL
Pooh, my dear Conte," he exclaim-
cd with light laugh, as he threw
away the end of his cigar, and watch
ed it as it burned duly like a little
red lamp among the green grass where
it had fallen, s'What is immortality af-
ter all? Merely matter of opinion.
Take the hackneyed virtue of conjugal
fidelity. When followed out to the
bitter end what is the good of it
man be tied to one woman when he
has love enough for twenty? The pref
" slender girl whom he chose as q
partner in his inpulsive youth nay
become fat. coarse, red-faced fe-
male horror by the time he has at
tained to the full vigor Of manhood;
and vet as long as she lives, the law
insists, that the full tide of his pas
Sion shall flow always in one direc-
tlOn-alWays to the same dull, level.
Improbable shore! The law is absurd,
but it exists; and the natural conse-
quence lis that we break it. Society
pretends ~ be Mortified when we do
yes. ~kndw: but it is all pretence.
And the thing is no worse in Naples
than it is in London. the capital of
the moral British race. only here we
are perfectly frank and make no eff
fort to hide our little sins, while there
they cover them up carefully and
make believe to be virtuous 1t is the
Neriest humbug-the parable of Phar-
isee and Publican over again."
Not quite" observed. 'for the
Publican was repentant and Naples is
not"
why should she beg" demanded
Nerrari, saily; what in the name of
heaven is the good of being penitent
about anything? Will 1t mend matters?
Who is to be pacificd or pleased by
our contrition? God? My dear, Conte,
there are very few Of us nowadays
VIII" believe in a Diety Creation is
ipeY caprice afstA1c natural elements.
I!'a best thing we canrGo is TO enjoy
OursGtHps while we live: we have q
very slfnt tlne Of 1t. and when we die
there Is i'm end or ull things ~ far as
Ne are concerned"
That Is your creed?' asked.
THAT Is my creed. certainly. 1t
MAS Sol0lno,i's In his heart Of hearts.
80 drink ana he merry. for to-,nor-
pa "" de ii IN the creed Of MI
i,.e.,. and OF nearly all Italy. or course
fine vulgar still cling To exploded theo.
ries OF superstitIous belief, but the