Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-06-13

whom lie had spoken so often and so
cordially. For when | visited Rome,
as | was accustomed to do annually,
there were few more welcome guests
ut the halls of the Quirinul palace
Than Count Fnbio Romani | began to
wonder stupidity who l'abio Romani
was; the gay gallant known as such
seemed no longer to have any en-
istcncc "A "whitc-h,ircd fisherman"
usurpcd his place. but though 1
thought these things i rcflainel from
addressing the king. Some impulse.
however. led mo to follow him ut a
respectful distance. as did also many
others. His majesty Strollcd through
tile most presidential streets with as
much lmconccrn us though he We're
taking his pleasure in IL garden of
roses; lie stepped quietly into the
dirticst novels where lazy both dead
and dying; he spoke words of kindly
encouragement to Che isricf-sirickcn
and terrified mo,nners, WHIP stared
through their tears ut the monarch
with aSloniShmcnt and gratitude: sill
YER and gold were gently dropped
into The hands of the suffering poor.
and the Very pressing eases received
the royal bencractor's personal attcn-
1ion and Immediate relief. Mothers
with infants in 1hcil. arms llnclt to inn
plorc the kings blessing. which 10
pnssify them he gave with Il modest
Hesitation. as though he Thought him
self unworthy. and yet With Il parental
tenderness tina, was infinitely touching
One wil,l-cyeh blacl-h:irrd girl fun.
herself down on the ground right in the
kings path: she kissed his feet and
,&-if1, Of
triumph.
II am savc1." She cried. "thc plague
cannot walk in the same road with
the king"
Humbert smiled and regarded her
somewhat as an indul@cnt father might
regard Il spoilt daughter: but lie said
nothing and passed on. \ cluster of
men and women standing at the open
door of one of the poorest looking
houses in the street next attracted
the monHrch's attention There WAS
some noisy argument going on: two
or three baccamorti We're loudly dis
cuSSins together and crying bitterly.
and in the centre of the excited group
Il coffin stood on end as though
waiting for an occupant. One of the
gentlemen in attendance on the king
preceded him and announced his APP
proach whcrcupon. the loud clnmor of
tongues ceased, the men barred their
heads. and the women checked their
Sobs.
What is wrong here. my fricnds?"
the monarch asked with exceeding ucu-
tlcncSS.
There WAS silence for a moment: the
beccamorti looked sullcn and ashamed.
Inen one of the women with Il fat
Soo1-natlilel face and eyes trimmed
reilly with weeping. elbowcd her WHY
through the little throng to the front
and spoke.
May the Holy Virgin and saints
bless your majesty" she cried in shriIl
accents. And as for what is wrong,
it would soon be right if these shame
less pigs. pointing to the baccamorti,
would let us alone. They will kill a
man rather than wait an hour-onc
little hour! The girl is dead. yorr
majesty. and Giovanni. poor lad. will
not leave her; he has his two arms
round her tight:-EIoly Virgin. think
of it. and she Il cholera corpse-und
do what we can lie will not be parted
from her. and they seek her body for
the burial. And if we force him away,
poverino, he will lose his head for GER
tain. One little hour. your majesty.
just one. and the reverend father will
come and persuade Giovanni better
than we can"
The king raised his hand with
slight gesture of command-the little
crowd parted before him-and he en-
tered the miserable dwelling wherein
lay the corpse that was the cause of
all the argument. His attendants fol
lowed. l. too. awaited myself a corner
in the doorway. The Some disclosed
was so terribly pathetic. that few could
look upon it without emotion-IIunbert
of Italy himself uncovered his head
and stood silent On II poor pallet bed
lay the fair body of n girl in her first
youth. her tender loneliness as vet I'M
touched even by the disliguring marks
of the death that had overtnken her.
One would have thought she slept had
1t not been for the rigidity of her
stiffened limbs and the wax-lil1e pallor
of her face and hands. Right across
her form. almost covering it from
view, IL man lay prone, as though lie
had fallen there lifeless; indeed he
might have been dead also for any
sign he showed to the contrary. His
arms We're closed firmly around the
girls colpse,-his face was hidden from
view on the cold breast that would no
more respond to the warmth of his
caresses. A straight beam Oe sunlight
shot like golden spear into tile dark
little room and lit up the whole scene.
tile PROSTATE figure on the he'd. the
erect form Of the compassionate king.
ami the grave and anxious faces of the
little crown Of people who stood around
him.
See! that is the way he has been
ever since last night when she died"
whispered the woman who had before
spokcn-";lnd his hands are clinchcd
around her like iron-one cannot move
aHnger"'
The king advanced. He touched the
shoulder of the unhappy lover. His
voice, modulatI to an exquisite soft
ness, struck on the ears of the listeners
like note of cheerful music
''Figlio MOL"
There was no answer. The women.
touched by the simple endeariny words
IL "a