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

Ferran laughed again. but this time
uneasily, and eeasing his monkeyish
pranks walked TO the window.
Smoothing Stella's turnbled hair, /
added with a sarcastic smile
This little donzella will have her
revenge when she grows up. Recol-
Letting how one man teased her in
childhood, she, I'm return, win consider
herself justified In teasing all men.
Do you not agree with me, MadameT'
/ said, turning to my wife, who gave
me a sweetiy coQuettish look as she
ans wered-
"Well really, Conte. I do not know!
For with the remembrance OF one
msI who seased her, must come also
the thought OF another who was kind
TO her-yourself-she viii find II diff
lcult 10 decide the juste milieu."
A subtle compliment vas meant TO
be conveyed in these wcrds-I acknow-
lodged 1t by a slight g,strre OF ed
miration which she quickly under
stood aud accepted. Was ever a man
In the position OF being ~deiicately fat
tered by his own wife before? I think
not! Generally, married persons are
like candid friends-fond OF telling
each other very unpleasant truths, and
altogether avoiding the least soupcon
and fattery. Though / was not so
much battered as amused, considering
the position Of affairs. Just then a ser
want threw open the door and announc-
ed dinner. 1 set my child very gently
down from my knee and wbisperingly
told her that I would come In and see
her soon again. She smiled trustfully,
and then In obedience 10 her mothers
imperitiye gesture, slipped quietly out
OF the ROOM. AS soon as she had gone,
l praised her beauty warrington she
was really a lovely little thing--but l
could see Egy admiration OF her was
net very acceptable to either my wife
or her lover. We all ven 10 dinner
/, as guest, having privilege Of escort
ing my fair and spotless spouse. On
reaching the dining-room, Nina
said
"You are such an old friend OF the
family, Conte, that perhaps you will
not mind sitting at the head of the Ia
bleY
'Tropp' onore, Signorar' I answered
bowling calamity.
As at once resumed my rightful
place at my own table, Ferrari placing
himself at my right, Nina at my left.
The butler, my fathers servant and
mine, stood as of old behind my
chair, and / noticed that each time he
supplied me with wine he eyed me
with a certain timid curiosity-but /
knew / had a singular and c%onspicu-
Gus appearance, which easily account
ed for his inquisitiveness. Opposite
to where L sat hung my fathers por-
trait-the character 1 p~ersonated per-
mitted me to look at IL fixedly and give
full vent to the deep sigh which In
very earnest broke from my heart.
The eyes of the picture seemed to
gaze into mine with a sorrowful com
passion-almost / fancied the firm-set
lips trembled and moved to echo my
sigh.
us that a good l~lkeness?" Ferrari
asked suddenly.
/ started, and recollecting myself,
answered.
Excellent! So true a resemblance
that Ii arouses a long train OF memoir
les In my mind-memories both bitter
and sweet. All! what a proud fellow
he vast
"Fabio was also very proud" chin
ed in my wife's sweet voice. Very
cold and naughty"
Little liar! How dared she utter
this libel IN my memory! Naughty, 1
might have been 20 others, but never
to her;-and GOODNESS was no part OF
my nature. Would that Ii were!
Would that I had been q pillar of ice,
incapable OF thawing In the sunlight
OF her witching smilel Had she for
| evattnn xvhnt a CIu un xxfaa 10 harS
what a poor, adoring, passionate fool
/ became under the influence OF her
hypocritical caresses! I thought this
TO myself, but I answered aloud
.lndeedl I am surprised to hear that.
The Romani hauteur had ever to my
mind something genial and yielding
about it'll know my friend was al
ways most gentle to his dependents"
The butler here coughed APOLOGIZE
cally behind his hand-an old trick Of
his. and one which signiied his In
tense desire 10 speak.
Ferrari laughed, as he held out his
glass for more wine.
Here is old Giacomo,' he said nod
ding to him lightly.
ale remembers both the Romans
aske him his opinion OF Fabio-he wor-
SHIPPED his master"
/ turned 10 my servant and with a
binignant air addressed him
"Your face is not familiar to me,
my friend" I said. Perhaps you
were not here when l visited the elder
Count Romani?'
"No. EcceiienZa." replied Giacomo,
rubbing his. withered hands n~eryously
together. and speaking with a sort Of
suppressed eagerness, II came into my
lords service only a year before the
countess died-I NEAR the mother Of
the young count"
"Ah, then | missed making your ac-
quaintance." I said kindly, plying the
poor old fellow, as I noticed how his
lips trembled. and how altogether
broken he looked. "You knew the last
count from childhood. them"
~ did, Eccelenzar' And his bleared
eyes royed over me with a sort Of
alarmed inquiry.
''You loved him well?" I said rom
posedly, observing his embarrassment.
"Eccllenza, ! never wish to serve a
better master. He was goodness itself
IA fine, handsome, generous lad-the