Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-11-21
TX re had quarreled. I don't
wv know what about; neither
anita kuaSv I think CnA Of

~ II ubu wv
NV know what about: neither
V quite knew, I think. One Of
those unexplained qnarrels when We
thought mean things Of each other
without any cause, and then 3ustined
the others condemnation by mcaner
actions. We were polite to stupidity,
and our conversation was interlarded
with the poorest satire, In which We
sxulted 40 displaying the sharpness OF
our wit and the indifference Of our fssl.
lnss. We ruthlcssly stabbed, and won
Aered every time at the others cruelty
with renewed sense Of surprise.
whilst ponderlng on a return tiruss
likely to prove more hurtful. Every
day we seemed to be growing farther
from the possibility Of reconciliation.
ali at last We became quite friendly In
our enmity. We ceased to BIZ personal.
and only discussed outside matters.
Our hearts had solidly frozen-we, who
had loved each other 90 much-there
was no longer warmtl enough even for
satire. We ate ous meals silently to-
Sether in the great hall OF the queer old
Inn Of MONTENEGRO, which was built high
up on the rocks abDv. the swift river
coiling about their bass 40 feet below.
an impregnable stronghold In the old
times OF the border wars. AMI now but
q hostelry for travellers crossing the
wild forest lands thar stretched for
miles 10 tho horizon. ! had come to
meet the Count, my father. on his why
south. but he had been detained. and
Ugo had declared he would not leave
me In the desolate old castle I'LL safer
protector than my female attendant
should arrive. I acquiesced--how will.
insly then. when my heart beat at the
Sound Of his footsteps. and the gloomy
halls seemed 20 inystcriously delight.
full whilst he was there! Things had
indeed changed! Now I protested i'm.
patiently at tho waiting. Would not
my father soon arrive? Yet surely I
dreaded his advent. which would mean
our parting without ever . reconcilia.
tion.
He offered to ride to his encounter. I
murmured. HE might II he wished"
and turned away with my heart sink.
ing into my toes. He did not 60, how.
ever, and In this found further cause
for q display oeill-hussos. He success.
fully retaliatcd. TIL I despised him with
all my soul, and wondered how ever
could have thought him aught but .
bear.
One day. 90 I strobe angrily along
the corridor, I encountered one Of the
guests had not before noticed. though
later ] remembered that she had been
about the Inn for some days. She was
. little person, not 10 much In height
she might have been % tall 40 myself
a. In general effect; she looked little.
and had the meanest c0untenance had
ever beheid. took such q sudden dis.
like 70 the creature that Involuntary
drew my skirts aside 40 she passed.
Later ON In the day We both observed
her At table In the company Of q man
He was taller than she. yet had the
same appearance Of puny meanness,
An !mpotcnt pugnacity marked the
whole Of his lrascible physiagnomy. the
features Of which were white and form.
less. The two openly wrangled during
the whole course Of the meal. % that We
could not help laughing at the ridicu,
iousness Of their behavior. They
banded words ON every conceivable
subject. "Pray don't cat your soup q
II you were fond Of It," said she;
hate to see people eat their soup In tina,
way" "You hate every one but your
SELF" said he. perhaps do, wher
every one has diminished to you" chi
replied.
"How brutal they arev murmur.t
Ugo.
laughed. Well. we were well.bred II
our quarrels. at any rate. Whatevel
We thought We took care to conceal II
elaborate politeness worthy, certainly
OF better feelings. think he under
stood what was passing through my
mind, for he flushed a little angrily
Surely I did not mean to compare our
selves to these low creatures. whose de
formed bodies seemed the index to thel
crooked souls. Whether did or not,
succeeded In hiding further expression
Of my thoughts.
During the following days we became
better friends; the discussion OF thes,
oddities made us forget something O
our own rancor. We were pleased Il
condemn them. and philosophlze ON tn
usefulness Of such beings on earth, thei
hideousness and evident disconten
with life. Whenever we came acros
them our l0athing increased. It hap
pened one afternoon as We were seate,
on the parapet of the tower overlooking
the dense stretch of wooded countr,
to westward, and the silver serpen
river, whose color deepened with tn
setting Of the sun. till the whole be
came winding line Of molten crimson
at our feet. that strange emotion
caused by the w0ndrous scene. stirre'
~ both. We turned to look at ono an
other, when the sight Of their vile o.
ures intercepted our glances, and thei
querul0us voices echoed In the grea
silence-petty. stupid, mean.
II wonder that they can even think O
such things" said q little hotly
whereat an odd look crept into Ugo'
eyes, which made me feel suddenly II
dignans. No doubt he was comparin
me to them. How small Of him to d
that! How disliked the way be dar
gled his feet against the parapet. hi
sword between his knees! ! rose U
and went In. He could listen and q
JOY the company Of those horrible ps'