Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-11

!
Luciano Salustri idy back at ease in
his chair, his classic head reclining
on the velvet cushions, and recited in
low and measured tones one Of his
own poems. caring little or nothing
whether his neighbors attended 10 him
or not. The glib tongue Of the Mar
cheese Gualdro ran on smoothly and
necessarily, though he frequently lost
the thread of his anecdotes and became
involved in a maze of contradictory
assertions The rather large nose of
the Chevalier Mancini Redeemed visi-
| bly, as he laughed joyously to himself
a. nothing in particular-in short, the
table had become glittering whirl-
pool of excitement and feverish folly,
| which at mere touch, or word out
OF season, might rise to raging
storm of frothy dissension The Duke
| di Marina and myself alone of all
| the company We're composed as usual
he had resisted the champagne, and as
for me, | had let all the splendid wines
go past me, and had not taken more
than two glasses of a mild Chant
| glanced keenly round the riotous
board noted the flushed faces and
rapid gesticulations of my guests, and
! listened to the Babel of conflicting
tongues. | drew long breath as
looked | calculated that in two or
! three minutes at the very least | might
! throw down the trump card | had
held so patiently in my hand all the
| evening.
/ took close observation Of Ferrari
He had edged his chair little away
| from mine. and was talking conf
| IDENTIFY TO his neighbor, Captain de
| Hamal-his utterance was low and
thick, but yet | distinctly heard him
enumerating in somewhat coarse Ian
! guage the exterior charms of woman
what woman | did not stop TO con-
sider-the burning idea struck me that
| he was describing the physical per-
/ fections of my wife to this De Hamal
/ a mere spadaccino, for whom there
was nothing sacred in heaven or
! earth. My blood rapidly heated itself
! to boiling point-to this day | remem-
! Der how it throbbed in my temples,
| leaving my hands and feet icy cold.
rose in my seat, and tapped on the
| table to call for silence and attention
/ but for some time the noise of argu
ment and the clatter of tongues were
So great that | could not make my
self heard. The duke endeavored to sec
| end my efforts, but in vain. At last
! Ferrar's notice was attracted--he
! turned round, and Selling a dessert
/ knife beat with it on the table and on
! lis own plate so noisily and persist
/ emily that the loud laughter and con-
| versation ceased suddenly. The mo-
ment had COME raised my head,
| fixed my spectacles more firmly over
my eyes. and spoke in distinct and
! steady tones, first of all stealing a
covert glance toward Ferrari. He had
/ sunk back again lazily in his chair and
/ was lighting cigarette.
| my friends" | said, meeting with a
/ smile the inquiring looks that were
/ directed toward me, Il have presumed
to interrupt your mirth for moment,
not to restrain 1t, but rather to give
/ tia fresh impetus. | asked you all here
! tonight, as you know, to honor me by
! your presence and to give welcome
! to our mutual friend, Signor Guido
/ Ferrar." Here | was interrupted by
| loud clapping of hands and ejacula-
| tons of approval, while Ferrari him
! self murmured affably between two
puffs of his cigarette, Troop onore,
AMIGO, tropp' onore!" | resumed,
This young and accomplished gentle
man, who is believe, a favorite with
you all, has been compelled through
domestic affairs TO absent himself
Z from our circle for the past few weeks,
and | think he must himself be aware
how much we have missed his pleas
ent company. 1t will, however, be
agreeable to you, as it has been for
me, to know that he has returned 10
Naples a richer man than when he left
it-that fortune has done him justice,
and that with the possession OF abun-
Gant wealth he is at last called upon
TO enjoy the reward due to his merits!'
Here there was more clappng Of
hands and explanations of pleasure.
while those who were seated near
Ferrari raised their glasses and drank
TO his health with congratulations, all
Of which courtesies he acknowledged
by a nonchalant, self-satisfied bow.
| glanced at him again-hcw tranquil
he looked reclining among the Grim
son cushions of his chair, Drimming
glass Of champagne beside him, the
cigarette between his lips, and his
handsome face slightly upturned,
though his eyes rested half drowsily
on the uncurtained window through
which the Bay Of Naples was seen
glittering In the moonlight
continued: 1T was, gentlemen,
that you might welcome and congratu-
late Signor Ferrari as you have done,
that I assembled you here tonight