Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-12
CHAPTER XXI.

,,olar and favorable reports or the
-,odral decrease of the cholera began
% cain ground with the suffering and
t,rri7ad poulation. Business was re-
snmed as usual, pleasure had again
ber yotaries, and society whirled round
orca more in its giddy waltz as though
I, had never left off dancing. | ar
lived in the city somewhat early in the
aav and had time to make some pre-
urinary arrangements for my plan of
sction. | secured the most splendid
amt of apartments in the best hotel,
ir,nressing the whole establishment
with a vast idea of my wealth and i'm
Dortance. | casually mentioned to
The landlord that | desired to pur-
chase a carriage and horses-that
needed a first-class valet, and a few
ether trines of the like sort, and added
chat relied on his good advice and
communication as to the places where
7 shonld best obtain all that | sought.
NoedIess to say, he became my slave
never was monarch better served
than THE very walters hustled each
thor in a race to attend upon me, and
-enorts of my princely fortune, gen
arosity. and lavish expenditure began
n fit from mouth to mouth-whlch
was the result desired to obtain.
And now the evening Of my first day
IN Naples came, and |, the supposed
Conte Cesare Olivia, the envied ana
catered noble, took the first step to-
ward nv vengeance. 1t was one or
the loveliest evenings possible, even In
that lovely land-a soft breeze Die"
in from the seattle sky was pearl
like and pure as an opal, yet bright
with delicate shifting clouds of Grim
son and pale mauve-small. heecy
fecks of radiance, that looked like
shower of blossoms fallen from some
far invisible flower land. The waters
of the bay were slightly ruff1ed by the
wind. and curled into tender little
dark-bIue waves tipped with light
fringes of foam. After dinner | went
out and took my way to well-known
and popular cafe which used to be
favorite haunt of mine in the days
when | was know as Fabio Romani
Guido Ferrari was constant habltue
of the place, and | felt that | should
md him there. The brilliant rose
white and gold saloons were crowded,
and owing to the pleasant GOODNESS OF
the air there were hundreds of little
tables pushed far out into the street,
at which groups Of persons were seat
ed enjoying ices, wine, or coffee, and
COngratulating each other on the
agreeable news of the steady decrease
Of the pestilence that had Iavaged the
city. ! glanced covertly yet quickly
round. Yes! | was not mistaken
there was my quondam friend, my
traitorous foe, sitting at his ease,
leaning comfortably back in one chair,
his feet put up on another. He was
smoking, and glancing, now and then,
through the columns of the Paris
Figaro" He was dressed entirely in
black-a hypoeritical livery, the SOM
Der hue OF which suited his fine COM
I'eXion and perfectly handsome feat
ures to admiration. On the little
niger OF the shapely hand that every
row and then was raised to adjust his
ciear sparkled a diamond that gave
out a myriad scintillations as it
flashed in the evening light-it was
Of exceptional size and brilliancy, and
even at distance l recognized it as
my own property,
So,-a lOve-gift, signor, or an in
memOriam of the dear and valued
friend you have lest? | wondered
Watching him in dark scorn the while
then recollecting myself | sauntered
slowly toward him, and perceiving a
clsengaged table next to his, | drew a
'hair to 1t and sat down. He looked at
NE lndlfferently over the top of his
neWspaper-but there was nothing
specially attractive in the sign of a
"hIte- haired man wearing smoke
'o'ored spectacles. and he resumed his
PeFusal of the Figaro" Immediately.
raped the end OF my walking cane
"n the table and summoned waiter
rom whom | ordered coffee. | then
Hshted cigar, and initiating Ferrari's
FSy posture, smoked also. Some
ming in my attitude then appeared to
strike him, for he laid down his paper
Ano again looked at me, this time with
more interest and something OF I'M
edslness. Ca commence, mo1 anil"
thought, hut turned my head slightly
aside and feigned to be absorbed in
'1e view. Ny coffee was brought
t''a Tor II and tossed the waiter an
unusually large gratuity-he naturally
'''Aa It incumbent upon him to polish
%! table with extra zeal end to secure
a.. the newspapers. pictorial or other
wise that we're lying about. for the
purpose Of ohsequiously depcsiting
'.'m in hca7 Mt my right hand. |
.aresseC tits amiable garcon in the
.arsf and deliberate accents OF my
"'5laIly d seuiscd voice.
by the way. suppose you know
A-r.es weU?".
~ 81 s,pnor!"
@asene. can YOU tell me the way