Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-02

This little donzella will have her
revenge when she grows up. Recollect-
ing how one man leased her in child
hood, she in return, will consider her
self justified in teasing all men. Do
you not agree with me, madame?" |
said, turning to my wife, who gave NE
a sweetly coQuettish look as she an
swered'
We'll, really, conte, do not know
For with the remembrance of one man
who leased ner, must come also the
thought of another who was kind to
-yourself-she will find it difficult
to decide the juste milieu''
A subtle compliment was meant tt
be conveyed in these words. l &C
knowledged it by a silent gesture of
admiration, which she quickly under
stood and accepted. Was ever a man
in the position of being delicately fiat
tered by his own wife before? I think
not. Generally married persons are
like candid friends-fond of telling
each other very unpleasant truths. an
altogether avoiding the least soupcon
of f1attery. Though l was not so much
flattered as 1musad-considerin the
position of affairs! Just then a SER
want threw open the door and an
nounced dinner. | set my child very
gently down from my knee and whis-
peringly told her that I would come to
see her soon again. She smiled trust
fully, and then in obedience to her
mothers imperative gesture, slipped
quietly out of the room AS soon as
she had gone : praised her feauty
warmly, for she was really , -cyely
little thing-hut / could see my ad-
miration of her was not very accept
able to either my wife or her lover.
We all went in to dinner, as guest,
having the privilege of escorting my
fair and spotless spousel On our
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
tablet"
certainly, signora!" l answered,
bowling CALAMITY, as I at once resumed
my rightful place at my own table,
Ferrari placing himself on my right
hand, Nina on my left. The butler.
my fathers servant and mine, stood
as of old behind my chair, and I no.
ticed that each time he supplied me
with wine he eyed me with a certain
t1mid curiosity-but [ knew [ had a
singular and conspicuous appearance,
which easily accounted for his in
quisitiveness. Opposite to where I
sat, hung my fathers portrait-the
char acted I personated permitted me
to look at it fxedly 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 sor"owful compassion-almo I fan
cied the firm-set lips trembled and
moved to echo my sigh
rs that a good likeness?' Ferrari
asked, suddenly
[ started, and recollecting myself,
answered:
Excellent! So true a resem blance
that it arouses a long train of mem
cries in my mind-memories both bit
ter and sweet. All! what a proud fell
low he was!"
Pablo was also very proud" chimed
in my wife's sweet voice. Every cold
and naughty
Little liari How dared she utter
this libel on my memory! Naughty,
I might have been to others, but never
to her-and GOODNESS was no part of
my nature. Would that it were! Would
that | had oeen a pillar of ice, inca
pable of thawing in the sunlight Of her
witching smilei Had she forgotten
what a slave I was to her? what a
poor, adoring, passionate fool I became
under the influence of her hypocritical
caresses-I thought this to myself, but
aloud I answered:
Indeed | am surprised to hear
that. The Romani hauteur had ever
to my mind something genial and
yielding about it know my friend
was always most gentle to his de-
pendents."
To be Continued