Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-14

the graves VI us uedu uuuul Gus d.
though they woe odorous banks Of
flowers. "Oggi. Oggi." is their cry
today, today, Never mind what hap
Lened yesterday, or what will happen
tomorrOw-leave that to signori
Santi and Ia Signora Madonna, And
after all there is a grain of reason in
their folly, for many of the bitterest
niseTies of man grow out of fata
habit Of looking back or locking for
ward, and of never living actually in
the full-faced present. Then, too
Carnival was approaching; Carnival
which, though denuded of many of its
best and brightest features, still reels
through the streets of Naples with
something of the picturesque madness
."2t in old times used to accompany
its prototype, the Feast of Bacchus.
was reminded of this coming festivity
on the morning of the 21st of Deem
ter, when l noted some unusual at
tenpts on the part of Vincenzo to con-
troll his cOuntenance, that often, in
spite Of his efforts, broadened into a
sunny smile as though some humorous
th0ught had fitted across his mind.
He betrayed himself at last by asking
me demurely whether | purposed TAX
ing any part in the carnival? | smiled
and shook my head. Vincenzo looked
dubious, but finally summoned up
courage to say:
will then eccellenZa pei nit
You to make a fool of yourself?" |
interrupted, by all means! Take your
own time, enjoy the fun as much as
you please; [ promise you l will ask
no account Of your actions"
He was much gratified, and attended
to me with even more punctiliousness
than usual. AS he prepared my break
fast | asked him:
''By the way when does the carni-
val begin?"
con the 26th," he answered, with a
slight air of surprise. "Surely the
eccellenZa knows"
yes, yes" I said, impatiently 81
know, but [ had forgotten. I am not
young enough to keep the dates of
these follies in my memory. What
letters have you there?"
He handed me small tray full of
different shaped missives, some from
fair ladies who desired the honor of
my company, others from tradesmen,
praying the honor of my custom" all
from male and female toadies as usual,
[ thought contemptuously, as | turned
them over, when my glance was sud-
denly arrested by one special envelope
square in form and heavily bordered
with black, on which the postmark
Roma" stood out distinctly. cat
last" I thought, and breathed heavily.
turned to my valet, who was giving
the final polish to my breakfast cup
and saucer:
You may leave the room, Vincenzo,"
I said, briefly. He bowed, the door
orencd and shut noiselessly-he was
gone
Slowly I broke the seal of that fate
full letter; a letter from Guido Ferrari,
a warrant self-signed, for his own ex-
ecution!
My Best Friend" so it ran, you
will guess by the black flag on my
envelope the good news [ have to give
you. My uncle is dead at last, thank
God. and I am left his sole heir I'M
conditiOnally. [ am free, and shall
OF course return to Naples Immediately
that is, as soon as some trifling law
business has been got through with
the executors. I believe | can arrange
my return for the 23d or oath instant,
but will telegraph to you the exact day,
and, if possible, the exact hour. Will
you Obilge me by not announcing this
to the countess, as [ wish to take her
by surprise. Poor girl! she will have
often felt lonely, | am sure, and | want
to see the first beautiful look of rap
ture and establishment in her eyes!
You can understand this, can you not,
AMIGO, or does it seem to you a folly?
1t any rate, I should consider it very
chWlish were | to keep you in ignor-
ance of my coming home, and | know
the news should be withheld from
Nina. How delighted she will be, and
what a joyous carnival we will have
this winter! | do not think | ever felt
more light of heart; perhaps it is be-
cause | am so much heavier in pocket
am Glad of the money, as it places me
on more equal footing with her, and
though all her letters to me have been
full of the utmost tenderness. still ]
~"o %-i17 think even better of me
now I am in position somewhat
nearer to her own. AS for you, my
good conte, on my return I shall make
est the rather large debt l owe to you
thus my honor will be satisfied, and
you, am sure, will have a better opin-
ion of
Yours to command,
Guido Ferrari"
This was the letter, and l read il
over and over again. Some of the
words burned themselves into my
memory as though they were living
fame All her letters to ne have
been full of the utmost tenderness!'
Oh miserable dupe! fooled, fooled tc
the acme of fclly even as | nad been!
She, the arcE-traitress, to prevent his
entertaining the slightest possible sus
picion or jealousy of her actions dur.
ing his absence, had written him, nc
doubt, epistles sweet as honey, brirn.
ming over with endearing epithets anG
VOWS Of constancy, even while she
knew she had accepted me as her hus-
! band-m e-good God! What devils
! dance of death it was,