Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-19

the jew els 10 her, he exclaimed. "A al
| may say, count, that had you search
ed the whole world over, you could
not have found one whose beauty was
more fitted to show them off to advan-
tage. assure you her loveliness is of
most exquisite character"
n doubt" | said, dryly. Il take
your word for it. | am no Judge of a
fair face or form. And now, my good
request you to leave me in solitude
for the present. Between three and
four O'Clock | shall be at your studio"
He rose at once to take his leave. |
placed the oaken box of jewels in the
leather case which had been made to
contain it, strapped and locked it, and
handed it TO him together with it's
key. he was profuse in his compli-
ments ard thanks-almost obsequious,
in truth-and | discovered another de-
feet In his character-a defect which,
as his friend in former days, | had
guessed nothing of. | saw that very
little encouragement would make him
as today-a fawning s~ervitor on the
wealthy-and in our old time of
friendship ] had believed him to be
far above all such meanness, but
rather OF a manly, Independent nature
that scorned hypocrisy Thus we are
deluded even by our nearest and dear
est-and is it well or i'll for us, | Won
der, when we are at last undeceived?
Is not the destruction of illusion worse
than illusion itself? 1 thought so, as
my quondam friend clasped my hand
in farewell that morning. What would
/ not have given to believe in him as
| once did! 1 held open the door of my
room as ne passed out, carrying a box
Of jewels for my wife, and as | babe
him a brief adieu, the well-worn story
my mind. He, Guido, like Tristram
would in a short space clasp the gem
med necklace round the throat of one
as fair and false as the tabled ~Iseulte.
and should | figure as the wronged
king? How does the English laureate
put it in his idyl on the subject?
Marks way, said Mark, and Glove
him through the BRAIN
Too sudden ard sweet a death by far
for such a traitor The Cornish king
should have known how to torture his
betrayer. knew-and | meditated
deeply on every point of my design, as
| sat alone for an hour after Ferrari
had left me. | had many things to do
i had resolved OF making myself a
parsonage of Importance in Naples, and
| wrote several letters and sent out
yisiting-cards to certain well-establish-
ed families of distinction as necessary
preliminaries to the result | had in
view. That day, too. | engaged a valet
"a silent and discreet Tuscan named
Vincenzo Flamma. He was an admir-
ably trained servant-he never asked
questions-was too dignitied to gossip,
and rendered me instant and implicit
obedience-in fact, he was a gentle
man in his way, with far better man
ners than many who lay claim to that
title. lie entered upon his duties at
cnce, and never did 1 know him to
neglect the most tritling thing that
could add to my satisfaction or COM
fort. In making arrangements with
him, and in attending to various lit
tie matters OF business, the hours slip
ped rapidly away, and in the after
noon, at the time appointed, | made
my way to t'errari's studio. / knew 1t
of old had no need to consult the
card he had left with me on which the
address was written. 1t was a queer,
quantity built little place, situated at
the top of an ascending road-its
windows commanded an extensive
view of the bay and the surrounding
scenery, Many and many a happy
hour had / passed there before my
marriage, reading some tavorite book,
OF watching Ferrari as he painted his
crude landscapes and figures. o
of which | good-naturedly purchased
as o as completed. The little
porch over-grown with star-jasmlne
looked strangely and s~orrowfully fa-
miliar to my eyes, and my heart X
perienced a %sickening pang of regret
for the past, as | pulled the ben and
heard the little tinkling sound to
which | was so well acquainted. Fer
rari himself opened the door TO me
with eager rapidity-he looked ex-
cited and radiant.
Come in, come int" he cried, with
ELUSIVE cordiality. You will find
everything in confusion, but pray TX
Cuse it. It is some time since | had
any visitors. Mind the steps, conte,-
the place is rather dark just here
every one stumbles at this particular
corner
So talking, and Laughing as he talk
ed, he escorted me W the short mar
now flight OF stairs to the light airy
room where he usually worked. Glanc-
ing round il, | saw at once the evil
dences OF neglect and disorder-he
had certainly not been there for many