Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-16
XVI.

weeks passed. and during that snort
snace had established myself In Ma
ples as a great personaGe-great De
cause of my wealth and the style III
which lived. No one in all the nv
merous families of distinction mat
eagerly sought my acquaintance caIeu
vhetber had intellect or intrinsic
worth: it suficed to them that kept
a carriage and pair, an elegant ana
costly eauipage. softly lined with satli
and drawn by two Arabian mares as
black as polished ebony. The value OF
NV friendship was measured ny the
l~uxurlousness Of my box at the opera,
and by the dainty fittings Of my yacht'
3 swift trim vessel furnished "lth
every luxury, and having on board Il
band of stringed instruments when
discorded sweet music when the moon
rmutlcd her horn of silver radiance on
the ripping water. la a little WINE
knew everybody who was worth know
ing in Naples, everywhere my name
was talked Of, my doings were enron
icled in the fashionable newspapers
stories Of my lavish generosity were re-
peatea from mouth TO mouth, ana the
most highly Colorad reports OF my I'M
menge revenues we're whispered with
a kind Of GREATNESS awe at every cafe
and street corner, Tradesmen waylaid
my reticent valet, Vincenzo, ana gave
him douceurs In the hope he would OBJ
tain my custom for them tips
which he pocketed in his usual re-
served and discreet manner, but when
he was always honest enough to tell
me Of a~fterward. He would most
faithfully give me the name and ad-
dress Of this or that particular
temptcr Of his fidelity, always adding
As to whether the rascal sells good
things or had ON Lady only knows,
but truly nc gave me thirty francs to
secure your exceIlency's goodwill,
Though for all that / would not recon-
mend him if your cxcellency knows Of
an honester mani
Among other distinctions which my
wealth forced upon me, were the Law
ish attentions OF matchmaking
IrbltiflH ~ li blhth DllNtltlliHt W NV
/ always wore. were not repulsiVe To
these diplomatic dames-on the con-
trary. some Of them assured me they
were most becoming. 50 anxious were
they to secure mo as a s~on-in-laW.
Fair girls In their teens. blushing and
Ingenious. were a~rtfully introduced to
me--or | should say, thrust forward
like slaves In a market for my lnspec-
ton though 20 do them justice, they
were remarkably shrewd and sharp
yitted for their tender years. Young
as they We're. they were keenlv alive to
the Importance of making a good
match and no doubt the pretty inno-
cents laid many dainty schemes IN
their own minds for liberty and enjoy
meut when one or the other Of them
should become the Countess Olivia and
fool the Old black sNectacled husband
20 her hearts content Needless o
say their plans We're not destined 10
he fulfilled. though / rather enjoyed
studying the many devices they emf
pluyed TO flsciuate me, What pretty
ogling glauces I received what whia-
pored admiration of my beautiful
white hair So disljnau6l' what
TRICKS Of manner. alternating from
grave 10 gay. from rippling mlrth to
witching laugour' Many au evening |
sat at ease ON board my yacht. watch.
inE with q satiricul inward amuse-
ment one perhaps two or three, ol
Thaln Fgtr g.I. pt-yg rgr,4nlf,e 4NaFr