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

/ bossed and embla xoned silver cigar
case, with the Romani arms and
coronet and my own initial engraved
thereon. 1t was mine, Of course
took it with sensation of grim
amusement had not seen it since
the day died!
"A fine antique" l remarked, care
ltssly, turning it over and over in my
hand. curious and valuable. A gift
or an heirloom
1T belonged to my late friend.
Count Fabio," he answered, putting a
light cloud of smoke in the air as he
drew his cigar from his lips to speak
1T was found in his pocket by the
priest who saw him die. That and
ether trifes Which he were on his
rerson were delivered to his wife,
and
She naturally gave you the cigar
case as a memehto of your friend"
said, interrupting him.
Just So You have guessed 1t ex
actly. Thanks" and he took the
case from me as l returned it to him
with frank smile.
Is the Countess Romani young?"
forced myself to inquire,
Young and beautiful as a midsummer
morning." replied Ferrari with en-
thusiasm. Il doubt if sunlight ever
fell on more. enchanting woman. If
you were "a young man, conte, | should
be silent regarding her charms--but
your white hairs inspire one with
confidence. | assure you solemnly.
though Fabio was my friend, and an
excellent fellow in his way he was
never worthy of the woman he mar
ried"
Indeed" l said, ooldly, as this
oagger-thrust struck home to my
heart. 81 only knew him when he was
quite boy. He seemed to me then
of warm and lovirg temperament.
generous to fault. perhaps over
credulous; yet he promised well. His
father thought so: | confess | thought
SC too. Reports have reached me from
time to time of the care with which
no managed the immense fortune left
70 MIN. He gave large sums away in
charity. did he not? and was he not n
lover or books and simple pleasures ."
oh, | grant you all that" returned
Ferrarl, with some Impotence. He
was .--e most moral man in immoral
Naples If you care for that sort of
thlng philosophic- par
lait gentilhomme-proud as the devil
virtuous, unsuspecting, and-withal-
fool"
My temper rose dangerously-but I
controlled it, and remembering nv
part in the drama | had constructed
broke into violent. harsh laughter.
"Bravo!' | exclaimed. zone can
easily see what a firstrate young fell
low you are! You have no liking for
moral men-ha, ha! excellent, agree
with you. A virtuous man and a fool
are synonyms nowadays. Yes-I have
lived long enough to know that And
FER is our coffee-behold also the
glorias | drink your health with plea
sure, Signor Ferrari-you and | must
he friends,"
For one moment he seemed started
by my sudden outburst of mirth-the
next, he laughed heartily himself, and
as the waiter appeared with the coffee
and cognac, inspired by the occasion,
he made an equivocal. slightly indeli-
cate joke concerning the personal
charms of certain Antonetta whom
the garcon was supposed to favor with
an eye to matrimony. The fellow
grinned, in nowise offended-and
pocketing fresh gratuities from both
Ferrari and myself, departed on new
errand~ '~~ ether customers, appaT-
emily in high good humor with himself.
Antoinetta. and the world in general
IResumng the interrupted converse
ton, said:
"And this poor weak minded Ro-
mani-was his death SUDDEN"
Remarkably So" answered Ferrari,
leaning back in his chair, and turning
tis handsome flushed face up to the
sky where the stars were beginning &c
twinkle out one by one. ct appears
from all accounts that he rose early
and went out for a walk on one OF
those insufferably hot August morn
ings. and at the furthest limit of the
villa grounds he came upon fruit
seller dying of cholera. OF course,
with his quixotic ideas, he must needs
stay and talk to the boy, and then run
like a madn an through the heat into
Naples, to find doctor for him. In
stead Of physician he met priest,
and he was taklnf this priest to the
assistance OF the fruit-seller (who by
the by died In the meantime and was
past all caring for) when he himself
was struck down by the plague, He
was carried then and there to COM
mon inn, where in about FIVE hours he
dled-all the time shrieking curses on
Iany one who should dare to take him
aive or dead inside his own house.
He showed good sense in that at least
naturally he was anxious not to
bring the contagion TO his wife and
child"
"Ts the child boy or a girl?"
aeked earelegsly