Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-08

said, the good Cipriano attended the
counts burial-and he had scarce re-
turned from it when he was seized
with the illness. And this morning he
died at the monastery-mayh his soul
rest in peace! | heard the news only
an hour ago. All! he was holy man!
| He has promised me warm corner in
| Paradise, and | know he will keep his
word as truly as st. Peter himself"
| pushed away the rest of my meal
untasted. The food choked ME. |
could have shed tears Tor the noble,
patient life thus self-sacrificed. One
hero the less in this world of unheroic,
unnspiling persons! | sat silent, lost
in sorrowful thought. The landlord
looked at me curiously.
.ne coffee does not please your" he
said at last You have no appetizer"
| forced a smile.
"Nay-your words would take the
edge of the keenest appetite ever born
of the breath of the sea. Truly Naples
affords but sorry entertainment to a
stranger; is there naught to hear but
stories of the dying and the dead?"
Pietro put on an air that was almost
apologize.
| We'll, truly he answ cred, resign
edly-"very little else. But what would
you, AMIGO? 1t is the plague and the
will Of God"
AS he said the last words my gaze
was caught and riveted by the figure
-, Lott q
| door of the cafe 1t was Guido Ferrari
my friend, | would have rushed out
/ 10 speak to him-but something in his
manner checked the impulse as it rose
! in ne. He was walking veIy slowly,
smoking cigar as he went; there was
smile on his face, and in his coat he
wore a freshly gathered roCe-a GlCire
| de France, similar to those that grew
| in such profusion on the upper terrace
of my villa. | stared at him as he
passed-my feelings underwent kind
of shock He looked perfectly happy
and Tranquil, happier indeed than
ever | remembered to have seer him,
and yet-and yet, according to his
| knowledge, /, his best friend, had died
only yesterday, With this sorrow
| fl esh upon him, he could smile like a
man going to a fiesta, and wear
coral-pink rose, which surely was no
sign of mourning! For ore moment |
felt hurt; the next, | laughed at my
own sensitiveness. Alter all, what of
the smile, what of the rose. man
could not always be answerable for
the expression of his countenance, and
as for The flower, he might have
gathered it en- PEASANT, without think
ing, or what was still more likely, the
child Stella might have given 1t to
him, in which case he would have
worn it to please her. He displayed no
badge OF mourning? True'-but then
consider-I had only died yesterday,
There had been no time to procure 81
those outward appearances OF woe
hich social customs rendered neccB-
sary, but which We're no infallibe
| sign Of the hearts sincerity Satisfied
with my own self-reasoning | made no
attempt to follow Guido in his walk
| | let him go on his way unconscious
of my existence. | would wait, |
thought, till the eyening-then every
| thing would be explained.
turned to the landlord. "Ho"
much to pay?" | asked,
What you will, amiC0," he replied
II am raver hard on the fisher folk
! but times are bad, or you would be
welcome to a breakfast Tor nothing.
| Many and many a day have | done as
much for men of your craft, ard the
blessed Cipriano who is gore used to
say that st. Peter would remember me
| for It. II is true that the Madonna
gives a special blessing If one locks
after the fishers, because all the holy
apostles were of the trade and |
would be 10th to lose her protection
| yet"
laughed and tossed him a franc. He
Iocketed it at once and his eyes
| twinkled
Though you have not taken half
| francs worth" he admitted, with an
honest look unusual in a Neapoltan-
but the saints will make up it to you.
never fear.'
Il am sure of that" | said gayly,
"Addio, my friend Prosperity to you
| and our LaGy's favor!"
This salutation, which | knew to be
common che with Sicilian mariners,
/ the good Pietro responded TO with
amiable heartiness, wishing me luck
Ola my voyage. He then betoOk I'M
self anew to the polishing of his
Dr1gcS.c- opd I rorcnd tho raSt nf tho
day in strolling about the least fire.
! Quented streets of the city, and long
ing impatiently FOR the crimson glory
OF the sunset. which, like a wide flag
o. triumph, was to be the signal OF
| my safe return 70 love and happiness.
70 he continued