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

Heaven, If he only knew! II he could
have realized the truth, would his face
have worn quite 50 careless a smile
would his manner have been quite so
free. l glanced at him; he was
humming tune softly under his
breath but feeling instinctively,
suppose, that my eyes were upon him,
he interrupted the melody snd turned
! to me. with the question:
"You have travelled far and seen
much, conte?"
Il have"
! And in what country have you
found the most beautiful woman"
Pardon me. young sir, l answered
coldly. the business OF life has sep
arated me- almost entirely from FEM
mime society. | have devoted myself
exclusively to the amassing of wealth.
understanding thoroughly that gold
is tho key to all things. even to wo-
mans love: If | desired tnat latter
commodity. which | do not l fear
that | scarcely know n fair fsce from
! Il plain une-l never was attracted by
women, and now at my age, with my
! settled habits, am not likely to alter
my opinion concerning them and |
frark ky confess those opinions are the
reverse of favorable"
! Ferrari laughed You remind me
of Fabio," he said He used to talk
in that strain before he was married
| though he was young and hid none
of the experiences which may have
made you cynical. conte. Put he alter
ed his ideas very rapidly--and no
wonder,"
Us his wife so very lovely them"
asked
Very! Delicately, daintily beautiful.
But no doubt you will see her for
yourself-as IA friend of her late hus-
bands father, you will call upon her,
will you not?"
why should 10" | said. gruiily-
81 have no wish to meet her! Besides,
an inconsolable widow seldom cares
to receive visitors-I shall not in
lt,ude upon her sorrows!"
/ Never was there a better move
than this show of utter indifference
| affected. The less appeared to care
about seeing the Countess Romani,
the more anxious Ferrari was to in
troduce me-dntroduce me!--to my
wife, and he set to work preparing
his own doom with assiduous ardor.
ooh, but you must see her!" he ex-
claimed, eagerly. "She will receive
you, | am sure as special guest,
Your age and your former acQuain-
lance with her late HUSBANDS family
will win from her the utmost courtesy.
/ believe me! Besides, she is not really
inconsolable-" He paused suddenly.
We had arrived at the entrance of my
hotel looked at him steadily.
Not really inconsolable?" re-
peated, in a tone of inquiry. Ferrari
broke into forced laugh.
why. not" he said. What would
you? She is young and light-hearted
perfectly lovely and in the fullness
pect her to weep long, especially for a
man she did not care for"
| assembled the hotel steps. pray
come in" | said. with an inviting
movement of my hand. You must
take glass of wine before you leave
And so-she did not care for him, you
say"
Encouraged by my friendly invita-
ton and manner, Ferrari became
more at his ease than ever, and hook
ing his arm through mine az we
crossed the broad passage of the hotel
together, be replied, in a confidential
tone.
My dear conte, how can woman
love man who is forced upon her by
her father for the sake of the money
he gives her? As | told you before
my late friend was utterly insensble
TO the beauty of his wife-he was cold
as stone, and preferred his books.
Then naturally she had no love for
him!"