Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-19
Continued.

door, | saw that Felrari was takins
IN with critical eye the costly fittings
and luxurious furniture In answer
to this last remark, | said, with a
chilly smile:
And as | told you before, my dear
Slgnor Ferrari, / know nothing what
ever about women, and care less than
nothing for their loves or hatreds! ]
have always thought of them more or
less rs playful kittens, who purr WI n
they are stroked the right way, and
scream and scratch when their tails
are todden on. Try this MontepuI-
cjanO!"
He accepted the glass | proffered
him, and tasted the wine with the air
of a connoisseur
'Exquisite!" he murmured, slipping
it lazily. You are lodged en- prince
here, conte! l envy you!"
you need not 7 answered. You
have youth and health, and-as you
have limited to me-love; all the
things are better than wealth, so
people say. At any rate, youth and
health are good things-Iove | have
DO belief in. AS for me, | am a mere
luxurious animal, loving comfort and
ease beyond anything. I have had
many trials-I now take my rest in
my own fashion"
"A very excellent and sensible
fashion, smiled Ferrari, leaning his
head easily back on the satin cushions
IF hn o,o
thrown himself
DO you know, conte, now | look at
you well, | think you must have been
very handsome when you were young!
You have superb figure!"
| bowed stiff1y. You fiatter me
sisnor! l believe l never was especially
hideous-but looks in a man always
rank second to strength, and Of
strength | have plenty yet remaining. .
Il do not doubt it, he returned,
still regarding me attentively with an
expression in which there was the
faintest shadow Of uneasiness.
1T is an odd coincidence, you will
say, but | find a most extraordinary
resemblance n the height and car
riage of your figure to that of my
late friend Romani"
| poured some wine out for myself
with q steady hand, and drank it.
Really" | answered. 81 am glad
that | remind you of him-if the re-
minder is agreeable! But all tall men
are much alike so far as figure goesi
providing they are we'll made"
Ferraris brow was contracted in a
musing frown, and he answered not.
He still looked at me, and I returned
his look without embarrassment. Fin
ally he reused himself, smiled, and
finished drinking his glass of Mon
tepulciano. Then he rose to go.
you will permit me to mention
your name to the Countess Romani,
l said, cordially. 81 am certain she
will receive you, should you desire it."
| feigned sort of yeXation, and
made an abrupt movement of impa-
tience
THE fact is" | said, at last, Il very
much dislike talking to women. They
are always Illogical and their frivolity
Wearies me. But you have been so
friendly that | will give you mes
sage for the countess-if you have no
objection to deliver it. I should be
sorry to trouble you unnecessarily
and you perhaps will not have AL on
portunity of seeing her for some
days?"
lie colored slightly and moved UNI
easily. Then with a kind of effort, he
replied:
On The contrary, | am going to see
her this very evening | assure you
1t will be a pleasure to me to convey
to her any greeting you may desire to
send"
"Oh, it is no greeting" | continued.
calmly, noting the various signs of
embarrassment in his manner with a
careful eye. ct is a mere message.
which, however, may enable you to
understand why I was anxious to see
the young man who is dead In my
very early manhood the elder Count
Romani did me an inestimable service.
| never forgot his kindness-my mem
DRY is extraordinarily tenacious OF
both benefits and injuries-and l have
always desired to repay it in some
suitable manner. / have with me a
few jewels of almost priceless value
| have myself collected them, and
reserved them as a present to the son
of my old friend, simply as a trif1ine
souvenir or expression of gratitude
for past favors received from
his family. His sudden death has de.
prived me of the pleasure Of fulfillins
this intention-but as the Jewels are
quite useless to me, | am perfectly
willing to hand them over to the Coun
tess Romani, should she care to hav,
them. They would have been her
had her husband lived-they SHOULD
be hers now. If you, signor. will re
port these facts to her and learn he
wishes with respect to the matter.
shall be much indebted to you
II shall be delighted to obey you,
replied Ferrari courteously, rising a
the same time to take his leave. =
am proud to be the bearer of so pleas
ing an errand. Beautiful women Low
jewels, and who shall blame them
Bright eyes and diamonds go well to
sether: A rivederci, Signor Conte!
trust we shall meet often
Il have no doubt we shall,'' l an
swered, quietly.
He shook hands cordially re
sponded to his farewell salutation
with the brief col6Bess which was no
my habitual manner, and we partet