Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-16
CHAPTER XVI.

lime new swiftly On-d mOnLl, SIX
weeks, passed, and during that short
space | had established myself in Ma
pies as great ersonage-great, be-
cause of my wealth and the style in
which | lived. No one in all the nu-
merous families of distinction that
eagerly sought my acquaintance cared
whether | had intellect or intrinsic
worth; it sufficed to them that I kept
a carriage and pair, an elegant ard
costly equlpage, softly lined with satin
and drawn by two Arabian mares as
black as polished ebony. The value Of
my friendship was measured by the
righteousness of my box at the opera,
and by the dainty fittings of my yacht,
swift trim vessel furnished with
every luxury, and having on board a
band of stringed instruments which
dlscorded sweet music when the moon
cmptied her horn of silver radiance on
the ripping water. In little while |
knew everybody who was worth know
ing in Naples; everywhere my name
was talked of, my doings were chron-
icled in the fashionable newspapers:
stories of my lavish generosity were re-
peated from mouth to mouth, and the
most highly colored reports of my i'm
mense revenues were whispered with
kind of breathless awe at every cafe
and street corner. Tradesmen waylaid
my reticent valet, Vincenzo, and gave
him douceurs in the hope he would OBJ
ain my custom for them-"tips'
which he pocketed in his usual re-
served and discreet manner, but which
he was always honest enough to tell
me of afterward. He would most
faithfully give HE the name and ad-
dress of this or that particular
tempter of his fidelity, always adding
AS to whether the rascal sells good
things or bad our Lady only knows
but truly he clre me thirty francs to
secure your excelIency's goodwill
Though for all that | would not recon-
mend him if your excellency knows of
ali honester mani"
Among other distinctions which my
wealth forced upon me, were the Law
iSh attentions of matchmaking
mothers. The black spectacles, which
| always wore, were not repulsive to
these diplomatic dames-on the con-
trary, some Of them assured me they
we're most becoming, so anxious were
they to secure me as a son-in-law.
Fair girls in their teens, blushing and
Ingenious, were artfully introduced to
ne-or, I should say, thrust forward
Like slaves in a market for my inspec
tion-thOugh to do them justice, they
were remarkably shrewd and sharp
witted for their tender years. Young
as they were, they were keenly alive to
the Importance of making a good
match-and no doubt the pretty limo
cents laid many dainty schemes in
their own minds for liberty and enjoy
ment when one or the other of them
should become the Countess Olivia and
fool the old black-spectacled husband
to her hearts content. Needless 20
say their plans were not destined to
be fulfilled, though I rather enjoyed
studying the many devices they en-
ployed to fascinate me. What pretty
ogling chances I received!-what whis-
pered admiration of my beautiful
white hairi so distingu6! what
tricks of manner, alternating from
grave to gay, from ripping mirth to
witching langour! Many an evening |
sat at ease on board my yacht, watch
ing with a satirical inward amuse-
ment, one. perhaps two or three, OF
these fair schemers, ransacking their
youthful brains for new methods to en-
trap the old millionaire, as they
thought me- into the matrimonial net.
| used to see their eyes-sparkling with
light in the Sunshine-grOw liquid and
dreamy in the mellow radiance of the
October moon, and turn upon me with
vague usefulness most lovely to be-
hold and-mOst admirably feignedi
could lay my hand on bare round
white arm and not be repulsed-I could
hold little clinging fingers in my own
as long as | liked without giving Of
fense-such are some of the privileges
OF wealth!
In all the parties of pleasure
formed, and these were many-my wife
and Ferrari were included as a matter
of course. At first Nina demurred,
with some plaintive excuse concerning
her recent terrible bereavement" but
| easily persuaded her out of this.
even told some ladies | knew to visit
her and add their entreaties to mine
as | said with the benignant air of an
elderly man, that it was not good for
one so young to waste her time and
injure her health by useless grieving
She saw the force of this, | must ad-
NIT with admirable readiness, and
speedily yielded to the united invita-
tons she received. though always
with well-acted reluctance, and say
ing that she did so merely because the
Count Olivia was such an old friend OF
the family and knew my poor dear hus
bend as a child
On Ferlari I heaped all manner OF
benefits. Certain debts of his con
tracted at play paid privately to sur
prise him-his gratitude was extreme
7 humored him in many of his small
extravaganza played with hi:
fcllies as an angler plays the fish at tn
end of his line, and succeeded in win
ming his confidence Not that l eveI
could surprise him into a confession o
his guilty amour-but he kept me vel
Informed as to what he was pleased t,
call 1.-The progress of his attachment.
and supplied me with many small de
tails which, while they fired my bloc