Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-22

otherwise than he did. ! hear good
deal of the plain blunt honesty" of
the English. / dare say there is some
truth in it, but for my part | would
rather be cheated by friendly fellow
who gives you CHEEKY words and a
bright look than receive exact value
for my money from the plain blunt"
boor who seldom has the common
roliteness to wish you a goodday.
We got under way at about nine
oelock-the morning was bright, and
the air, for Naples, was almost cool.
The water ripplrg against the sides
Of our little vessel had a gurgling
chatty murmur, as though 1t were
talking vivaciously of all the pleasant
things it experienced between the ris
ing and the setting OF the sun; Of the
corals and trailing sea-wood that grew
in its blue depths, of the 1.-THE glitter
ing fish that dartod hither and thither
between its little waves, of the deli
cate shells in which dwelt still more
delicate inhabitants, fantastic small
creatures as fine as filmy lace, that
peeped from the white and pink doors
of their transparent habitations, and
locked as enjoyingly on the simmer
ing blue-green OF their ever-moving
of our sky, bespangled thickly with
stars. OF all these things, and many
more as strange and sweet, the COS
sping water babbled increasingly, il
had even something to say to me con-
corning women aud women's love. 1t
told me gleefully how many fair fe-
male bodies it had sunk in the cold
embrace of the conquering sea, bodies
dainty and soft as the sylphs of a
poets dream, yet which, despite their
exquisite beauty, had been flung to
and fro in cruel sport by the raging
pillows. and tossed among pebbles for
the monsters of the deep to feed upon.
AS | sat idly on the vessels edge
and looked down, down into the clear
Mediterranean, brilliantly blue as
lake of melted sapphires, | fancied |
could see her, the Delilah of my life,
lying prone on the golden sand, her
rich hair floating rtraightly around
her like yellow weeds, her hands
clinched in the death agony, her
laughing lips blue with the piercing
chilihess of the washing tide-power
less to move or smile again She
would look well SO, / thought better
to my mind than she looked in the
arms of her lover last night ! fell
into a train Of profound meditation
. touch on my shoulder startled ne
looked up, the captain of the brig
stood beside me. He smiled and held
out cigarette.
The signor will smoker" he said
courteously.
! accepted the roll of fragrant Ha-
yana half mechanically.
why do you call me signor?" | in
quired. brusquely. Il am coral
fisher"
The little man shrugged his shoulder
and bowed deferentially, yet with the
emile still dancing gayly in his eyes
end dimplng his olive cheeks.
Oh certainly! AS the signor pleases
ma" And he ended with another
expressive shrug and bow
/ looked at him fXedly What do
you mean?" | asked, with some stern
ness.
With that bird-like lightness and
switmess which were part of his man
ner, the Sicilian skipper bent forward
and laid brown finger on my wrist
'SCusa, vi prego But the hands are
not those of fisher of coral"
glanced down at them. True
enough, their smootbress and plant
shape betrayed my disguise--the gay
little captain was sharp-witted enough
to note the contrast between them and
the rough garb wore, though no one
else with whom | had come in con-
tact had been as keen of observation
as he. At first | was slightly embar-
raised by his remark-but after a
moments pause | met his gaze frankly
and lighting my cigarette | said, care
lessly;
"EbbeLe! And what then, my
friend?"
He made a deprecatory gesture with
his hands.
Nay, nay, ncthiug-but only this
The signor must understand he is per-
fcctly safe With me My tongue is
discreet talk of things only that
concern myself The signor has
good reasons for what he does-of that
| am sure, lie has suffered, it is
enough TO look in his face to see that.
All, bio! there are SO many sorrows in
life, there is love" he enumerated
rapidly on his fingers-"there Is re-
are qualrels there Is loss
of money, any Of these will drive a
man from place to place at all hours
and in all weathers. Yes. 1t is so.
indeed know it! The signor has
trusted himself in my boat desire to
assure him of my best services"
And he raised his red cap with so
charming a eaudor tLat in my lonely
and remorse condition was touched TO