Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-02

Il do no understand you" | said,
with marked frigidity. The lady |
speak of lived and died under the old
regime of noblesse oblige. | am not
so we'll versed in modern social forms
of morality rs yourself" a
Nina hastily in~terposed. 'Oh. my
dear conte," she said, laughingly, pay
no attention to Signor Ferrari! He is
rash sometimes, and says very foolish
things, but he really does not mean
them. 1t is only his way! My poor
dear husband used to be quite vexed
with him sometimes, and he was very
fond of him. But, conte, as you know
you will like to see my little Stella.
Shall | send for her, or are you bored
by children"
"On the contrary, madame, | am
very find of Them | m wsred, with
forced composure, though my heart
%throbbed with mingled delight and
agony at the thought of seeing my
little one again. And the child Of
~ "a ~ lNAAd . sym must hNtpS "
double interest for me-
My wife rang the bell, and gave
orders to the maid who answered it to
send her little girl to her al once. Fer
Iari meanwhile engaged me in CONVEX
sation, and strove, | could see, by en-
tire Difference to my opinions, to make
up for the offense his previous remark
might have given me. A few moments
orawing-room door was turned by
an evidently faltering and unpractised
hand. Nina called out impatiently-
Come in, baby! Do not be afraid
ccme I'M" With that the door slowly
opened and my little daughter entered.
Though | had been so short a time abb
sent from her it was easy to see the
child had changed very much. Her
lace locked pinched and woe-begone,
its expression was one of fear and dis
trust. The laughter had faded out of
her young eyes, and was replaced by
a serious look of panied resignation
that was pitiful to see in II of her
tender years. Her mouth dropped
| plaintively at the corners-her whole
demeanor had an appealing anxiety in
It that spoke plainly to my soul and
enlightened me as to the way she had
evidently been forgotten and neglected.
She approached us hesitatingly, but
stopped halfway and looked doubt
fully at Ferrari. He met her alarmed
gaze with a hooking smile.
Come along, Stella," he said. You
need not be frightened! l will not
scold you unless you are naughty.
Silly child! you look as if | were the
giant in the fairy tale, going to eat
you up for dinner. Come and speak
to this gentleman-he knew your
papa"
At this word her eyes frightened,
her small steps grew more assured and
steady-she advanced and put her tiny
hand in mine, The touch of the soft,
uncertain little fingers almost un-
manned me. | drew her toward me
and lifted her on my knee. Under
pretense of kissing her | hid my face
for a second or two in her clustering
fair curls, while | forced back the
womanish tears that involuntarily fill
ed my eyes. My poor little darling! !
wonder now how | maintained my set
composure before the innocent trust
fulness OF her gravely questioning
gael had fancied she might pos
sibly be scared by the black spectacles
| wCre-childl en- are frightened by
such things sometimes-but she was
not. No; she sat on my knee With
an air of perfect satisfaction, though
she looked at me so earnestly as al
most to disturb my self-possession.
Nina and Ferrari watched her with
some amusement, but she paid no heed
to them-she persisted in staring at
ne. Suddenly a slow sweet smile-the
tranquil smile of a contented baby,
dawned all over her face; she extended
her arms around my neck and with ac-
cord, put up her lips to kiss me! Half
/. startled at this manifestation of affec-
JlObi 4 w lCdiS NouSht NO. "'
heart and returned her caress, then
| looked furtively at my wife and
Guido. Had they any suspicion? No!
why should they have any? Had not
Ferrari himself seen me buried? Re-
assured by this thought | addressed
myself to Stella, making my voice as
gratingly harsh as | could, for
dreaded the child's quick instinct.
You are a very charming little
LADY," | said, playfully. And so your
name is Stella? That is because you
are a little star, ! suppose
She became meditatiye. Papa said
| was" she answered, softly and shyly.
Papa spoiled you" interposed Nina,
pressing her flmy black-bordered
handkerchief TO her eyes. Poor papa!
You were not 50 naughty to him as
! you are to me"
The child's lip quivered, but she was
silent.
ooh, fly" ! murmured, half chidingly.
"Are Won ever naughty7 Surely mott