Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-08

thing we dove seldom love our
work for works sake-we perform it
solely for what we can get by it.
Therein lies the secret OF failure.
Friends will scarcely serve each other
unless they can also serve their own
interests-true, there are exceptions
to this rule, but they are deemed fools
70 their pains.
AS soon as The king disappeared l
Ialso left the scene of the foregoing
incident. l had a fancy to visit the
little restaurant where I had been
taken i'll, and after some trouble
found it. The door stood open. | saw
the fat landlord, Pietro, polishing his
iglasse as though he had never left OFF:
and there in the same corner was the
very wooden bench on which I had
lain-where I had-as was generally
unprecedented. 1 stepped in. The
landlord looked up and babe me good
day. I returned his saIutation, and
Oruered some coffee and rolls of bread
Seating myself carelessly at one of the
little tables, turned over the news
paper, while he hustled about in haste
to serve me. AS he busted and rub
bed up a cup and saucer for my use,
he said, briskly,
You have had a long voyage,
AMIGO? And successful fishing?"
| For moment l was confused and
knew not what to answer, but gather
ing my wits together, I smiled and
answered readily in the affirmative.
And your [ said, gayly. How goes
the cholera?"
The landlord shook his head dole
fully.
Holy Joseph! do not speak of it.
The people die like flies in a honey
pot. Only yesterday-body of Bacchus!
who would have thought it?'
And he sighed deeply as he poured
out the steaming coffee, and shook
his head mere sorrowfully than before.
Why, what happened yesterday?' I
asked, though [ knew perfectly we'll
what he was going to say; Il am a
stranger in Naples, and empty of
news"
The perspiring Pietro laid fat
thumb on the marble top of the table
aid with it traced a pattern medita-
| lively.
you never heard Of the rich Count
Romani?' he inquired.
! made sign in the negative. and
bent my face over my coffee-cup.
'Ah, well!' he went On, with a half
groan, lit does not matter-there is
no Count Romani any more. 1t is all
gone-fn1shed! But he was rich-as
rich as the king, they say-yet see
how low the saints brought him? Fra
C-priano of the Benedictines carried
him in here yesterday morning-he
was struck by the plague-in five
hours he was dead, here the land
lord caught mosquito and killed it
"ah! as dead as that zinzarai Yes, he
lay dead on that very wooden bench
opposite to you. They buried him be-
fore sunset. 1t is like a bad dream!"
/ affected to be deeply engrossed with
the cutting and spreading of my roll
and butter.
Il see nothing particular about it,
| said lndifferently. THAT he was
rich is nothing-rich and poor must
die alike
And that is true, very true,' as
sented Pietro with another groan. for
not all his poverty could save the
blessed Cipriano"
I started, but quickly controlled my
self
What do you mean?" [ asked, as
'carelessly as l could. Are you talking
of some saint?"
We'll, If he were not canonized he
deserves to be- replied the landlord;
L speak of the holy Benedictine father
who brought the Count Romani in
dying condition. All! little he knew
how soon the good God would call
him himself"
''Is he dead?'' [ exclaimed
Dead as the martyrs!" answered
Fletro. He caught the plague, I sup
pose, from the count, for he was
bending over him to the last. Ay, and
he sprinkled holy water over the
corpse, and laid his own crucifix upon
| it in the coffin. Then up he went to
the Villa Romani, taking with him the
counts trinkets, his watch, ring, and
! cigar case-and nothing would satisfy
him but that he should deliver them
/ himself to the young cOntessa, telling
| her how her husband died"
My poor Nina!-I thought. WAS
she much grieved?" I inquired, with a
vague curiosity.
How do l know" said the land
lord, Struggling; his bulky shoulders.
The reverend father said nothing.
Save that she swooned away. But
what of that? Women swoon at every
thing-from mouse TO a corpse. AS
said, the good Cipriano attended the
counts burial-and he had scarce re-
turned from it when he was seized
with the illness. And this morning he
died at the monastery-may his soul
rest in peace! l heard the news only
an hour ago. Ali he was a holy man,
He has promised me warm corner in
Paradise, and 1 know he will keep his
word as truly as st. Peter himself
j l pushed away the rest of my meal
untasted. The food choked me. 1
could have shed tears for the noble,
patient life thus self-sacrificed One
| hero the less in this world of unheroic,
uninspiling persons! I sat silent, lost
in sorrowful thought. The landlord
looked at me curiously.
aO(faa Gooc not r01a1 CO Won bo