Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26

Will you not! MY mouse anu all IHol
it contains are at your service!"
| hesitated. Ferrari looked amused
Madame is not aware of your dis
like to the society of ladies, conte," he
said and there was a touch of mockery
IN his tone. | glanced at him coIdly
and addressed my answer to my wife.
''Signor Ferrari is perfectly right,
[ said, bending over her and speaking
in a low tone: Il am often ungallant
enough to avoid the society of mere
defense against the smile Of an angel"
And | bowed with a deep and courtly
reverence. Her face brightened-she
adored her own loneliness, and the de-
sire Of conquest aWcke in her imme-
diately. She took glass Of wine from
my hand with a languid grace, and
fixed her glorious eyes full on me with
a smile.
THAT is very pretty speech" she
said, sweetIy, and it means, of course,
that you viii come tomorrow. Angels
exact Obediencei Gui-, | mean Signor
Felrari, you will accompany the conte
and show him the way to the villa ?"
Ferrari bent his head with some
stiffness. He locked slightly sullen.
Il am glad TO see," he observed, with
some Eetulance, thar your persua-
sions have carried more conviction to
the Conte Olivia than mine. To me he
was apparently inf1exible."
She laughed gayly. "Of course! 1t is
only woman who can always win her
own way-am l not right, conte?" And
she glanced UP at me with an arch ex-
preston of mingled mirth and malice
What a love of mischief she had, She
saw that Guido was piqued, and she
took intense delight in teasing him
still further.
Il cannot tell. madam" | answered
her. Il know SO little of your charm
ing sex that | need to be instructed.
But | instinctively feel that you must
be right, whatever you say. Your
eyes would convert an infidel!"
Again she looked at me with one of
those wonderfully brilliant, seductive,
her leave.
"An angels visit truly" I said,
lightly, sweet, but brief"
I'VE shall meet tomorrow" she re-
piled, smiling. Il consider I have your
promise; you must not fail me! Come
as early as you like in the afternoon
then you will see my little girl Stella
She is very like poor Fabio. Till to-
morrow, adieu!"
She extended her hand. | raised If
to my lips. She smiled as she with
drew it, and looking at me, or rather
at the glasses l wore, she inquired:
you suffer with your eyes?"
"Ah, madame, a terrible infirmityi
l cannot endure the light. But l
should not complaint is a weakness
common to age"
You do not seem to be old she
said, thoughtfully. With a woman's
quick eye she had noted, l suppose,
the unWrinkled smoothness of my skin,
which no disguise could alter. But l
exclaimed with affected surprise:
Not old! With these white hairs!"
Many young men have them,' she
said. AT any rate, they often accom-
pany middle age, or what is called the
prime of life. And really, in your
case, they are very becoming!"
And with a courteous gesture of
farewell she moved to leave the room.
Both Ferrari and myself fastened to
escort her downstairs to her carriage,
which stood in waiting at the door
the very carriage and pair OF chest
nut ponies which l myself had given
her as a birthday present. Ferrari
offered to assist her in mounting the
step of the vehicle; she put his arm
aside with a light testing word and
accepted mine instead. | helped her
in, and arranged her embroidered
wraps about her feet, and she nodded
gayly to us both as we stood bare
headed in the afternoon sunlight
watching her departure The horses
started at brisk canter, and in couple
! Of minutes the dainty equipage was
out of sight When nothing more of
it could be seen than the cloud of dust
stirred up by its rolling wheels,
turned to look at my companion. His
face was stern, and his brows were
Drawn together in frown. Stung al
ready! I thought Already the little
asp of jealousy commenced it's bitter
work! The trifling favor his light-o'-
love and my wife had extended to me
in choosing my arm instead of his as
a momentary support had evidently
been sufficient to pique his pride. God!
what blind bats men are! With all
their high capabilities and immortal
destinies, with all the world before
them to conquer, they can sink I'M
nerved and beaten down to impotent
+ weakness before the sighting word or
insolent gesture Of a frivolous feminine
creature, whose best devotions are
pad to the mirror that reflect her in
the most becoming light! How easy
would be my vengeance, l unused, as
l watched Ferrari. l touched him on
the shoulder; he started from his I'M
comfortable reverie and forced a smile
I held out a cigar-case.
What are you dreaming of"
asked him, laughingly. "Hebe as she
waited on the gods, or Venus as she
rose in bare beauty from the waves
Either, neither, or both? I assure you
q comfortable smoke is as pleasant in
it's way as the smile of a woman
He took cigar and lighted it, but