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

Continued.

The butler here coughed apologize.
aIIy behind his hand-an old trick of
his, and one which signifed his in
tense desire to speak.
Ferrari laughed, as he held out his
glass for more wine.
Here is old Giacomo," he said.
uodding TO him lightly. He remem-
hers both the Romanis-ask him his
orinion of Fabio-he worshiped his
n aster.'
l turned to my servant, and with a
~benignant air addressed him:
Your face is not familiar to me, my
friend | said. Perhaps you were
cot here when / visited the elder
Count Roma1i?"
mo, eccellenza," replied Giacomo,
rubbing his %withered hands nervously
together, and speaking with a sort of
suppressed a~agerness, Il came into
my lords service only a year before the
countess died. mean the mother of
the young count"
All! then | missed making your
acquaintance" | said, kindly, plying
the poor old fellow, as | noticed how
ing accents. My wife's delicate brows
broken he looked. you knew the last
count from childhood, them"
Il did, eccellenza." And his bleared
eyes roved over me with a sort of
alarmed inquiry.
You loved him well?" | said, COM
posedly, observing him with embar-
rassment.
"ECcellenZa, | never wish to serve
a better master. He was goodness it
self-a fine, handsome, generous lad
the saints have his soul in their keep
ing! Though sometimes | cannot be-
lieye he is dead-my old heart almost
broke when | heard it. | have never
been the same since-my lady will
tell you so-she is Otter displeased
with me-"
And he looked wistfully at her; there
was a note of pleading in his hesitat-
ing accents. My wifes delicate brows
drew together in a frown; a frown
that / had once thought came from
mere petulance, but which | was now
inclined to accept as a sign oftemper.
Yes, indeed, Giacomo," she said, in
hard tones altogether unlike her usual
musical voice. You are growing so
forgetful that it is positively annoy
Jig. You know l have often to tell
you the same thing several times.
One command ought to be sufficient
for YOU
Glacomo passed his hand over his
forehead in a troubled way, sighed,
and was silent. Then, as if suddenly
recollecting his duty, he refilled my
glass. and shrinking aside, resumed
his former position behind my chair.
The conversation now turned on
0tory and Indifferent matters. [
Know my wife was an excellent talker,
but on that particular evening | think
she surpassed herself. She had re-
solved to fascinate me, that | saw at
once, and she spared no pains to
succeed in her ambition. Graceful
SaI!ies, witty bonmots tipped with the
pungent sparkle of satire, gay stories
well and briskly told, all came easily
from her lips, so that though l knew
her so well, she almost surprised me
py her variety and fuency. Yet this
GIT OF good conversation in a woman
IS apt to mislead the judgment of those
VINO listen, for it Is seldom the result
OF thought, and still more seldom is
u a proof of intellectual capacity. A
woman talks as a brook babbles;
Pleasantly, but without depth. Her
Information is generally of the most
surface kind-she skins the cream off
each item of news, and serves it up
10 You in her own fashion, caring little
whether it be correct or the reverse.
aha the more v~iyaciously she talks, the
W'le likely she is to be dangerously
lnsincere and cold-hearted. for the
Very sharpness of her wit is apt to
SPOIL the more delicate perceptions of
aeF nature. Show me a brilliant
woman noted for turning an epigram
or pointing a satire, and | will show
You a creature whose life is a mas
91erade. full of vanity, sensuality and
PRIDE. The man who marries such a
one must be content to take the second
t.ace In his household, and play the
character Of the hen-pecked husband
WIN what meekness he best may. An
7"eT me, We long suffering spouses of
society women" how much would
you give to win back your freedom
ana self-respect? to be able TO hold
'lr head up unabashed before your
@"n servants? to feel that you can
actually give an order without its be-
."E instantly countermanded? All, my
f.'r friends' millions will not pur-
.--se you such joy; as long as your
'asolRating fair ones are like Caesars
VIE above suspicion" land they are
morally prudent m~anagers). so long
gus. o dance in their chains like
que sood-natured clumsy bears that
'1 are. only giving vent to a growl
"0" a then, a growl which at best
eKcttes ridicule. My wife was Of