Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-12
CHAPTER XI.

TO Naples. The weather had grown
cooler, and favorable reports of the
gradual decrease of the cholera began
to gain ground with the suffering anG
terrified poulation. Business was re-
sumed as usual, pleasure had again
her Votaries, and society whirled round
once more in it's gddy waltz as though
1t had never left off dancing. l ar
rived in the city somewhat early in the
day, and had time to make some pre-
lfminary arrangements for my plan of
action. | secured the most splendid
suit OF apartments in the best hotel,
lmpressing the whole establishment
with a vast idea of my wealth and i'm
portance. l casually mentioned to
the landlord that I desired to pur-
chase carriage and horses-that [
needed a first-class valet, and a few
other trif1es of the like Sort and added
that | relied on his good advice and
recommendation as TO the places where
[ should best obtain all that | sought.
Needless to say, he became my slave
never was monarch better served
than THE very walters hustled each
other in race to attend upon me, and
reports of my princely fortune, gen
crosby, and lavish expenditure began
to fit from mouth to mouth-which
was the result I desired to obtain.
And now the evening Of my first day
in Naples came, and l, the supposed
Conte Cesare Olivia, the envied and
fiatered noble, took the first step to-
ward my vengeance. 1t was one of
the loveliest evenings possible, even in
that lovely land-a soft breeze blew
in from the seattle sky was pearl
like and pure as an oral, yet bright
with delicate shifting clouds of Grim
son and pale mauve-small, fleecy
flecks of radiance, that looked like
shower of blossoms fallen from some
far invisible flower land. The waters
of the bay were slightly ruffied by the
wind. and curIed into tender little
dark blue waves tipped with light
fringes of foam After dinner [ went
out and took my way to a weil-known
and popular cafe which used to be
favorite haunt of mine in the days
when | was know as FabiC ROmanl.
Guido Ferrari was constant habitue
of the place, and l felt that [ should
find him there The brilliant rose
white and gold saloons were crowded,
and owing to the pleasant GOODNESS OF
the air there were hundreds OF little
tables pushed far out into the street,
at which groups of persons were seat
ed, enjoying ices, wine, or coffee, and
congratulating each other on the
agreeable news of the steady decrease
of the pestilence that had ravaged the
city | glanced covertly yet quickly
round Yes! | was not mistaken
there was my Quondam friend, my
traitorous foe, sitting at his ease,
leaning comfortably back in one chair,
bis feet put up on another. He was
smoking, and glancing, now and then,
through the columns of the Paris
Figaro" He was dressed entirely in
black-a hypocritical livery, the SOM
Der nue of which suited his fine COM
IleXion and perfectly handsome feat
ures to admiration. On the little
finger of the shapely hand that every
row and then was raised to adjust his
cigar sparkled diamond that gave
out myriad scintillations as it
flashed in the evening light-it was
of exceptional size and brilliancy, and
even at distance | recognized it as
my own property!
So!-a love-gift, signCr, or an in
memoriam of the dear and valued
friend you have lest? I wondered
watching him in dark scorn the while
then recollecting myself, | sauntered
slowly toward him, and peroeiving
disengaged table next to his, | drew
chair to it and sat down. He looked at
me indifferently over the top of rs
newspaper-but there was nothing
specially attractive in the sign of a
white-haired man wearing smoke
Colored spectacles, and he resumed his
perusal of the Figaro immediately.
| raped the end OF my walkiug-cane
on the table and summoned a waiter
from whom | ordered coffee. | then
lighted a cigar, and initiating Ferrari's
easy posture, smoked also. Some
thing in my attitude then appeared to
strike him, for he laid down his paper
and again looked at me, this time with
easiness. Ca commence, mol anil
| thought, but turned my head slightly
aside and feigned to be absorbed in
the view. My coffee was brought
paid for it and tossed the waiter an
unusually large gratuity-he naturally
found it incumbent upon him to polish
my table with extra zeal, and to secure
ali the newspapers, pictorial or other
wise, that were lying about, for the
purpose of ohsequiously depCsitine
them in hcGp at my right hand.
addressed tits amiable garcon in the
harsh and deliberate accents of nj,
carefully d seUiscd voice
BY the way, I suppose you know
Naples well?"
ooh, 81, sienor!'
"Ebbene, can YOU tell me the wa.
to the house Of one Count Fabio Ro
mani, a wealthy nnbleman of thi
city?"
Ha! q gccC hit this time! Thougl
apparently rot looking at him I say
Ferrari stsrI as though he had bee
stUng, anG then compose himself il
bis seat with IN air of attention. TIL
waiter meaIvf lie. in answer to m
question, raised his lands. eyes, an
ST culders all together with a shru
expressive OF resigned melancholy
All, gran Dio, mortoi''