Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-11

I Mancini-an angel-who has found me
not displeasing to her, and-in short
i am going to marry
There was a pause. Ferrari raised
himself slightly from his reclining
position and seemed about to speak,
but apparently changing his mind he
| remained silent-his face had some
what paled. The momentary hest
tation among my guests passed quick
II. All present, except Guido, broke
out into chorus Of congratulations,
mingled with good-humored testing
ard laughter.
Say farewell to jOllity, conte." cried
Chevalier Manciri; "once drawn along
By the rustiing music Of a woman's
gown, no mere such feasts as we have
had tonight"
And he shook bis head with tipsy
melancholy.
BY all the gods" exclaimed Quail
drO, your news has surprised me, l
should have thought you were the last
man to give up liberty for the sake Of a
woman. Que woman, too! Why, man,
Ali" murmured Saiustri, softly and
tntimentally, but the che perfect
pearl-the one fiawless diamond
Bah! SGlustri, caro- MIC, you are
half aSleep!" returned Gualdro. TITS
the wine talks, hot you. Thou art con-
qEered by the bottle, AMIGO. You, the
darling of all the women in Naples, to
| talk of one! Buona notte, bambino,o
/ | still maintained my standing posi-
ton, leaning my two hands on the
| table before me.
What our worthy Gualdro SAYS 7
went on, lis perfectly true. I have
been noted for my antipathy to the
lar sex. [ know it. But when one of
the loVeliest among women comes ont
OF her way to tempt me-whep she
herself displays the matchless store
OF her countless destinations for NV
attraction-When she honors me- INV
special faVors and makes me plainly
aware that | am not too presumptuous
Ill Venturing to aspire to her hand in
Hlafrlage-What can I do bit accant
with a good grace the fortune thrown
10 me by Providence? | should he the
most ungrateful of men were to 70
1use so precious a gift from Heaven
ana confess I feel no inclination to
reject what l consider to be the GER
talnty OF happiness. I therefore asl,
you all to fill your glasses. and do me
the FAVOR to drink to the health and
happiness of my future bride"
The Duke di Marina, with a courte-
high in the air; every man followed
MS example. FerTarI rose to his feet
with some unsteadiness, while the
hand that held his full chamnap,a
glass trembIcl
Gualdro sprung erect, his glass held |
GUS gesture addressed me: You will |
or course, honor us by disclosing the |
name of the fair lady whom we are
prepared to toast with all BETTING
revereLce?"
was about to ask the same ques- |
t1on,' said Ferrari, in hoarse accents
his lips were dry, and he appeared to |
nave some difficulty in speaking. Pos |
siply we are not acquainted with herr"
ON the contrary [ returned evino
nIn steadily with cool smile. "You
all know her name well. Illustrissimi
olgnorl! and my voice rang ont
clearly-'to the health of my betrothed
wife, the Contessa Romani!'
LIAR" shouted Ferrari-and with
all madman's fury he dashed hie
trimming glass of champaene fu11 in
NY lace! IN second the widest scene
OF confusion ensued. Every man left
LIS place at the table and surrounded
US L stood erect and perfectly calm /,
"Iplng with my handkerchief the it,
Tie runIets of wine that dripped from
my clothing-the glass had fallen at
my 1eet, striking the table as it fell
and splitting itself to atoms.
Are you drunk or mad, Ferrari?"
cried Captain de Hamal, Selling him
by the arm-"do you know what Won
have done?"
Ferrari glared about MIN like a tiger
at bay-his face was flushed and
swollen like that of a man in apoplexv
the veins in his forehead stood out
like knotted cOrds-his breath came
ana went hard as though he had been
running. He turned his rolling eyes
upon me. Damn you," he muttered
through his clenched teeth-then sud
denly raising his voice to a positive
Shrek, he cried, II will have your
blood If [ have to tear your heart for
lt-and he made an effort to spring
upon me. The Marquis D'Avencourt
quietly caught his other arm and
held it as in wise.
mot so fast, not so fast mon ebert"
he said, coolly. 1--WE are not murder
ers, wei What devil possesses you. that
GU offer such unwarrantable insult to
our host?"
Ask him. replied Ferrari fiercelv. /
struggling to release himself from the !
grasp Of the two Frenchmen-"he
knows, well enough! Ask him.
All eyes were turned enquiringly
upon me. l was silent.
The noble conte is really not bound /
to give any explanation" remarked |
Captain Freccia-"even admitting he |
were able to do So"
i assure you, my friends" | said, |
I am ignorant of the cause of this !
racas, except that this young gentle
nan had pretensions himself to the !
hand of the lady whose name affects
him so seriously" :