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

could see they were counting up the
fatal number for themselves. They
were undeniably clever, cultivated mer
of the world, bIt the superstitious
element was in their blood, and all
with the exception perhaps of Freccia
and the evercool Marquis D'Avencourt
were evidently rendered uneasy by the
fact now discovered On Ferrari it
had curious effect-he started VIC
lently and his face flushed. "Diavolo!'
he muttered under his breath, aid
Selling his never-empty glass, he
swallowed lis contents thirstily and
quickly at one gulp as though at
tackled by fever, and pushed away his
plate with a hand that tremb1ed nerv-
ously. /, meanwhile, raised my voice
and addressed my guests cheerfully:
Our distinguished friend Salustri is
perfectly right, gentlemen. I myself
noticed the discrepancy in our number
some time ago-but l knew that you
were all advanced thinkers, who had
long since liberated yourselves from
the trammels Of superstitious obser-
vances, which are the result of priest
craft, and are left solely to the vulgar
There oerIias inf bib
Therefore / said nothing The silly
notion of any misfortune attending
the number thirteen arose, as you are
aware, out of the story of the Last
Supper, and children and women may
possibly still give credence to the
fancy that one out of thirteen at the
table must be a traitor and doomed to
die. But we men know better. None
OF us here tonight have reason to put
ourselves in the position of a Christ
o" a Judas-we are all good friends
and boon companions, and I cannot
suppose for a moment that this little
cloud can possibly affect you seriously
Remember also that this is Christmas
eve, and that according to the worlds
greatest poet, Shakespeare,
Then no planet strikes,
No fairy tales, nor witch hath power
to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the
time"
A murmur Of applause and a hearty
clapping of hands rewarded this little
speech, and the Marchese Gualdro
sprung to his feet
BY Heaven!" he exclaimed, eve IRE
not party of terrified old women 20
shiver on the edge of a worn out
omen! Fill your glasses, signori! More
wine, garcon! Per bacco! if Judas
Iscariot himself had such a feast as
ours before he hanged himself, he
was not much to be pitied! Hola
amici! To the health of our noble he st,
Conte Cesare Oliva!"
He waved his slass in the air three
times-every one followed his example
and drank the toast with enthusiasm
I bowed my thanks and acknowledge
ments-and the superstitious dread
which at first had undoubtedly seized
the company passed away quickly
the alking, the merriment, the laugh
ter were resumed, and soon it seemed
as though the untOward circumstances
were entirely forgotten. Only Guido
turbed in his mind-but even his IN
easiness dissipated itself by degrees,
and heated by the quantity of wine he
had taken, he began to talk with
boastful braggartism Of his many sue
cessful gallantries, and related his
most questionable anecdotes in such a
manner as to cause some naughty
establishment in the mind of the Duke
di Marina, who eyed him from time to
time with ill-disguised impotence
that bordered on contempt l. on the
contrary, listened to everything he
said with urbane courtesy-I humored
him and drew him out as much as
possible smiled complacently at his
poor jokes and vulgar witticisms-
and when he said something that was
more than usually outrageous. | con-
tented myself with a benevolent shake
of my head, and the mild remark:
All! young blood! young blood"
uttered in bland soto voce.
The dessert was now served. and
with it came the costly wines which I
had ordered to be kept back till then
Priceless Chateau Yquem." "Clos
Vougeot," of the rarest vintages, choice
'Valpulcello" and an exceedingly
superb ''Lacrima Cristi"-one after
the other, these were tasted, criticised,
and heartily appreciated. There was
also a very unique brand of champagne
costing nearly forty francs a bottle
which was sparkling and mellow to
the palate, but fiery in quality. This
particular beverage was so seductive
in flavor that every one partook of it
freely. with the result that the most
discreet among the party now became
the most uproarous. Antonio Bis
cardi, the quiet and unobtrusive
painter, together with his FELLOWSHIP
dent, Crispiano Dulci, usually the shy
est Of young men, suddenly grew ex-
cited; and uttered blatant nothings
concerning their art. Captain Freccia
argued the niceties of swordplay with
the Marquis DAvencourt, both speak
ers illustrating their various points by
tErusting their dessert-kniyes skill
fully into the pulpy bodies of the
peaches they had on their plates
Luciano Salustri Fay back at ease in
his chair, his classic head reclining
on the velvet cushions, and recited in
low and measured tones one of his
own poems, caring little or nothins
whether his neighbors attended to hin
or not. The glib tongue of the Mar.