Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-23

i'll, and asks for you"
"Who brought this?" | demanded,
quiCkening my pace, and signing to
Vincenzo to keep beside me.
"The old man, eccellenza-Giacomo
He was weeping and in great trouble
he said the little donzella had the fever
in her throat-it is the diphtheria he
means, | think. She was taken i'll in
the middle of the night, but the nurse
thought it was nothing serious. This
morning she has been getting worse,
and is in danger"
"A doctor has been sen for, of
c~ourse?"
yes, eccellenza, so Giacomo said.
But"
Put WHAT" | asked, quickly.
Nothing, eccellenza! Only the old
man said the doctor had come too late. .
My heart sunk heavily, and a sob
rose in my throat. | stopped in my
rapid walk and babe NincenZo call a
carriage, one of the ordinary vehicles
that are everywhere standing about
for hire in the principal thoroughfares
of Naples. | sprung into this and told
the driver to take me as quickly as
possible to the Villa Romani, and
ADDING to Vincenzo that l should not
return to the hotel all day, | was soon
rafting along the uphill road. On my
arrival at the. villa | found the gates
open, as though in expectation of my
visit, and as l approached the en-
trance door of the house, Giacomo him
self met me.
How is the child?" | asked him
eagerly.
He made no reply, but shook his
head gravely, and pointed to a kindly
looking man who was at that moment
descending the stairs-a man whom |
instantly recognized as a celebrated
English doctor resident in the neigh
horhood. To him | repeated my in
qulry-he peckoned me into a side
room and closed the door.
THE fact is he said, simply, "it is
a case of gross neglect. The child has
evidently been in a weakly condition
for some time past, and therefore is an
easy prey to any disease that may be
lurking about. She was naturally
strong-I can see that-and had been
called in when the symptoms first de-
veloped themselves. l could have cured
her. The nurse tells me she dared not
enter the mothers room to disturb her
after midnight, otherwise she would
have called her to see the chiid-it is
upfortune, for now | can do nothing"
/ listened like one in a dream. Not
even old Assunta dared to enter her
mistress's room after midnight-no,
not though the child might be seriously
i'll and suffering, l knew the reason
well-tou well, And so while Ferrari
had taken his fill of %rapturous
little one had been allowed to struggle
in rain and fever without her mothers
care or comfort. Not that such con-
ISOLATION would have been much at its
best, but / was fool enough to wish
there had been this one faint spark of
~womanhood left in her upon whom |
had wasted all the first and only love
of my life. The doctor watched me as
| renamed silent, and after a pause he
81 oke again.
The child has earnestly asked to
see you he said, "and | persuaded the
countess to send for you, though she
was very reluctant to do so, as she
said you might catch the disease. OF
course there is always a risk"
Il am no coward, monsieur" | inter-
rupted him, though many of us
Italians prove but miserable panic
stricken wretches in time of plague
the more especially when compared
with the %intrep'dity and pluck of Eng
lishmen. Still there are EXCEPTIONS
The doctor smiled courteously and
bowed. Then | have no more to say,
except that II would be well for you to
see m little patient at once. ! am
compelled to be absent for half an
hour. but at the expiration Of that time
| will return"
STAY" | said, laying a OBTAINING
hand on his arm. rs there any
hope?"
lie eyed me gravely. Il fear not.
Can nothing be done?"
"Nothing-except to keep her as
quiet and warm as possible. ] have
left some medicine with the nurse
which will alleviate the pain. shall
be able to judge of her better when
return: the Illness will have then
reached its crisis" In a couple of
minutes more he had left the house,
and a young maid-servant showed me
to the nursery.
Where is the contessa?" l asked in
a whisper, as | trod softly up the
stairs.
"The contessa?" sald the girl, open
ing her eyes in establishment. In her
own bedroom, eccellenza-madama
would not think Of leaving it; because
of the danger Of infection"
I smothared a rough oath that rose
~involuntarily to my lips. Another
proof of the wcman's utter heartless-
ness, ! thought!
Has she not seen her child?"