Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-04

At any rate, | resolved to say nothing
that should attract the attention of
my guests to the ill-omened circum-
stance; If any one should notice II,
Il would be easy to make light OF II
and of all similar superstitions. my
self was the one must affected by it
II had for me a curious and fatal sig
nifcance. ! was so occupied with the
consideration of ii that | scarcely
attended to the words addressed to me
by the Duke di Marina, who, walking
beside me, seemed disposed to converse
with more familiarity than was his
usual custom. We reached the door
of the dining-room, which at our ap-
proach was thrown wide open, and
delicious strains Of music met u
ears as we entered. Low murmurs or
establishment and admiration broke
from all the gentlemen as they viewed
the sumptuous scene before them. |
pretended not to hear their eulogies,
as ! took my seat at the head OF the
table, with Guido Ferrari on my right
and the Duke di Marina on my left.
The music sounded louder and more
triumphant, and While all the company
were seating themselves in the places
assigned to them, a choir of young
fresh voices broke forth into a Nea-
politan "madrigale'-which as far as
| can translate it ran as follows:
Welcome the festal hour,
Pour the red wine into cups of gold,
Health to the men who arc strong and
bold!
Welcome the festal hour!
Waken the echoes with riotous mirth-
Cease to remember the sorrows of
earth
In the joys of the festal hour!
Wine is the monarch of laughter and
light,
Death himself shall be merry tonight!
Hail to the festal hour!'
An enthusiastic of clapping OF hands
rewarded this effort on the part of
the unseen ~vocalists, and the music
having ceased, conversation became
general.
by Heaven" exclaimed Ferrari, IF
this Olympian carouse is meant as a
welcome to me, AMIGO, ali | can say is
that / do not deserve it. Why, it is
more fit for the welcome of one king
to his neighbor sovereign"
"Ebbene!" / said. Are there an,
better kings than honest men? lie
us hope we are thus far worthy of eacl
others esteem.
He flashed a bright look of graft
tude upon me and was silent, listen
ing to the choice and complimentary,
phrases uttered by the Duke di Marina
concerning the exquisite taste dis
played in the arrangemnt OF the table
You have nc doubt travelled mucl
in the East, %conte," said the noble
man. Your banquet reminds me of al
Oriental romance | once read, calle'
'Nathek.'"
Exactly exclaimed Guido. ="
think Olivia must be Vathek himself!
Scarcely" / said, smiling coldly
Il lay no claim to supernatural ex
periences. The realities of life ar
SullItltlIllt "OllttIluI loI me.
Antonio Biscardi the painter, a re
fined, gentle-featured man, looked to
wards us and said modestly:
81 think you are right, conte, Tn,
beauties of nature and of humanit.
are so varied and profound that wer
it not for the inextinguishable longin,
after immortality which has beer
placed in every one of us, | think W
should be perfectly satisfied with thi
world as it is"
you speak like an artist and a mai
OF ever temperament" broke in tn
Marchese Gualdro, who had finishes
his soup quickly in order to be abb
to talk-talking being his chief de
light. For me, | am never contente'
| never have enough of anything, Tha
is my nature. When | see lovely flow
ers, | wish more of them-When | be
hold a fine sunset, | desire many NOR
such sunsets-when | look upon
lovely woman"
you would have lovely women a.
infinitrr! laughed the French Capt
taine de Hamal, I'm verite, Gualdrc
you SHOULD have been a 11Tk!"
and why not?" demanded Gualdrc
The Turks are very sensible people
they know how to make coffee bette
than we do. And what o f~ascinat
ing han a harem? 1t must be like
fragrant dollhouse, where one is fire
to wander every day, sometimes gath
ering a gorgeous lily, sometimes
simple yioiet-sometimes-
"A thorn?" suggested Salustri.
Well, perhaps!" laughed the Mar
cheese. yet one would run the risI
Of that for the sake Of a perfect rose.
Cheyalier Mancini, who wore in hi
~button-hole the decoration of tn
Legion d'Honneur, looked up-he wa
a thin man with keen eyes and
shrewd face which, though at a frs
glance appeared stern, could at tn.
least pr~oyocation break IN into
thousand little wrinkles CT laughter.
There is undoubtedly somethin.
aptraipaut about tho ida~ " ha nh