Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-13
She glanced up at me.

happens sol"
Plays, cara mia, are often nothing
but the reflex Of real life" said
But let us hope there are exceptions
and that all husbands are not fools
She smiled expressively and sweetly
tOyed with the flowers I had given
| her, and turned her eyes again to the
stage. | said no more, and was a
somewhat moody companion for the
rest of the evening. AS we all left the
theater one of the ladies who had &C
companied Nina said, lightly:
You seem dull and out of spirits,
conte?"
/ forced a smile.
Not 1, signore! Surely you do not
find me guilty of such ungallantry?
Were | dull in your company | should
prove myself the most ungrateful of
my sex"
She sighed somewhat impatiently.
She was very young and very lovely,
and, as far as I knew, innocent, and of
more thoughtful and poetical tenn
permanent than most women.
THAT is the mere language OF
compliment" she said, looking
straightly at me with her clear, can
did eyes. you are a true courtier!
Yet often / think your courtesy is re-
luctant''
l looked at her in some surprise.
Reluctant? Signera, pardon me if
l do not understand"
Il mean,' she continued, still re-
garding me steadily, though faint
blush warmed the clear pallor of her
delicate complexion, that you do not
really like us women; you say pretty
things to us, you try to be amiable
in our company, but you are in truth
averse to our ways-you are sceptical
you think we are all hypocrites."
l laughed a little colby.
Really, signOra, your words place
me in very awkward position. Were
l to tell you my real sentiments s."
She interrupted me with touch of
her fan ON my arm, and smiled
gravely.
You would say, Yes, you are right,
signora. l never see one of your sex
without suspecting treachery.' All
Signor Conte, we women are indeed
full of faults, but nothing can blind
our instinct" She paused, and her
brilliant eyes softened as she added
gently, Il pray your marriage may be
q very happy one"
l was silent. | was not even courteous
enough to thank her for the wish.
was half angered that this girl should
have been able to probe my thoughts
SO quickly and unerringly. Was l sc
bad an actor after all? glanced down
at her as she leaned lightly on = my
arm.
Marriage is a mere comedietta," j
said, abruptly and harshly. I'VE
have seen it acted tonight In a few
days I shall play the part of the chief
buffoon-in other words, the hus-
band
And l laughed. My young COM
panion looked startled, almost fright
ened, and over her fair face there
fitted an expression OF something like
aversion. 1 did not care-why should
words between us, for we reached the
outer vestibule of the theater.
My wife's carriage was drawn up at
the entrance-my wife herself was
Ctannincr nj i T
also her two frinds, and then stood
with uncovered head at the door
wishing them all the 'felicissima
notte." Nina put her tiny jeweled
hand through the carriage window
1 stopped and kissed it lightly. Draw
ing it back quickly, she selected a
white gardenia from her bouquet and
gave it to me with bewitching smile.
Then the glittering equipage dashed
away with a whirl and clatter of
l stood alone under the wide portico
of the theater-alone, amid the press
ing thTongs Of the people who were
still coming out Of the house-holding
the strongly scented gardenia in my
band as vaguly as a fevered man who
finds a strange flower in one of his
sick dreams.
After a minute or two I suddenly
recollected myself, and throwing the
blossom on the ground, | crushed it
savagely beneath my heel-the pene-
trating odor rose from it's slain petals
as though a vessel OF incense had been
| emptied at my feet. There was a
nauseating influence in it: where had
l inhaled that subtle perfume last? I
remembered-Guido Ferrari had worn
one OF those flowers in his coat at my
| banquet-it had been still in his but
ton-hole when l killed him.
streets were full of mirth and music
! but | needed none of it. / felt, rathe
than saw, the quiet sky bending above
me dotted with it's countless millions
OF luminous worlds; l was family
conscious of the soft plash OF muir
muring waves mingling with the dull
Get chords of deity played mando-
Inns echoing from somewhere dow
by the shore; but my soul was, as il
were, benumbed-my mind, alway
on the alert, was for once utterly
tired out-my very limbs ached, and
when | at last flung myself on m.
bed, exhausted, my eyes closed in
stantly, and I slept the heavy, motion
less sleep of a man weary unto death