Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-12

"Ah, so you say" she said. And yet
l don't suppose you would do anything
for me, Mr.. Martin
1T would be my greatest happiness" /
cried.
the rose.
Give it to me-" l said; sit shall be
my badge of service"
You will serve me, then?" said She.
For what reward?"
why, the rose -
Il should like the owner, too I ven
tured to remark
THE rose is prettier than the owner,
she said; land, at any rate, one thing at
a time, Mr.. Martini Do you pay your
servants all their wages in advanceT
Ny practice was so much to the con-
trary that l really couldn't deny the
| rose. l seized it and held it close TO ms
lips, thereby squashing it considerably
Then she said abruptly:
Are you a Constitutionalist or a Lib
eral, Mr.. Martini"
must explain that, in the usual race
for the former title, the Presidents par
Il had been first at the post, and the
Colonefs gang Gas l privately termed it)
had to put up with the alternative desig
nation. Neither name bore any relation
| to facts.
"Are we going to talk politics?" said 1
reproachfully.
Yes, a little. Tell me-"
(which are you, Signorina" l asked
H., \ %
many people. She thought for a moment
and then said:
Il have great regard for the Presi
| dent. He has been most kind to me. Or
| the other hand, l cannot disguise from
myself that some of his measures are mo-
WISE"
l said had never been able to disguise
it from myself.
1.-THE Colonel, of course, is of the same
opinion" she continued. About the debt
| for instance. l believe your bank is in
terested in it?"
"Oh yes, to a considerable extent"
! "And your" she asked, softly.
"Oh, I am not a capitalist; no money
| of mine has gone into the debt"
mo money of yours, no. But aren'
you interested in it?'' she persisted.
| This was rather odd. Could she know
anything? She drew nearer to me, and
laying a hand lightly on my arm, sale
reproachfully:
DO you love people, and yet not trus
them, Mr.. Martini"
This was exactly my state of feelin:
toward the Signorina, but l could not sa!
so. | was wondering how far | shoult
| be wise to trust her, and that depended
! largely on, how far his excellency hat
seen fit to trust her with my secrets.
said finally:
Without disclosing other peoples Sc
crets, Signorina, L may admit that if any
| thing went wrong with the debt, my EN-
be severely shaken"
OF your discretion" she said laughing
Thank you, Mr.. Martin. And you would
wish that not to happen?"
Il would take a good deal of pains t
prevent its happening"
Notices willingly if your interest an,
mine coincidedT'
/ was about to make a passionate re
| ply when we heard the Presidents voic
saying:
And where is our hostess? l shoult
like to thank her before l CO."
Hush" whispered the Signorina. wv
must go back. You will be true to me
Mr.. Martini"
Call me Jack" said l, idiotically.
''Then you will be true, o Jack?' sh
said, sitting a laugh.
Till DEATH" said l, hoping it woul
not be necessary.
She gave me her hand, which l kisse
with fervor, and we returned to the par
lor, to find all standing about in groups
waiting to make their bows till the Presi
dent had gone through that ceremony.
was curious to hear if anything passe
between him and the Signorina, but
was bounced upon by Donna Antonio, tn
daughter of the minister of finance, VIII
happened to be present as a guest of tn
Signorina's for the night. She was
handsome young lady, Spanish brunett
of the approved pattern, but with man
ners formed at a New York boardin
school, where she had undergone train
ing that had tempered without destroy
ing her native gentility. She had dis
tinguished me very favorably, and l wa
vain enough to suppose she honored m
by some jealousy of my penchant for tn
Signorina.
Il hope you have enjoyed yourself i
the conservatory" she said, maliciousIy
I'VE were talking business, Donna Ar
tonia," l replied.
"Ah, business! l hear nothing bu
business. There is papa gone down t
the country and burying himself aliv
to work out some great scheme of bus
ness :"
''Ah, what scheme is that?' I asked.
oh l don't know. Something abou
that horrid debt. But l was told not t
say anything about it ~
The debt was becoming a bore. Tn
whole air was full of it. I hastily pal
Donna Antonio few incoherent compl
ments, and took my leave. As ! was put
ting on my coat Colonel McGregor joir
ed me and, with more friendliness tina
lie usually showed me, accompanied N
down the avenue toward the Piazza. Afte
some Indifferent remarks, he began:
Martin, you and ! have separate II
terests in some matters, but / think W
have the same in others
knew at once what he meant; it wa
that debt over again / remained silen
and he continued:
About the debt, for instance. You ar
interested in the debt?"
Somewhat" said l. "A banker ger
orally is interested in a debt"
Il thought so,' said the Colonel. %.
time may come when We can act togetl
er. Meanwhile, keep your eye on tn
debt. Good night"
We parted at the door of his chamber
in the Piazza, and / went on to my lod:
ings. l got into bed, rather puzzled an
very uneasy.
CHAPTER VI
Tho FIGHT Of tirna oil