Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-05-25

III paying interest, ledVlng MS CIVIL Ser
wants and soldiers unpaid. This was the
topic of much discussion in the press at
the time when l went up one March
evening to the Signorinas. I had been
detained at the bank, and found the gaiety
In full swing when l came in. The Sig
norma sat by herself on low lounge by
the veranda window. 1 went up to her
and made my bow.
"You spare us but little of your time,
Mr.. Martini" she said.
"Ah, but you have all my thoughts" 1
replied, for she was looking charming.
Il don't care so much about your
thoughts" she said. Then, after a pause,
she went on, tits very hot here, come
into the conservatory"
1t almost looked as though she had been
waiting for me, and l followed in high de-
light into the long, narrow glnss house.
High green plants hid us from the view
Of those inside, and we only heard dis
tinctly his excellency's voice, saying with
much genialty to the Colonel, well, you
must be lucky in love, Colonel" from
which l concluded that the Colonel was
not in the vein at cards.
The Sgnorina smiled slightly as she
heard then she plucked a white rose,
turned round, and stood facing me, slight
ly flushed as though with some inner ex-
element
II am afraid those VITO gentlemen do
not love one another" she said.
Hardly" I assented.
And you, do you love them-or either
of them?"
Il love only one person In Aureata-
land" l replied, as ardently as 1 dared.
The Sgnorina bit her rose, glancing
up at me with unfeigned amusement and
pleasure. l think 1 have mentioned that
she didn't object to honest admiration.
rs it possible you mean me?" she said,
making me little courtesy. II only think
so because most of the Nottingham la
dies would not satisfy your fastidious
taste"
mo lady in the world could satisfy me
except one," l answered. thinking she
took it little too lightly.
"Ah, so you say" she said. "And yet
I don't suppose you would do anything
for me, Mr.. Martin"
1T would be my greatest happiness"
cried
She said nothing, but stood there, biting
the rose.
Give it to me-" 1 said ut shall be
my badge of service"
you will serve me, then" said she.
For what reward?"
"Why, the rose !"
II should like the owner, too" I ven
tured to remark.
1.-THE rose is prettier than the owner"
she said land, at any rate, one thing at
a time, Mr.. Martin Do you pay your
servants all their wages In advance?"
My practice was SO much to the con-
trary that l really couldn't deny the
force of her reasoning. She held out the
rose. l seized 1t and held it close to my
lips, thereby squashing it considerably
Then she said abruptly:
Are you Consttutionalist or a Lib
eral, Mr.. Martini"
! pust explain that, in the usual race
for the former title, the Presidents par
tt had been first at the post, and the
Coloneps gang Gas 1 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 l.
reproachfully.
"Yes, little. Tell me-"
Which are you, Signorina 2" asked.
really wanted to know; so did great
many people. She thought for a moment,
and then said
Il have a great regard for the Presi-
dent. He has been most kind to me- On
the other hand, I cannot disguise from
myself that some of his measures are not
wise"
said 1 had never been able to disguise
1t from myself.
1.-THE Colonel of course, Is of the same
opinion" she continued. ABOUT the debt,
for instance. believe your bank is In
terested In it?"
"Oh, yes, to a considerable extent"
And your" she asked, softly.
"Oh, l am not a capitalist; no money
Of mine has gone into the debt"
mo money of yours, no. But aren't
you interested in it'll" she persisted.
This was rather odd. Could she know
anything? She drew nearer to me, and,
laying hand lightly on my arm, said
reproachfully:
do you love people, and yet not trust
them, Mr.. Martini"
This was exactly my state of feeling
toward the Signorina, but I could not say
so. was wondering how far I should
be wise to trust her, and that depended
largely on how far his excellency had
seen fit to trust her with my secrets.
said finally:
without disclosing other peoples Sc
crets, Signorina, may admit that If any
thing went wrong with the debt, my en-
ployer's opinion of my discretion would
be severely shaken"
OF your discretion" she said laughing.
THANK you, Mr.. Martin. And you would
wish that not to happen"
II would take good deal Of pains to