The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-21
III H0OKs.
me SpIFit HAD seward.

opens SOMEWHAT DoWlldotlhkly dnQ deters
rngly, az his other stories do. People
that We do not know cay things that ara
both simple and vague. This goes on at
considerable length. The people are M.
merous and bear names that do not permit
themselves 10 be attached readily by Inc
un-Italian memory. The Count PerlotH,
listening 10 the soft impact Of the billiard
balls. aays 'Tacl taol'-plainly In imitation.
He holds the chalk In his right hand and
his cue In the left, precisely a. We should
suppose he would do, even N 10 were not
told. The Senator eIolAlms Heavens anq
asks the Countess Tarquinia what sort n
cues she keeps. He says the tip is al Of
his. wbereupon We feel that We should not
have been surprised II his exclamation hal
consisted Of different word. The Countess
Perlotti Smiles quietly aS she watches tho
weather through the glass door. Presently
she says, What weather. and adds. 1t is
frightful,' The Senator asks the Countess
Tarquinia 10 be good enough 20 send word
TO the priests who are playing cards in tina
next room 10 make lees noise. The Countess
charges her dear Grgioli' with this mes.
sage. Young Gigioli, who is seated on A.
sofa talking 10 TIE Baroness Elena CerrA
di Santa Glulia. rses and bows and SAYS.
by the by, | rely upon youl' to which tho
Countess replies softly, THAT blessed
Sicily" Then Grigioh says, what can |
do for you, Countess?' and the Countess
says, why. don't you know Cortis!'
For many pages the story goes on In this
curious way. We long 10 understand. We
wish fervently that We might be introduces.
Don Bartolo recites some verses Of %extraor.
binary simplicity, and still they are quite
inscrutable verses. At page 9 we make
out that the Senator and the Baron Of Santa
Giulia are one person. The Baron has a
large and heavy hand and a laundering
voice. A crash Of thunder from the heavens
mot from the Baron causes the windows
to rattle. The Baron eIclaims, by thun-
deri" and the Countess calculates, Good
h~eavensi' The Countess rdshes 10 the bell
crying. The windows u~pstairsl' A young
lady who 90 far has not opened her mouth
begins 70 groAn, Grigioli shouts, 'Hov
dark Il isl The chaplain dashes out into
the storm, explaining a. he disappears that
he will be wanted to bless the weather.
Old Picuti, the lawyer, remarks that the
weather IL mean and nasty Somebody
speaks OF the corn. A lady mentions the
grapes. At page 10 the Countess goes to
door leading TO a staircase and addressing
somebody outside says: AT lastl How
did you find him7" A masculine voice
answers Sad DanIele Cortis enters.
The Baron shouts 'Ah, here Is our can
dldatei These gentlemen ell want 10 know
II YOU will bark at Tunis and bite the min
istry." The Baron has q loud voice and a
long yellow beard and looks like an old
Norman brigand. Chico Zirsela, a patriot
who Is afraid Of nobody, says; What have
we TO do with Tunis7 We do not care about
Tunis." Daniele Ia tall and slim, with well
cut features, remarkable for their dignity
and soldierly resolution, and intelligent
blue eyes. An umbrella appears outside,
slowly advancing under the dripping Ar
trees. II Is Malcanton. He enters, Tbs
Countess groans at his drenched condition.
She calls out for a hot brandy punch for
him. He announcestha he has done every
thing: that he has seen Signor Momi and
Signora Catina; that he has engaged the
band and telegrsphed for the fireworks.
At this point w are thoroughly beTil-
dered. II is page Is and we have not the
least notion what all these people ere about.
The realism is not to be doubted, but the
play fingers. just now however. our
interest is excited. Maloanton says: Il
have written for that book on laven ten
mis- and have asked how IL should be pro-
nounced.- The Countess Periotti Offers
10 supply the needed information, Slam
tennis she says. The Baron correctS
this. "Ioonl Loonl' he bellows. Nal
canton will not have either rendering.
He says politely but firmly Whether II be
liam or loon | still say laVen, but we shall
soon know The story says that the
Countess Tarqunia had ordered a set Of
lawn tennis. the first ever known in that
neighborhood. Nobody knew how 10 play
it or pronounce H. Even at the cafe In the
town they contendsd ct great length
whether II should be laAn or loon.
In time, OF course, the story unfolds itself.
Daniele Cortis, the tall and slim young
man with the intelligent blue eyes and the
well cut features remarkable for their
dignity and resolution, was the politician.
He was tremendously earnest In politics
and az q Deputy he had a difloult time.
In love he was both fortunate and un.
fortunate. He loved his cousin, the Baron
ess Elena CarrA di Santa Glulia, aud she
lived him. She was married. however,
to the Baron We have seen playing billiards
with a defective cue-the Baron and Sena-
tor with the t~hunderous voice and long
yellow beard who looked like an old Nor
man briRand. Both she and Daniele we're
scrupulously honorable. and %, though
each had the love Of the other and knew H.
they cannot be said 10 have been happy.
There were troubles besides. Dapiele's
mother. who vas thought TO he dead. re-
appeared. She had dishonored Danieles
father. She and Elena'S husband, TIE
Baron. had been guilty together at one
time. Moreover, the Baron was a spend
thrift and a gambler. To obtain mcnsy
he vent az far az felony. II vas a con-
tinuous burden upon old Count Lao, Elenas
hypoohondriAc uncle. and upon Daniele
"a well. 10 pay the Baron's debts and save
him from the criminal law, The troubles a
DSniele became 90 acute that "A he rosa
10 make a speech In the Chamber OF Dep
titles he was stricken with congestion Of
the brain.
Like the heroes al Mr.. FogazEaro's other
stories, Daniele was extremely emotional.
He was proud Of his athletic bodily cou-
dition and Of his strong mini. We end