Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-06

all his trouble and anxiety Carlo could
not help observing that he bore
eomical resemblance to the crimson
/ shade over the lamp. with its owls
head and round. staring eyes. How
/ was he to make this man of all men
+ in the world. understand Nitas posi-
ton and sympathize with its diff
culJaes? While he hesitattG how best
to put her case without divulging too
much, the captain recovered his
/ breath
DO I understand that you mean to
turn actor?' he asked in a sort of
hoarse roar.
Tone and manner were alike over
bearing.
Carlo made one of his dignified lit
tie bows and said grayely, "Merlino,
has offered me reasonable terms. and
/ Piale has long wished that should
go on the stage Had I only my OWE
wishes to consult l should certainly
not choose the career of public
singer; but, sir. promised my mother
to shield Anita, and / must do my
best-I must think of her"
Il should have thought you were
bound to think of your promised
Wife said the captain, wrathfuny ito
! consult her wishes
France sea agrees with me-" said
Carlo; she would never keep me
back from duty
Francesca is a fool, then. Duty,
indeed! A duty to mix yourself up
with a set of idle, profigate fellows!l
A duty to ponder to the taste of the
dissolute, and play the buffoon on
the stage, and be clapped by all the
| scum of the town."
Carlo by great effort strangled
the words of angry remonstrance
which rose to his lips, and tried to I'M
dersrand the feelings of an English
man with Puritan traditions. He
would at least try to explain the state
of affairs patiently.
1T is very hard for me to under
stand the view you take of the stage,
sir, he began; I'VE Italians honor
| and respect our theater; it is not, as
you would say. the haunt of the disso-
Lutte, but the resort of the whole peo-
| pie
The captain interrupted him; he
was all the more angry because his
companion had managed, so far, to ex-
ercise a well-bred restraint. Some
devil prompted him to rouse the
Italians latent passion.
Yes. he said. sneeringly, 81 know
your national tendencies we'll enough,
but / had thought you were superior
to your countrymen. l see l was
wrong; you are as frivolous and pleas.
ure-se eking as the rest of the lot; it
was wen said of you Italians that you
were only fit for artists models and
the operate stage"
Carlo sprung to his feet, fire fash
ing from his eyes.
No man is called on to sit still and
hear his country insulted," he cried.
THE words are not worthy of you,
sir, l am sure you will retract them"
IF | retract them in part l GER
tainly still apply them to you, said
NapAStlu DtillOu Wudl nave you
proved yourself but tickle and frivo-
lous? You have altogether deceived
me-
His patriotic feelings somewhat
smootbed, Carlo grew little calmer;
the personalities were less intoler-
able; again he made an effort pa
tiently to put before the captain the
whole case; this time he was deter
mined that he would make him fully
comprehend it and hear it out.
You condemn me, sir, before you
have grasped the situation" he began,
his voice so subdued by the strong re-
straint he was putting on himself that
1t sounded low and monotonous. In
words plain enough to make the En-
lishman vince he briefly described
the dilemma. Knowing this" he
went on--"knowing, too, that my
danger, you surely cannot Judge me
harshly for takipe this step l knew
the stage was iishonorable in your
eyes. but I thought you would see in
time that for me it was q necessity.
The captain had risl n, too, and was
pacing the room with quick, irritated
steps Nitas story had been severe
shock to him, Carlos plain-speaking
still caused his ears to Jingle, and
tire thought of any sort of connection
with a family on the borders of such
scandal was unbearable to him.
He had just pride in his British an
cestry, in his honest, God-fearing fore
fathers; his strong love of family, his
sense of kinship, was the best part OF
the man. But virtues generally have
their corresponding vices, and the
captain had an overweening idea Of
his own dignity and habit of look
ing on other mems affairs from
lofty height, which often made his
Judgment faulty.
He was blind now to Carlos unself-
ishness. blinC to his pain; he struck
out remorsele ssly, thinking only how
to rescue Francesca from further con-
nection with Madame Merlino's
brother.
Don't talk to me of duty and neces.
sity." he Numbered; you are Jesuit
in disgise; you are doing evil that
-