The Press., 1911-12-06

This is a true story. It Oecurreor m northern Italy during the spring of 1881, when in America the southern states, one after another, were leaving the Union and wheeling into Confed- crate line: when northern men were drilling for a great war and hurrying forward to occupy those states that were part loyal to the north and part ready to join the southern side.
 h the land where the story was en- acted a crisis that was to result In the formation of a nation was taking place. Victor Emmanuel, Cavour, Gari- baldi, were endeavoring to draw to- gether the different parts of Italy and unite them In a nation Garibaldi had brought in the islands of Sicily and Ma ples, attaching them to the Kingdom of Sardinia: Rome hung in the bal ance; Venice was still under the domi- nstion of Austria.
 In Turin, the capital of Piedmont and of so much of Italy as had been thus far united, in the villa of one of those aristocratic families whose titles have come down from medieval times. two elderly men, Count Bertinetti and Baron Mettiuci, sat in conference.
 "I. think" said the baron, "that I can do better for my daughter than to marry her to your son. both in the way of title and4 fortune. Nevertheless. since we are old friends, I yield the point and give my consent. '
 q am delighted. baron, at the pros pect of uniting our families" repeat ed the other. ''I take it that we shall have no trouble with the young people They have never seen. each other, but since they have both been brought up to obedience in the choice of mate I am sure they will make no opposition. My son might rebel if he had made an attachment, but have heard from him recently. and he assures me that he has no preferences and will accept the bride provide for him."
 "And assure you, count, that my daughter will obey me. Besides, she has had no opportunitysto form any at tachment. She is still in the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Milan, where she is finishing her education. intend to present her to society at the coming Tote ball."
 The Tote ball.. held every spring at Turin, was given for this very purpose of introducing debutantes of aristocrat- ic families. Fresh from their convents, dressed becomingly, animated with this their first view of the social world, they formed a scene charming to look upon. They were all, or nearly all,
 
 themselves nothing to do with the pro- vision), married immediately and might thereafter receive all the attention they liked from the hosts of admirers who crowded about them.
 My son." replied Count Bertinetti, ''is now travelling, but will arrive in Turin for the ball. suggest that the first meeting between the two young people take place on that occasion. There will be a great advantage in such an introauctieR.-T music, the array of beautifully dressed young women and well groomed young men. the adornment and perfume of flow CTS, the ripple of chat, mingled with laughter, all will conspire to s9duce the senses, and that, you know, baron, when we were young men one always found alluring in a matter of love-" q agree with you, count. My daugh- ter leaves the convent in a few days, and I will give directions to her moth CT that she be kept like bird in cage till she is set free in the ball. room"
 This closed the interview, and the two friends separated.
 Within few days after the meeting in which was arranged one of these marriages of convenience without love. common among the aristocracy of Flu rope, young Count Giuseppe Bertinetti alighted from post chaise at his ia ther's door and entered the house.
 "Ah, my son." exclaimed the older man, kissing his offspring on both cheeks, 'I am delighted to see you again"
 q am glad to rejoin you, father, though 1 admit that have had de- lightful trip"
 "The next will be your wedding jour- ney, my boy. My negotiations with my old friend, Baron Mettiuci, have resulted in the betrothal of yourself to his daughter
 The young mans brow d1r'-""o' ominously. His father s''w tho t3'":' of expression and said anx "u "Giuseppe. you appear to b' dS"5 pointed"
 Giuseppe made no reply.
 Did you not write me-" pursued iii father, mot a week ago that you ha'i no preference as to whom you should marry and would leave the matter to meT'
 T did. But a single evening has changed all that. came by way of Lake Maggiori The moon was full and unclouded. On one side the peaks woro hntho1 in i+s onf+ Ii0h+ m fhn ether they were black. I sat onTdeck with young girl had just met whose beauty, whose"-
 "FoolT interrupted the father. 'How long did the moonlight last? No later than dawn. And how long must you live with a wife? Till you are parted by death, for in our church, as you know, there is no divorce. For this disSolVtng moonlight, for this face or a young girl. doubtless softened by it and which will soon belong either to a fat or skinny old woman, you will throw away splendid opportunity"
 The interview ended, as all such in, terviews are bound to end, ina quar- rel. But Giuseppe stood firm as a rock, His attachment to the girl who in a few hours had won his heart was too strong for the father who had begot- ten him and brought him up. The boy declined to accede, to- the marriage that had been arranged for him. r.a.| The Tote ball was coming on, and it was necessary for Count Bertinetti- to announce to his friend that Giuseppe repudiated the, contract. The count went to the baron's villa and told the story.
 Do you mean, count" asked the