HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1892-5-12, Page 2The Village Politician,
S LUM' 011 craoher box, a barrel. or a IteEA
Chemin' on tobaeker ho has been obleeged to
be;
;
Wleittliie of a splinter wldle a aworicin" et hie
jaw,
Sayinwhat a pity his opirdens ain't the law ;
Bountio' the hull, Ootuitry 4SINVIS never rue be-
fore,
Turnin' out the rascals while he spits upon the
floor;
S howin: of the President egzaohly what to do,
Eeepin things in general from, gittin' in a
stew;
Grumblin' over Wall street, monopoly and
Work—
at home a hoein' in the cornfield like a
Turk.
Fighin." an the ecanin' nominatioas purty close,
Givin' to tho other side a mighty sielenite dose ;
Talkie tariff and reform, McKinley and pro-
teetion,
S wearhe that the earth won't move a peg be-
' fore (election ;
Giviie lazy Congressmen a needed rakin' over,
Satin' there in Washington like well-fed pigs
in clover;
Givin' Gould and Vanderbilt a pointer here
and there,
Showin' jest how surely one can be a million-
aire :
Payire off the nation's debt as easy as a wink,
Borrowin' a dime to get himself another drink.
Spankin' littlo Chili jest to show her how it
feels,
Sassin' back Great Brita'n for pesterie.' our
seals.
Tellite of the Czar to let thorn Nihilists alone.
Halpin' Kaiser William to prop up his shaky
throne.
Buildin' a great navy with au hour or two of
guff,
Lettin' the hull world kaow that we'ro rabid,
rude and rough;
Gettite off his high horse, though, when home
he goes to dinner,
Dedgin' creditors like an ordinary sinner;
Jumps to hear his first-born yell: " Yolk d bet-
ter watch out, dad!
Flour 'rid coffee's plum give out 'nd mother's
mighty mad!"
—Yankee B:ade.
A BARITONE'S DEVOTIvN •
a
OR A TALE OF SUNNY ITALY.
But, for all that, above the eager repre-
sentations of Piale and the London
manager, and above his own personal
craving for this new life, be could dis-
tinctly hear an inner voice, which had
never failed him, ' repeating again and
again:
Remember Anita ! She has no one but,
you! Be faithful !"
Long before he had ended the struggle
came the necessity of making some sort of
reply to the offer, but no one ever passed
through a temptation encl found all the
time he desired for preparation. Every inch
of the ground had to be contested, and even
in hie courteous thanks there was an un-
usual amount of hesitation, which the
London manager put down to diffidence and
inexperience. Piale, however, knowing
him better, began to fear that it boded a
refused.
"You are not strong enough for the
drudgery of a traveling company," he ex-
claimed. "Everything points to your ac-
cepting this offer..
rlo looked at him a trifle reproachfully,
and his manner became less diffident and future. The doctor's verdict troubled kind -
hes words more to the point. hearted Mr. Britton; and when on the
"The offer is indeed a tempting one," he Monday morning the carriage was an-
nounced, and all the family met together in
said ; " but I fear I must refuse it. You
the hall to wish Carlo good-bye, he watched'
see, sir, Merlino is my brother -in law, and
my enagement with him—though it may
with deep sympathy the silent hand -shake
be
ended next- emonth, if either of us wishes it that passed between the lovers. They both
to be ended--" - tried so bravely to keep up appearances,
The manager interrupted him.
that Mr. Britton was touched with corn -
"But the mere fact that the impresario passion, and drew Francescaaside into his
s
is your brother-in-law is surely in your study. If the work should indeed prove too
favor. He would be intereeted in your sue- much for Carlo, Francesca would never see
cess—would wish you to seize on this oppor-
him again. Ile would at least give them
nity, which may ae turned to very good the comfort of a less public farewell ; the
account, I assure you." captain miaht possibly ne vexed, but Mr.
Carlo gave Piale a glance which said as Britton was willing to risk something for
the niece who was almost as dear to him. as
plainly as words, "See what a diffieulty you
have landed me
his own children.
in."
" Donati," he said, " just come in here
The maestro responded to it by a sugges-
one minute, will you V then, closing the
tion which relieved his conscience, and
proved of some use to Carlo. door after Cale, he gave him a. little push on
"Take a few hours to think it all over,,, the shoulder, indicating that he should go
he suggested. "I will come and see you across to Francesca..
Carlo did not speak, but he gave his host
again about it to -morrow."
a grateful look, and Mr. Britton kindly
"That is not a bad idea," said the man -
turned his back on them and began to make
aeer. "But I must beg for a final answer
h
ti-m.orrove morning, for aletasti has failed ay in the papers on his table, to unlock a
d
me suddenly, and we are in great need of arawer with a most unusual rattling of his
baritone. If you refuse—but you'll not re-
keys, and to behave as a kind-hearted uncle
fuse, I hope. Signor Piale, you must talk should behave under the circumstances.
him over
Presently, crossing the room, he opened the
'
And after a little friendly banter, and a French window, signed to Francesca that
o
few skillfully -framed compliments, the man-
she might heat a retreat intthe garden
ager rose to go, shaking hands cordially and avoid the assembled family, then pion -
with Carlo.
eered Carlo through the hall to the car -
"And I shall hope soon to number you in riage, talking to him as if they were just
ending the discussion of some baseness
my company !" were his patine- words.
"Don't on any account come to the
matter. There were manifold hand -shak-
ings,-
good wishes, regrets and entreaties
door !" said Pelle, excitedly. "The damp
night—your throat !—for Heaven's sake, from Flo that he would come again; but at
last the ordeal was over, Carlo was shut
take care of your throat L And to -morrow
into the carriage with Mr. Britton, and was
I shall come over to receive your definite
driven rapidly along the dusty road to Ash-
acceptance—nothing less, mind—a definite
borough. He was quite silent, and sat
acceptance—or, diavolo ! I shall think you
have gone clean demented!" gazing out at the green hedgerows, seeing
For the greater part of that night Carlo nothing, however, but the inward vision of
fought the terrible craving that had seized the woman he loved. Not till they had
reached the town did he dare to trust his
him to accept the London offer. He was
ashamed to find how ardently he longed for voice, but a sudden perception that the time
s
all that the manager had suggested ; while left to him was hort, roused his native
courtesy, and he tried 10 thank his host fcst
Male's assurance that he was not strong
enough for the hard work in Merlino's com-
all the great kindness shown to him during
pany had in it a truth which made it doubly his illness.
dangerous. It was to be a case of kill or " My dear fellow," said Mr. Britton, "1
can only say that it has been a great plea -
cure —the doctor had told him as much ;
sure th have you. I look on you as my pro•
and though at first the idea had not in the
s
least shaken his purpose, yet now that hepective nephew, you know, though for the
was alone, with all around him daek and present we must keep than hope to our -
still, he began to consider the two'possi-
selves."
Carlo grasped. his hand ; those kindly
bilities.
Slowly the ruling power of his life re-
words of hope seemed to put new life into
sumed its sway over him ; and then, tired him, and all through that dark day they
out with all he had gone through, he fell rang in his ears.
asleep for very exhaustion. Sardoni was waiting for him at the
When he woke the night was over, the Brighton station, and though the thought
sun was shining, the •thrushes and black- of returning to the old life had been dis-
birds were singing, the rooks were cawing, tasteful, yet somehow he fell back into
mad by the light of the early morning he his old -place very naturally, and talked
could see the familiar picture of the Con. cheerfully enough as they drove throughthe
dant Shepherd. The night of temptation crowded streets to the Merlinos' lodginga.
was over, too, the darkness had passed, and " Merlin° has engaged a room for you,"
y
what he had to do was as clear as day to exclaimed Sardoni; " theare staying
him'moreover, he knew that he could close to the theatre, and I thought you
do it. would rather be with them. Marione and I
He must definitely decline the London are clown by the sea."
offer. He must not, as he Was half tempted "And Comerio has gone ?"
to do, mention it to Merlin°, by way of "Thank heaven, yes la He came to see
inducing him to renew his engagement at us off at Victoria lapt night. That London
one or to raise his salary, He found, how- engagement came in the very nick of time.
ever, that Piale hardly understood title view Hit hadn't been for that I believe he would
of the case, and his interview with the have managed to prevent your coming back.
maestro was stormy. In the end, however, These are your quarters, and look ! there is
Piale had to submit to the inevitable and Gigi on the balcony."
with a sigh and a shrug of the shoulders, On catching sight of them the little fel-
owned that he could not stand against the low beat a hasty retreat, and came rushing
telly of a man who had no eye to hi a own headlong down the stairs, where, with a cry
interests, and who deliberately threw away of joy, he flung himself into Carlo's arras
the verehticket which would have brougnt and clung with all the strength of a child's
him a prize in the world's lottery. eager love round his neck.
He stayed to lunch at Merlebartk, and Maratha is tiPetaimo" panted Offline
diverted the Brittons very much by the "come and see her."
mingled fondness and ferocity with which Carlo, still carrying the little brown.
he seemed to regard his pupil. He tried to faced fellow in his arms, event up to the
win them over to sympathize with his dig. sittingnoom, looking anxiously toward the
appointment; and it transpired that the Pretty, slim figure standing in the bay win -
instant he had heard of Metnetti's illness, he dow. The brother and sister had been long
had hurried to London to see if he could not enough apart to see each other with some -
obtain the engagement for his pupil. thing of the freshness of observation which
a 130,, you see, he is bent on his own de. comes to relations after they have been
ethuctiona' concluded the old man, with a separated for some time.
• gesture of itnpatience. "One might tts well Nita thought she hadnever before noticed
try to argue with a mule! However, my what a beautiful face he had ; Carlo pre -
son, since you are set on going to America, ceived, as he had neveepereeived before,
let me give you one piece of advice—beware the worn unsatisfied expression Which was
of damp beds ; take my aciviee, and always now so worn,
visible about her Mouth and
deep between the blankets,"
lile of an operantieger is one eternal praetice
of self-denial said Pale, geritionlating
with his uife and fork.
Carlo laughed lightly.
"And I do my best to be your very good
pupil. but at -.hotel blankets I draw the
line !"
Francesca and Clare did. all they could to
talk the old, man'into a good humor, and to
console him under his disappointment; and
when Carlo parted with him et the Ash -
borough station, he was not at all sure that
it was not emotion which made leis Answers
so curt and his voice so gruff;
"Von will not forget about Comerio ?" he
pleaded, at the very last moment.
Piale replied only by a grunt. But there
was nothing but affection in his parting
glance; and apparently he met have con-
ciliated the London manager, and spoken in
high terms of Comerio, for in three days'
time Carlo received the following letter
from Sardoni:
"DEAR VAL.—Our worthy Comerio has
fallen on his feet, and has obtained the
height of his ambition—an engagement for
the London season. Lucky is he who de-
serveth nothing ! By what rule of philos-
ophy or religion do you explain euch an
event? However, it is an ill wind that
blows nobody poi. We shall be quit of
him, and—Heaven be praised !---this is the
last week I shall have to keep an eye on him
by day and share dreesing-rooms with him
at night. Your costumes are already being
taken in and up; Comerio growled not a
little at the nuisance of having them all re-
fitted when he first came back. He remains
in Morlino's good hooka, and he.s been fish.
ing hard for America in the autumn; but
when anything goes wrong it scores one
to you, for the impresario always
sweet's that it would never have happened
had you been in the company. We go to
Brighton on Whit.Suuday, and open the
next day with Faust.' It is supposed that
the Whitsuntide holidays may make the
thing a success. I have my doubts. How-
ever, with you as Valeutino it may be.
Write and tell me whether you come back
on the Sunday or Monday, and I will meet
you at the station. Monday will be all
right, if you don't want to call a special
rehearsal after the pleurisy ; but as I'm sure
you could do Valentino in your sleep, I
don't see that we need be bothered with
that. If you are at the vicarage, you might
mention that we sail in September, and that
I could spare a few days in August if thee/.
would like it. Gigi sends affectionate mes-
sages by the yard. He talks of little else
but your return. --Ever yours, SARDONL"
Once again Carlo and Francesca kept
their Whitsuntide together. It had fallen
earlier than on the previous year, and it
was no small comfort to Carlo that his last
day at Merlebank should have chanced to be
that quiet Sunday, when he was able to
walk through the sunny grounds to church
with Francesca, and later in the day to
have a long, quiet talk with her as to the
in her eyes.
"11 I coteld only comfort her," he thought; , Ono teethed imi blissful terror and excite-
" if I could only get the least bid nearet to relent th the shelter of the nearest boat, and
her 1" 13ut more than ever he-Meth:0 she by the tithe the chase was mean and he had
kept him willfully at et, dittartee, and that be..en devoured and resineltothd in the coil.
Carlo made a gesture of harron
"low, dear nuleetro, you realty expect
me to be too self-denying!"
"Self-denying, indeed 1 wh3"; Yes, the
her love for Gowned° was an impassable
barrier, which must maim her cold and
dietant, to the man Who had taken his
place.
There was nothing for him to do but to
go on patiently, never despairing, He
Lingered behind the others to see the last
of the little boy, then made hie way along
the colonnade to the stage door of the
theater. Tho door -keeper looked up. horn
his newepaper and gave hire a friendly
greeting, for Merlino's company had had a
very successful week at Brighton izi Novem-
ber, and Carlo invariably, won the hearts of
all the officials by his pleasant manner and
unwillingness to give any trouble.
" Hope you're better, sir," said the man.
"1 have a letter for you here."
The letter was neither addressed nor
sigued, but he had not lived through all
these months of public life without receiv-
ing sundry anonymous communications,
some of them kindly, some of them grossly
insulting.
This particular mimive consisted eolely
of an Italian proverb : " Aspetto tempo e
luogo a far tile. vendetta, che la non se fa
mai ben in fretta !" (Wait time and place
10 acathy revenge, for it is never well done
in a hurry.)
There was a vagueness about this which
puzzled him. Was it from some outsider
who would warn him that his haste in get-
ting rid of Comerio had been impolitic?
Or was it from Comerio himself, and did it
imply that, although he might not at once
revenge himself, yet Carlo was not to think
that he had forgotten—that vengeance
would most certainly follow him?
While he waited for his first entrance he
showed the note to Sardoni, who at once
solved the mystery by recognizing Comerio's
handwriting.
"That is from our friend, the Corsican,"
he remarked. "I should know his writing
anywhere."
Is Comerio a Corsican? I never knew
that. Then such a message is doubly signi-
ficant."
"Why ?" asked Sardoni.
"Because a Corsican never forgives. A
Neapolitan may kill his man in sudden pas-
sion, but aeCorsican will wait tor years, ansi
strike at last with the cool premeditation of
a devil."
Sardoni looked grave; he could believe
anything of such a man as Comerio, ana he
resolved th keep a eharp watch, and play
the part of detective in the interests of his
friend.
"11 frightens me to act with you," was
Nita's comment ; "you make it all too
horribly real, you die so dreadfully."
"Yet he is not so violent as Comerio,"
remarked old Bauer. "Re does not push
you away for instance, but dies like a
Christian, kissing the cross aud forgiving
you."
"The difference is," said Marioni, "that
Comerio dies like an angry blusterer and
Donati like a heart -broken hero. His voice
seems better than ever after the rest."
The next morning Carlo felt a not un-
natural reaction after the strain of the pre-
vious day. After breakfast he strolled with
Gigi through the Pavilion gardens ; then,
remembering that he hacl asked that letters
from Merlebank might be directed to hitn
at the general postoffice, he went to inquire
if any had arrived, not exactly expecting
any, but with a lover's restless hope for
the improbable. His heart beat quickly
when an envelope in Clare's writing was
handed to him, but it only inclosed a letter
from Enrico Ritter, which had arrived just
after he had left Merlebank. Now that
Francesca was in England, Enrico's letters
meant much less to him, and he saantered
down Ship street, and yielded to Gigi's en-
treaties to go on the beach before he began
to read it. The letter was unusually short
and abrupt, and had evidently been entitte
in great haste.
"Prepare your mind for bad news, cornice
9 -trio," it began. "Your uncle has died sud-
denly of an apoplexy, and I have just
learned the conditions of his will. He has
kept to his word, and has disinherited you,
leaving every penny he possesses to the
Little Sisters of the Poon We are all, as
you may imagine, in a fine state of indigna-
tion, and find it beyond human nature not
to speak evil of the dead. I must warn you,
too, thatyou have a livingenemy, who isd.oing
his best to rob you, not of money, but of
your reputation. Some person or persons
unknown have set on foot a scandal about
you and Mademoiselle Borelli, and it is all
over the place. Something of the sort was
suggested last autumn; the first I heard of
it was a mere surmise, half -jestingly made
at a. ; Miss Britton also overheard the
words, end for her sake I made as light of
them as possible, and, indeed, they were, I
believe, lightly meant. Now, it is possible,
of course, that these words started the cur-
rent slander, but I think it very probable
that Comerio may have had a hand in the
affair, and thought it best to tell youplainly
the truth that you and Mademoiselle Borelli
are the talk of Naples. You can now take
whatever steps you think fit, and, of course,
can count on us to fight your battles."
Carlo looked up from this ill-fated letter
with a dazzled, confueed feeling that all the
world was against him. The calm blue sea,
and the pleasure boats, and the merry chil-
dren playing on the shore, contrasted pain-
fully enough with his troubled life. His
uncle was dead, and had never forgiven
him. The thought was a real grief, for he
had loved the autocratic old man, and had
hoped that some day all might be made
right between them. Then there was that
vile, that extraordinary slander. Burning
wrath consumed him as he pictured to him-
self • Domenica Borelli'of all women on
earth, singled out to be the victim of such
hateful gossip. .And what could be done?
How could such a slander be stamped out?
It might be met with authoritative denial,
but what would Neapolitan gossips care for
that,?
The news in the letter which would have
most painfully affected many—the account
of the lost inheritance—was the last point
which oecurred th Carlo. Still, he did not
regard money with absolute indifference, or
consider that there was any particular
merit in poverty, and It was not in nature
that a man of four -and -twenty should lose a
fortune and feel no pang of regret.
Such matters cannot be looked at in a
vague, impersonal way; and though the
ideal hero of sentimental romance is always
above such contemptible considerations, yet
a straightforward, honorable man is bound
to care for the pOSSCSSi011 of each money as
will enable him to pay his way honestly in
the world, Carlo thought with a sigh of
the thousends of pounds which he had been
led to expect as his inheritance, and then
of the constant struggle to live on his small
salary.
He had reached this point in his reflec-
tions when Gigi came running up to him.
"I do so dreadfully want a spade and
pail, zio caro," he aaid, looking up at him
with his wistful brown eyes.
"There are many things, my Gigi, which
we do so dreadfully want, but can't have,"
he replied, laughing a little, and stroking
the child's brown cheek. "Von and 17
Gigi, must learn to go without, and must
do what we can to amuse each other," •
And forgetting poverty and islander, and
even poor old Uncle Guidoe he transformed
himself into ao delightful a sea-moneter'that
ventional manner, all thought of spades end only a mina° before she had cried, "Why
Pails vanished from his mind, and he had should we have suoh things to bear?" she
fallen back to his old refrain, "1 do Wye eaw DQW# with a sharp pang Of regret, that
you 80 1" CHAPTER her own weakness, She fell down On her
Carlo's grief was the direct eonsequence of
knees beside him.
" Carlini) 1" she sobbed, "forgive me—
forgive me ! It is who have brought it
all on yeti."
He did not look up or speak, but put
out his hand for hers, and hi
held it fast n a
grasp that seemed to burn her. She thought
ho grew calmer, and ventured to speak
aganme,asleonging eo awaken his pity for her
ow
"Don't you see now, Carlo that you
have been expecting too much of me ?" ehe
pleaded. ")h, don't you see now how ell
those high ideas of yours aro in practice
impossible ?"
Her last word, emphatically spoken,
seemed to fill him with strength. In an
instant he was on his feet, while she still
knelt on, looking up at him in awe and
astonishment Somehow it seemed to her
that she was face to face with the perfection
of manhood.
" Nothing is impossible !" he said.
And the words seemed to ring and
pulsatebefore.
inh" ears as no words bad ever
don
She cowered down and hid her face
trembling before the first divine revelation
which had come home to her innermost
heart. It was a relief to her when she
heard him leave the room, but the pitiful-
ness of the story overcame her again; the
love, so far beyond any love of which she
herself was yet capable, lia.d at lenath
touched her heart, and she sobbed for grief
and pity.
" Wny—oh why," she thougat, with
bitter regret, ",did I not from the first
resist the evil thoughts that came? It must
have been possible for me, too!"
In the meantime Carlo had locked himself
into his own room, and there, pacing to and
fro, looked his sorrow in the face like a
man. Thousands, as he was well aware,
must have been called to bear the same
thing before, but yet there were circum-
stances which made his case doubly hard ;
the utter want of preparation, the dearth of
all but the most public accounts of the
marriage, the knowledge that of his own
free-will he had left Francesca and gone out
into the world, For eight long years he
had loved her, and though there had been
grief, and trouble, and separation for them,
yet he had been sure of her love through
all, and had been free to lavish on her his
heart's devotion. Bat now in one moment
all was ended between them, ancl the
thought of his love, which, in spite of the
separation, had been an unfailing
solace th him through those weary
years of public life, was now only a torture,
a peril. There would be no beautiful
reality, all his own, to which he could come
back when the day's work was over, as to
some sacred and safe retreat; she was now
the wife of another, and he must no longer
think of her as his betrothed. His safe
retreat had become a place of torment. He
saw that life would be one long battle, and
that the best he could hope for, after long
conflict, was so far to subdue hientielf that
he should dare to meet her as a friend; be
able, perhaps, to serve her in some faint,
far-off way ; be at least able to . carry a
brave front, and cast no shadow on her
wedded happiness.
But was she happy? Had she, perhaps,
been forced to acquiesce, in obedience th her
father's wishes ? Count Carossa might well
prove an importunate suitor, and decline to
accept as final her first refusal. Had she
been forced against her will to accept him.?
Or had he really won her heart; and did
she now eee that the past was bat a girlish
dream, evanescent, and not wholly sweet?
He hardly knew which of these possibilities
painesi him most; he glanced now at one,
now at the other, till the misedy of ignor-
ance and suspense almost maddened him.
And then, with a pang of the worst pain he
had yet felt, a horrible new idea shot
through his mind.
There was that vile slander which had
been set on foot two years ago, 'and which
still inevitably worked its poisonous way,
growing more dangerous with age, as slan-
ders do, Francesca had heard the first
rumors, Enrico had told him as much; she
herself at Merlebank had half hinted soiree -
thing of the sort. At first she had indig-
nantly refusesi to credit them, but when the
tale was in everyone's mouth, why then her
very iunocenee and ignorance of the world
would surely make her credit them the more
easily; and how ready the eaptain would be
to believe anything of the sort touching an
operatic singer, he realized only too bitterly.
More and more as he thought of it,ethe
seemed to him tlm only explanation of this
marriage. He could not believe that any-
thing else could possibly have robbed him
of Francesca's love.
(To be continued.)
The bright dipr ng senslaine was streaming
into a sitting -room in the Lafayette, et
Philadelphie, and Nita's sweet, clear
soprano woke the echoes with that most
charming of songs, "Caro Nome." Carlo,
who from the first had constituted himself
accompanist at her daily practiee, was
seated at the piano, and something in the
faces of both brother and sister showed
plainly that time Lad pained.
As he played the acootnpaniment of "Caro
Nome," his thoughts involuntarily turned
to Francesca and he began to wonder
whether Sardoni would soon come back from
his walk, and whether he would have re-
membered to call at the post -office for
letters. It was possible that he might to-
day hear from Enrico, and he was terribly
hungry for news, for Clare, with the beet of
intentions, was too busy to write very often,
and when she did write could only give him
second-hand reports, while Enrico was as
far as over from understanding the sort of
details for which a lover craves.
He looked up eagerly as the door opened,
and Sardoni entered. •
"Did you remember the letters?" he
asked, glad that the song should have
ended at Bitch an opportune moment.
"For a wonder, yea," replied Sardoni,
who since his engagement to Domeniea had
been ludicrously absent-minded. "But there
were none for you, Val, only one for Ma-
dame Merlino.'
Carlo was sadly disappointed, but yet was
so well used to disappointment that by the
time he had played through a few bars ot
"Oro Nome," his face had resumed its
usu Al expression.
Sardoni left the room again, and Nita,
throwing herself back in a rocking -chair,
began to read the letter. As she read, an
uncontrollable exclamation of surprise es-
caped her. Carlo was turning over the
pages of "Rigoletto," and still whistling the
air of "Caro Nome," looked up quickly.
"Is anything the matter" he asked; and
as he spoke he noticed for the first time the
big letters of the "Napoli" post -mark.
She read on without answering, but some-
thing in her face roused a nameless fear in
his heart; did the letter concern Comerio?
The handwriting was not Enrico's, or his
fears would have been instantly aroused;
he would have imagined that some evil must
have befallen Francesca—some evil which
his friend did not dare to tell him abruptly
and without preparation. But that fear
was hot awakened. It must, then, surely
be connected with Commie, this Italian
letter! If only she would speak and put
him out of his suspense!
He at down near her and waited, not
wishing to force himself upon her in any
way; and at length she looked up, and,
\vith a strange tone in her voice, said :
" I have heard from Mademoiselle De
Caisne, Carlo. You had better reed her
letter, and she incloses these."
In some surprise he took the papers she
handed to him, and glanced at the tirst. It
was a half -sheet of paper, on the back of
which the following words were written in
Italian: "An advertisement cut out of the
Times." Neatly pasted on the other side
were a few bled linea of English print
" On the 26th inst., at Naples by the
British consul aud by the Rev. J. Smith,
Renato, Conte Carossa, to Francesca, elder
daughter of Captain John Britton, R. N."
Carlo neither spoke nor moved ; the blow
struck at his heart had been so fearfully
midden that after the first moment of agony
he felt nothing, but was like one paralyzed.
Still holding the advertisement in his hand,
he dared at those words which had shat-
tered his whole life ; then, as sensation
slowly returned, a horrible craving th know
more seized him, and he snatched up the
next paper. Itwas a leaflet printed in
silver, an English wedding -hymn, beginning,
"The voice that breathed o'er Eden ; " he
read it through from beginning to end with
a sort of blank, dazed feeling. Then he
took the next slip. It was a cutting from
the Roma, just a short peragraph stating
that the marriage of Cleant Carossa had
called forth general attention, owing to the
fact that his bride was the acknowledged
belle of Naples. That the beautiful English
girl had made a charming bride, a.nd that,
according to the English custom, the wed-
ding party had been entertained at break-
fast after the ceremony at Casa Bella, the
residence of Captain Britton.
Lastly he read with feverish haste Made-
moiselle De Caisne's letter, rushing im-
patiently through the preliminaries till he
came to the following remarks:
"The marriage of Count Carossa is the
great topic of the day here, and knowing
how intimate you and your brother were
with the English owners of Casa Bella, I
send you full particulars. The wedding
was really a beautiful sight; the bride wore A. Trick Worth. Knowing.
dress of ivory -white satin with a very "Look out there, sir !" exclaimed one of
long train, and it really is wonderful how a gang of painters on the Brooklyn bridge th
even in this climate English girls seem to a passenger who was walking dangerously
preserve their complexion. Miss Britton's near some fresh white paint.
is the most charmingly delicate coloring I The warning eame too late, for when the
ever saw. Everyone is envious of Count gentleman looked at the skirt of his hand-
Carossa. I only hope he deserves so some new blue melton box coat he discov-
fascinating a wife !" ered that it was decorated with a big blotch
Carlo folded the papers and put them of white paint.
back in their envelope. Every vestige of " Why didn't you call in time ?" he said
color had left his face, and Nita began to angrily. "Von see, I've ruined my coat."
wonder whether he would ever move or " It was not my fault," replied the man,
speak again—he leoked is if he had been "and besides that, your coat is not injured,
turned to stone. She was frightened, and much loss ruined."
yet the sight did not appeal to her ; it even " Ie will cost me $5 to have it cleaned,
made her a little angry and impatient, for anyhow."
she had not heart enough to understand Not a cent," said the workman. "I'll
him.show you the besd; way in the world to,
There was a' long, burdened silence, eradicate a peintstain." Suiting the action
broken at length by Nita. th the word, he grasped the skirts of the
" Well," she said, with a bitter -tone in $70 overcoat and, to the horror of its
her voice, "now, at any rate, you will owner, began to rub the soiled spot against
know what . it means to have a legal bar be- a clean surface of cloth.
tween you and the one you love.' "Don't do that," protested the gentle -
At that the stony despair suddenly man; but the painter continued, and, after
changed; the frozen blood seemed to boil in a few moments more of vigorous rubbing,
his veins, and a look of anguish, which ter- he displayed the once soiled surface
rified her, dawned in his eyes. Her words absolutely free from any trace of the pig.
had most cruelly, most recklessly, thrust meet.
the terrible truth before him. He got up "Where has the paint gone ?" queried the
quickly, and walked with unsteady steps to man, in surprise.
the door, by a sort of blind instinct per- "I really don't know," said the painter,
ceiving that to be away from his sister "bub I know that is the best way en the
would be a relief. world to retnove every trace of fresh paint."
But Nita had no sooner spoken than she If you don't believe the truth of this
j
regretted her words, and would have given story ust dip the tail of your $100 dress
anything to recall them. She ruthed after suit in a pot of red paint and try the ex -
him and caught his hand in hers. periment yourself. r
"Don't go, Carlo 1" she cried. "1 am
sorry I said that—I am sorry for you.
Carlin° ! Stay !"
Her presence was almost more than he
could endure, but though past thinking
definitely of anything but the crushing
blow he had received and the torturing pain
it caused him the mere habit of consider-
ing others before himself made him pause
now, though he longed sorely to be alone
with his trouble.
"Ah 1 why should we have such things
to bear ?" she cried, passionately, thinleing
even now far rnore of her own trouble than
of his.
God help us both 1" he roamed.
Then, dropping her hand, e turned away
and flung himself face downward on the
couch, nimble to resist any longer the par-
oxysms of grief which overwhelmed hilt',
Xita watched him made us Xate Britton
had watched him in the hut 0- her woman's
soul was touched 10 the gitick, and though
A Delightica
Ethel—How did you enjoy the pienic,
Eva.? Not very Well, I suppose, as it rained
so heavily.
Eva—Oh, -yes; I enjoyed it iminetteely.
That horrid Miss Gaylord set down on a
huckleberry pie and got sterig by hornets,
• It Thule a Difference.
Small Boy (complainingly)—Why isn't
thur any griddle cakes this morning?
Mother (reprovingly)—Because yote ne
glected to go to the store yesterday and get
nle some eggs, as I told you.
Small Boy (with injured air)—You did not
tell tne they was for griddle caken
TEA TABLE 0.08M.
SEQUENOW.
A kettle moon,
4. little spoon,
A little love
To rhyme with doya,
A little "Yea,"
A little day, •
A little ring
TO CrOVVO love king.
• A. little flat,
A last year's hat,
4. patehed-up gowo,
A. nasty frown.
•Stupid—obtuse.
Wife thinks she's ill,
Big doctor's bill.
Can't got trusted,
• Bomanee busted?
—Tomatoes were not cultivated 10Oyear
ago.
—Constantinople has been besieged 28
times.
—The cod -bank of Newfoundland is 600
miles long.
—Asphalt pevetnent eosin half as much
again as wood.
—The French Presidentai salary is $180,-
000 per annum.
—There are more Republics in the world
than monarchies.
—There are 9 per cent more men in
Greece than women.
—The population of America 211C{C08400 bit
7,000 persons a day.
--In Japan there is no proper translation,
of the word "God."
—A pale cheek can be tinted without -
paint by sponging it with a teaspoonful of
benzine in three ounces of rose water.
—There is enough love wasted on thee
average honeymoon tour, if properly spread
out, to keep half the world happy all their
lives.
--" Asafretida," says the Louisville
Courier•Jounad, "may not cure grip, but a
lump of it carried in the vest pocket will
scare off small -pox." net
—Photographer—Now, theiteMr. Crosser,
if you please look pleasant for a ma.enent.-2-
that's it—a moment longer —there I Yen
may now resume your natural expression.
—The new moon, like the last one, lies
on her back and far northward. This is is
sign that the mouth will be cold and dry, if
the local weather prophet can be believed.
THE ANGLER'S DREAM.
The day was ideal, not a cloud in the sky;
He caught] his train without worry or ha.stel.
Not a thing was forgotten—not even a ;
And the lunchgotten up 0 an epicure's taste..
And then for a wonder the fish were all biting..
And the little ones seemed to be off foret day;
And when the fly struck the big•ones were.
fighting.
Each doing his best to be hooked right away..
He caught enough fish so he had not to buy,
i
And for once n his life he had not to scheme.,
And to the wife of his bosom and friends have
to lie ;
But for all that he cussed to find it a dream- e
—Visitor—" -I hear that your 'new
preacher is a man of indomitable will and
wonderful energy." Hostess*" Indeed he
in He has started in to convert the choir."
—Dundee Weekly News.
--" Did you ask your husband where he
was last night? " asked the mpch interested
neighbor. Yes ; and I have every reason
to believe he told • me the truth."
"Indeed?" "Yea. He mad he didn't
know."
For the Romig People.
"The Story of the Bible, from Genesis to
Revelation," by Charles Foster (World Pub-
lishing Company, Guelph, is a book that
might with propriety and advantage begib.,
placed in the hands of every child of reading
age in the land- It is the work of a master
in interpreting in a. pleasing narrative form
the principal events of the Old. and New
Testaments, and he has succeeded so well
that the matter, while following the sacred.
Word with the utmost fidelity as to factand
retaining a proper reverential tone is sa
well adapted to the taste and understanding
of juvenile readers as to add the charm on
the fireside story to their relation. Nor is
it in, any sense a childish work; it is digni-
fied and sensible, enthralling to the
old as well as to the young. It is a small
quarto volume of 750 pages copiously Mute-
trated with full page engravings and is
eriuted and bound in a style highly credit-
able to the publishers. A valuable part of
the book es its appendices of tables and
copious and well -arranged index It is an
eimelletat book to select for a birthday gift
th a growing boy or girl. Nothing so
quickly arrests the attention of youth or so
indelibly impressee On the 'memory facttt.
and phenomona, as to inveat the teaching -
with the charmu of story. It more than
hears the words, it lives in the minds of the
heroes and herobaea it admires. So book&
like this will aid in cultivating the study
of the Book itself:
There to may.
"It's no use i"
The little man at the theatre sank back in
his seat discoumeeci and gave vent to his
feelings in it voice loud enough to be heard
ten feet away.
"it's worse than ever," he went on. "It
was bad enough 'before Easter, but they'
wore it fore-and-aft then, and it didn't shut
off the whole horizon. Now they wear it
broadside on, and everything goes into total
eclipse." ine
" Whet are you talking about ?" inquired. -hie
the man sitting next to him.
"The fan -shaped ribbon," he replied. "E
thought it would go out with Lent, but it's
here yet."
The fan -shaped ribbon that loomed up ire
'front of him trembled a little with indigna-
tion, but the hat it adorned didn't comae off.
The wearer was a young Evaston woman
who votes.—Chicago Tribune.
Do on Buy Machinery,
The attention of readers who may bo itt
need of machinery of any description, either
new or second hand, is directed to the ad-
vertisement of Mn H. W. Petrie, in this
paper. Mr. Petrie is probably the most ex-
tensive machinery broker in the Dominion,
carrying at all times full lines, ranging front
the delicate typewriter to the heaviest en-
gines. Ho issues a quarto catalogue of
nearly 70 pages, fully illusttated and giving
much valuable information to intending
purchasers'who would do well to corres-
pond with him at 141-5 Front atreet west,
Toronto. A copy of his catalogue will be
sent on application, and alley nave trouble.
ansi money to the recipient.
An Abused Wife.
Married Deughter—Oh, dear, such a time'
as 1 do have with that husband Of mine!
don't have a minute's peace when's he's in
the house. He is always calling me to help
do something or other.
Mother—What does he want now?
Daughter—He wants me to traipse way
up-St0a8 jese to thread a needle for him, ea
he can mend his clothe.
The custom of calling the children of
married woinen by their mother's maiden
name is said to survive ita some gdotcla
" 1Victry,," mid the mistreas to the There are 11 500 000 voters in the Unita
house-nund " I don't care whether you do States of Whom 3,100,000 are of alien birth
any sweeping to -day or not, but you must and 1,500,000 are of Africen clesceht Nearl
hang therm neve rugs out of the windows so 1,000,000 of the colored voters" it is eel
hat the neighbors will ace them. can neither zead nor write,