The Argosy — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Perplexities of Captain Fieramosca. I1I ‘‘Whom am I to marry her to, if not to Signor Biagio?” angrily inquired his mother, one day, when he ventured to protest. Enrico pulled his moustaches in perplexity. Clearly Clelia must be married to somebody. She was too pretty to be allowed to drift into a yellow and morose spinsterhood like Aunt Giustina’s, or an adipose and tearful one, like Aunt Teresa’s. ‘‘She has not any dower worth the mentioning, and who will marry her without ?” further snapped the Signora Maria. ‘“Some disinterested young fellow,” murmured poor Enrico, vaguely. ‘Find him,” was the cynical and curt reply. A brilliant image, compounded of a dashing uniform, sparkling eyes, white teeth, and general impetuosity, leapt into Enrico’s mind. ‘‘ There is Fieramosca,” he said, lowering his voice cautiously, lest Clelia should overhear. ‘“‘ A jackanapes, with more gold on his coat than in his purse, I suppose ?” retorted Signora Maria, contemptuously. ‘‘In that case, a jackanapes much resembling myself,” replied the injured lieutenant. “There is a difference,” muttered his mother. ‘‘ But it is no use talking, Enrico. No girl in her senses would dream of refusing Signor Biagio. He is rich and well thought of; and though, of course, he is not young, that makes him all the steadier, and, instead of breaking Clelia’s heart in a year or two by running after other women, he will take good care of-her, and stay at home a/ways.” ‘Poor Clelia !” thought the young man; and the next day, before marching, whispered a few words of comfort and hope into his weep- ing sister's ear. hi. rERAMOSCA Intended to wait three days before paying a fresh visit to the house behind the green door. Asa point of fact he waited two: then called with the excuse that he was writing to Enrico. ‘‘ Had the Signora any message ?” The Signora was much obliged, but she had no message, having written recently herself. And she sat bolt upright on the edge of her chair, and consistently repelled the various little feelers in the way of friendly converse which the unfortunate warrior threw out. He inquired for the Signorina. She was not very well, he was told ; and in truth her door was inexorably shut. “] will—ah !—send to inquire for her to-morrow,” stanaaliand Fieramosca. (He was going to say “call,” but the Gorgon must have looked habitually more engaging than did the Signora Maria at this moment. ) “Weare going into the country, for some days, to-morrow,” replied the lady. Her visitor felt convinced that this was an audacious fib. ECORnNIClOOOKS (C©)