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A Broken Contract Being a Romance of Northern Italy Half a Century Ago By LUIGI CAPRON1 Copyright by American Press Asso ciation, 1911. This Is a true story. It occurred In northern Italy during the spring of 18C1, when In America the southern states, one after another, were leaving the Union and wheeling Into Confed erate 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. In 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 Na ples, attaching them to the kingdom of Sardinia; Rome hung In the bal ance; Venice was still under the domi nation 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 Bertlnettl and Bar oh Mettiuci, sat In conference. ‘‘I think,” said the baron, “that I can do better, for my daughter thnn to marry her to your son, both In the way of title and fortune. Nevertheless, since we are old friends, I yield the- point and give my consent.” “I 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 a mate I am sure they will make no opposition. My son might rebel if he had made an attachment, but I have heard from him recently, and he assures me that he has no preferences and will accept the bride I provide for him.” “And I assure you, count, that my daughter will obey me. Besides, she has had no opportunity to form any at tachment. She Is still in the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Milan, where she is finishing her education. I 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, soon provided with husbands (having 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 traveling, but will arrive In Turin tdr the ball. I suggest that the first meeting between the two young people take place on that occasion. There will be a great advantage in such an introduction. The music, the array of beautifully dressed young women and well groomed young men, the adornment and perfume of flow ers, the ripple of chat, mingled with laughter, all will conspire to seduce the senses, and that, you know, bardn, when we were young men one always found alluring in a matter of love.” “I agree with you, count. My daugh ter leaves the convent in a few days, and I will give directions to her moth er that she be kept like a bird in a cage till she Is set free In the ball room.” This closed the interview, and the two friends separated. Within a few days after the meeting in which was arranged one of those marriages of convenience without love, common among the aristocracy of Eu rope, young Count Giuseppe Bertinetti alighted from a post chaise at his fa ther’s door nnd entered the house. “Ah, my son,” exclaimed the older man, kissing his offspring on both cheeks, “I am delighted to see you again.” , “I am glad to rejoin you, father, though 1/admit that I have had a de lightful trip.” “The next will bo your wadding jour ney, my boy. My negotiations with my old friend, Baron Mettiuci, have * resulted in the betrothal of yourself ' tp his daughter." ■ The young man’s brow darkened ominously. His father saw the change of expression nnd snld anxiously, “Giuseppe, you appear to be disap pointed." Giuseppe made no reply. “Did you not write me,” pursued the father, "not a week ago that you -had no preference ns to whom you should marry and would leave the matter to me?" . “I did. But a single evening has ehahged all that. I came by wny of Lake Mngglorl. The moon was full and uuclouded. On one side the peaks were bathed In Its soft light, on the other they wore black. I sat on deck with a young girl I had just met whoso beauty, whoso"— “Fool!" 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. Fdr this dissolving moonlight, for this face of a young girl, doubtless softened by it and which will soon belong either.to a fat or a skinny old woman, you will throw away a splendid opportunity.” The interview ended, ns all such in terviews are bound to end, in n quar rel. But Giuseppe stood firm ns 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 nnd brought him up. The boy declined to accede to the marriage that had been arranged for him. 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 baron, “that I am to suffer, through my daughter, this insult from you, my old friend?” “What can I do?” The baron drew down the corners of his mouth, closed his lips tight togeth er and finally spoke: “Be it so. The contract is broken.” ’ It was only the next evening that the Tote ball took plnce. There was to be no introduction between Giu seppe and Bianca Mettiuci. Indeed, the girl’s fnther, had he been present at the ball, would' have considered a request for an introduction an addi tional insult. Giuseppe hud no thought as to the girl being present nnd if he had would have naturally kept out of her way. 1-Ie found many a rosebud to flirt nnd dance with, but refrained. He was thinking of her he had met on Lake Maggiori. Suddenly his eye lighted. There on the floor, waltzing with a young lieu tenant, was the object of his thoughts. He followed her with his eyes and as soon as she censed to dance ap proached and spoke to her. She re ceived him with a smile of delight and, nodding a dismissal to the lieu tenant, walked away with Giuseppe. During their promenade the young count said to her: “Do you know that at this ball I was to have been presented to a girl to whom I had been contracted in mar riage?” “And I was to have met a young man whom my father had accepted as a husband for me. My betrothed de clined the match.” “Are you glad he did so?” asked Giuseppe in a low voice, pressing the hand that rested on his arm. "Yes,” she said in a still softer voice. Giuseppe was thrilled with delight. “Who was to have been your fiance?” he asked presently. “A son of Count Bertinetti.” "What!” exclaimed Giuseppe, turn ing his eyes upon her in wonder and in horror. She repeated the name. “And you are Bianca Mettiuci?” “I am.” “Heavens! What have I done?” “What do you menn? Explain." "I have refused to marry you.” It was the girl’s turn to, look sur prised, but she said nothing. Indeed, there was nothing to Say. Her young heart had gone out to the first man she had met after leaving the con vent under the influence of the scenery of the beautiful Italian lake bathed in moonlight. But, slight as may be the spark that kindles love, it may lead to the bursting of a flame. And so it was with both these young people. “I will-go to your father at once,” said Giuseppe. “I will withdraw my refusal. I will”— “No, no, not now. Pnpa is terribly angry. I fear he will never get over the insult that he considers hns been offered him. As he feels at present he would be only too glnd to refuse a re newal of the contract, and I doubt if he ever will consent to one now.” “Then I will go to my father. Ho and the baron are old friends. My father will apologize for me. He will get on his knees”— The girl smiled. "No; he will say that I am ready to get on my knees before him, beg his pardon, offer to do any penance he may name.” “Let us enjoy the evening together while it lasts; we may never have such another.” “Enjoy it! I am half crazed at what I have done." ji Not only does\ youth live for the present moment, but is full of hope. These two would not have been young had not the delight of being together and their entrancing surroundings en abled them to throw off the cloud that hung over them. If the moonlit lake hadt first drawn them togethey, this ballroom, voluptuous, yet above which hung for them a cloud, strengthened the bond that nnited their hearts. Per- niiniij Can be Supplied by Grady County Furniture Cairo, Ga. Next Door to Citizens Bank. O. Your home can be furnished complete from PARLOR TO KITCHEN . ‘ ' ,, ] u ‘”' ‘ ^ U mil /., u- i il. :.(•■! Kash or Kredit. iiliJWiiiLHij haps the cloud—the terrible mistake that was now likely to separate them— did more to cement them than either of the other causes. As soon as Giuseppe reached home he aroused his fnther from slumber, told him of the mistake that had been, made and begged him to get out of bed, go at once to the baron and en deavor to effect a renewal of the con tract. Naturally the father was op posed to .going on such an errand at 2 o’clock in the morning nnd told his son to go to bed, promising to see the baron as early^the next day as it would be proper for him to call. Giuseppe walkefcthe floor till dawn. His father kepV ms promise and by 10 o’clock called on the baron. Giuseppe went with him, but on reaching n point some distance from the villa stopped to watch his father’s entry and to wait for his exit. Two hours passed—they seemed like two days to Giuseppe—and still the count failed to reappear. The lover, considering the time occupied, feared the worst. He was in despair when he saw his father coming and ran to meet him. “I’ve won,” said the count. Giuseppe fell into his father’s arms. BEFORE YOU BUY A TYPEWRITER—Call around to tho Progress office and examine the L. C. Smith & Bros. We ere in.fie habit of “printing with a tone.” Give us your next order. 1911. as they may associate with them, their successors and assigns,desire to he ineor*. GEORGIA—Grady County, porated under.the name and style of T T *' ,,r xT T Clever Dwarfs. Richard Gibson and his wife, who flourished in the seventeeth century, were / a remarkable pair of dwarfs, quite apart from their inches, which combined barely made up seven feet. Both were clever painters of minia tures, and Gibson was(drawlng master to the daughters oit James II. At their wedding, which was arranged by Henrietta Maria, Charles 1. gave the bride away, the queen placed a valu able diamond ring on her finger, and Edmund Waller, the court poet wrote a poem in honor of the occasion. Gib son was seventy-four when he passed away, while bis widow died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. THE SOUTH GEORGIA SYRUP CO. for a period of twenty (20) years, with the privilege of renewal at'tho expiration of that time; with authority to sue nnd bo sued; to have and use,a corporate seal; to make by-laws and rules for conduct of its business; to point agents and officers for the management of its affairs and to exercise all the rights nnd privileges in cident to such corporation. 2. That the principal office of said cor poration to be in Grady countv, Georgia, with the right to establish other places of business, either in or out of the state. The object of this corporation is pecuniary gain to its stockholders, and the principal business shall be the packing of syrup, the canning of fruits, vegetables, etc., and to carry on sucli other business, whether manufacturing or otherwise, as may seem advisable to the company, to be carried on, calculated directly or indirectly, to promote the company’s interest or en hance its holdings. To establish factories, to buy, sell,.lease convey,mortgage,bond and hold such real estate or other proper ty in use such as may seem expendient. 3. The capital stock shall consist of 1,000 shares of preferred stock, the par ' •)lli fiji ' ' Madagascar’s Two Climates. The Island of Madagascar has two distinct climates, two classes of na tives and two classes of fauna and flora. The island is about the size of- stock, the par value of both coinmon^and France. Along the coast it is tropical and malarious, and the natives are darker than in the Interior. The in terior Is a high tableland and moun tainous. There the climate is cooler and the natives smaller and lighter In color than on the const But In the Interior they are more Intelligent, and they rule the Island. /nine of ten dollars ($10) per share, with the privilege of increasing to any amount not exceeding 5,000 shares by a vote of a majority of the common stock, and common stock to any amount not ex ceeding twice the amount of the preferred preferred stock shall lie ten (10) dollars per share. Your petitioners desire that the management of the company be vested solely in the holders of the common stock, and that the preferred stock draw eight (8) per cent, per annum dividend, and that no dividend be paid on the common stock till the preferred stock shall have been paid dividends for all the time that it has been in existence, and further Obliging. Excited Author (rushing behind the scenes!—Why are you cutting out the second and third acts of my play? Manager—l inn not cutting anything out. I’m merely varying the order of the acts. Several Influential persons In the audience bnve asked me if It would not be possible to have the hero die in the next act.—Chicago Tribune. Petition For Charter GEORGIA—Grady County:, To the Superior Court of said - - irmi The petition of E. H;. Taylor, T. A. J. eorgia, ,, , yi . Majors, of Gradv countv, Georgia, and M. M; Taylor, E. B. Taylor, of Fulton county, Georgia, respectfully shows: 1. That they and such other persons should the company sell out or liquidate its assets that the same be appled first to the payment of the preferred stock at par, with all interest aermng at 8 per cent per anuum, but that the preferred stock no further participate in the assets of the company, but the. remaining as sets be pro rated among the holders of the common stock. . . ,, , Wherefore, your petitioners pray that this court may pass an order incorpora ting your petitioners with ail the powers, privileges and immunities allowed now or hereafter to such corporations under the laws of Georgia, and that tlus petition and such order shall constitute the char ter of said corporation. This the 18th day of May, 1911. E. II., Taylor, T. A. J. Majors, M- M. Tayi-or, E. B. Taylor. Petitioners. Filed in office this 18th day of May, I, J. M. AfcNair, Jr., deputy clerk of the Superior Court of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the application for charter of “The South Georgia Syrup Company, as same appears on file in this office Witness my official signature and tho seal said court, this the' 18th day of May, 1911. J. M. McNair, Deputy Clerk Superior Court. To all my friends I wish to say that I am prepared to do first class work at my shop and would appreciate your calling around and having your whiskers trim med. All my barbers are first class men with experience and can give satisfaction. W. H. P. O'Neal. P. C. ANDREWS. Attorney-at-law. CAIRO, GA Office in Richter & Rusliin Bnilding. Money to loan on city and farm property. Easy terms. _ J. S. WEATHERS ATTORNEY-AT-LAW General Practice. Collections a Specialt Office in Court House CAIRO - - GEORGIA. PELHAM & HAVANA R. 11. CO Time Table No. 2 Effective Saturday, October 1st, 1910,12:01, A. M Between CAIRO ANp CALVARY South Bound 1st Class PassenKer 2 clss Mixd 5 1 3 Sun; Only Daily Exc Sun. PM AM P M 3 00 7 00 2 15 3 12 7 12 2 27 3 27 7 27 2 41 3 34 7 34 2 41 3 44 7 44 2 51 3 50 7 49 3 0! 3 00 8 0C 3 1 STATIONS Lv Cairo Ar Gradyville Cranford F Booth Reno fM ax well ir Calvary Lv North Bound AM 9 50 9 38 9 21 9 13 8 06 3 56 3 50 1st Class Passenger PM 5 15 5 03 4 48 4 38 4 31 4 21 4 15 F Trains stop on signal. Sun Only PM 5 15 5 08 4 48 4 36 4 31 4 21 4 15