Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21
CHAPTER TX.
The COuntcss's Canoes.

CHAPTER TX.
The Countcss's Canoes.
1t was promise Cecil would never have
made had ho possessed as much social ex-
perience as scholarly learning.
The hospitality of old gentlemen with
beautiful girl-wives, between whom and
themselves the bond of union is necessa-
rily weak, is always fraught with danger
to young and susceptible men and be-
yond the risk in this direction, the Counts
sudden glow of friendship would have
been open to doubt in more suspicious
minds.
But the wisdom of the serpent and the
harmlessness of the dove are rarely COM
bined in one character.
The italian dttachc occupied an ele-
giant house belonging to an English no.
bleman travelling abroad, who had lent it
to him along with his equipagcs and es-
Enlistment of servants-a fact the Count
took care to impart to Cecil on his first
visit, "lest," he said, che should think
such magnifcence uniting poor Mil
anese gentleman.
The young Countess Silvestrelli did
not appear till lunch was on the table,
and after her husbands ELUSIVE welcome.
hers seemed frigid
To Cecil, whose most recent experience
lay among Partisan ladies, the fair Lucia's
taste in toilette appeared rs severe MS her
style of address.
She woro plain princesse robe OF
steel-colored plush, fastened at the neck
and waist with clasps of cut and polished
steel and beyond an iutaglio ring on her
right hand, wore no sort of adornment.
She was regal-looking creature, but
she might have set for the Queen OF
Hades-forced participant OF an uncon-
genial throne-she was so impassive, 80
distant, so cold.
She had few friends among her own
sex because she gave 10 confidence and
courted no sympathy and though men
followed her aboul for her beauty Mt the
balls and receptions at which her hus-
bard loved to exhibit her, they never
drew from her any answering warmth,
and ended by concluding that she was
merely an exquisite piece of statuary,
endued with physical life, but incapable
of human feeling.
"Her husband azores her. people said,
"and she never gives him smile or n
loving word !"
This blamable inscnsibillty on the part
OF the Countess made itself very con-
spicuous throughout the course Of that
d,jeVpcr roiS. Whenever her hus-
baud spoke to her, it was as 'my angel
or "sweet pet;'' each time she addressed
| him, it was merely rs Count"
Only once did she betray the least
| CLEAN of interest in what was going for
ward, and that was when, in answer to
some complimentary remark of the at
tache respecting his lectures, Cecil said,
Eyes my efforts were most indulgently
received by my superiors, for which l am
grateful but my chief concern is that
they should be acceptable to the class fol
whose benefit chiefly they were under
taken"
"That is right" sail the Countess
suddenly and distinctly. knowledge
ought to be as free rs air. am glad you
addressed yourself primarily to the pco
pie.
The young Orientllist was for the mo.
meut too surprised to reply but tine
Count, smiling sweetly. leaued towards
his wife, and laying one of his large
smooth hands over hers, said, in n mellif
luous whisper, "What partisan m.
sweet Socialist would make -
Instantly the laly's countenanc'
changed she shrank from his touch witt
a visible recoil, and rclapsed at once int,
silence and impassivitv.
There would have been an awkward 81
lence had not the elder gentleman prompt
ly broken it by asking Cecil if he ADMIRED
canoes.
Our hero answering in the Affirmative
lie continued, "My wife has some yer.
rare ones which were presented to her o.
her marriage by the late Duke of Milan
Would you like to see them?'
} Extremely + asseut.d Cecil. Sub
! ject, of course, to Countess Silvestrclli'
pleasure and convenience" he added
: with Il courteous inclination towards tina
lady.
She bowed in her unsmiling, quecnl
way then, turning to the footman be
} hind her chair, babe him call her maid.
property that is often on show mus
, be kept within easy reach, she remarked
with a slight sheer
i The Count leaned forward again, an
Cecil fanced the expression of his eye
was not altogether pleasant as he said
"Wili you oblige me by wearing those to
/ night. my sweet pet Considering ho'
well they become you, it would please IN
I to see you in them Gitener."
Of You command, will wear them a
ways" was the c,l reply.
, You are - complainant, my ange
that it is never necessary for me to con
, mand,' the Count responded and d,
r spite the music of his tones, they iarre
: on Cecil's ear.
AT that moment the footman came bacl
, followed by middle-agcd woman, whoi
; fawning manner did not impress Cheste
, ton favorably.
To this person, whom she called Ro
t cite, the Countess gave small gilt Ike,
; saying, Take out the canoes, AMI brin
=, them to the Venetian drawing-room."
The first thing that struck Cecil who
n he entered this room few minutes lat
:, was the number OF mirrors it containc
y Turn which way he would, he was co
fronted by his own reflection, and Ii
1. slightest movement was instantly repr
!. duced dozen times over.
: Even the ceiling WAS pahelled wi
It glass.
l. The next remarkable thing was Il
number of doors-is many MS tho care
nal points, and similarly situated, en-,
opening into separate drawing roor
e Of which there were five, the Venetis
IL being the central one.
4 A bright fire was burning in the wild
~ marble CRATE, aud as Cecil led the Lac
i Lucia to chair near it. two Of the 70,
, doors opened simultaneously.