Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-25

Sne asked Abruptly.
evil I Gomez" he answered earnest
ly. 80, Miladi, | will come and play
for you, or do anything you tell me, for
my gratefulness." There was a pas
sionate ring in his voice which seemed
to please her, for she smiled-not the
smile she had given the day before TO
the Boccaccio-like story which the gen
tleman in blue and yellow had been re-
lating, but smile full of gcntlencss,
and-Beppo thought-compassion.
VERY WELL she said. See that you
do come. | am not accustomed TOTO
being disappointed. She had almost
said disobeyed, but something in his
face, his manner, had strangely inclined
her towards him, and she could not be
rough to him as she often was to-the
others. Besides, he was not in bondage
yet, and he might rebel.
The next day near evening Beppo
took his way towards the spot indicated
by the address on the card.
My lady's villa was long way of
from the crowded Pincio and the streets
which were most familiar to his foot
steps, and once he paused uncertain
whether he had found the right road or
not. Several men were coming out of
gateway which opened into garden
dense with trees and shrubs, in the
midst of which Beppo could discern a
small stonehouse.
lie looked at the card. Surely this
was the place, yet he would not venture
in while the richly-dressed gentlemen
mobiles, may be-were lounging around
the gate.
Finally they shook hands and sepa-
rated, and two came down the shady
path by Beppo.
"Diavolo,' cried one, who was evil
IDENTIFY much intoxicated, for his gait
was unsteady and he chung to his COM
panion for evident support. What
the little rascal doing? Cospetto, but
we'll take him back with us and have a
dance with my lady before the ball be-
gins to-night-eh, Marco?'
The one addressed as Marco looked
at Beppo closely. and asked why he was
there at that hour and where he was
going.
Il am going to the Comtesse de
Charneau," replied the lad.
mo use for baggage there" said the
man who had spoken first. "We're
pretty much the same ourselves-eh,
Marco? And we-we'vc been turned of
in consequence.
But Miladi sent for me, and so | am
going answered Beppo boldly, en-
deavoring to push past them.
The one called Marco caught him by
the shoulder and held him at arm S
length.
Sent for you, did shc?n he calculated
"Then go, in Gods name, though
never thought she d fancy such as YOU
With brutal roughness he thrust Bep-
pc from him, and the two went on
laughing boisterously.
Beppo looked after them wonderingly
lie could not comprehend their words
-thenpassedo on to the gate and along the
path bordered with yellow anemones
which stretched out on both sides like
broad strips of meadow.
The footman seemed to know him
for he was not repulsed-far from it
for with the utmost Difference the man
ushered him into small salon, and
said that my lady would presently be
down.
The rich carpet was like softest velvet
to his feet-soft like the moss which
grew on the hillsdes, but the fragrance
of Nature was wanting. Instead, there
seemed a strange odor of stale tobacco
and perfume mingled together, and the
atmosphere of the room was very close.
But Beppo did not notice or comment
on that unfavorably. There was in
variably smell of tobacco in the few
houses where he played, and sometimes
the granddames smoked before his face
and drank iced wines and sherbet with
the avidity Of troopers.
But surely my lady did not do those
things?
He caught himself specializing as to
the probability of her having done 50 or
not. and straightway took up his violin
and ran his finger over the strings and
hummed iiJ..s alS from Figaro to
Danish from TN mind such disloyai
thoughts towards one who had already
been to him a benefactrcss.
The velvet curtains at the lower end
of the room were carefully pushed aside
and in their dim shadow stood my lady
and her eyea fell on the slender figure
by the window With the same intent eX-
preston wI-~~ic, they had regarded
him the previous day.
She was woman of apparently 20 OF
q, but in reality much older, with fea-
lures which would have impressed even
| an ordinary rsrAI7er with sudden
sense or rnc-f owners marked lndlvldu'
ality. The square. broad chin gave
proof of vigcr end determination, but
it was white Gnd dimpled. The mouth
was rather layre, hHt beautifully form
ed lips and :-.....o curves about il
tempered v.v nef5her lines which il
showed perceptibly when in repose.
The brow was low, and gently receded
beneath the hair, which fell over it il
wavy masses. The eyes were deep and
lustrous, but burning ever with dim
monotonous light, as if the hauteul
which overshadowed her whole counte'
nance had its abiding place in them.
The head was we'll shaped save for the
fact that there was more behind the carr
than one usually finds save in those
completely given over by Nature anC
habit to material pleasures.
But it seemed as if there was a scns'
OF restraint-of instructive repression
upon her as she stood in the presence o.
that poor little beggar, and hesitateC
ere she tried the effect of her soft, Sc
ductive beauty upon him. Some subtle
feeling emanating from the better spir
which often stroye with numerous 9th
ers within her for supremacy, cast
softened influence upon the waywart
woman of the world.
With far different manner from thu
one she had intended to assume sh'
glided towards him, and spoke, and tol'
him lie was welcome.
He gratefully KRIS the hand SIN
gave him. then held It in his own mo
ment. and seeing She said nothing, rals
ed it to his lips again.
IL have come to play little, IL
ventured timidly.
she startpd-the iutcntnesS of he
look vanished. sac shrugged her shoul