Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-24
on nv own account, but because
Ih.A cnroa;ved n deeply Mschiavellian

i nae COnceiNtu ueOP'y -. A.
plot, which had not dared inpar' 70
nv innocent parent or quite acknow-
ledge to myself; but Of this more
anon as they say in the historical
novels. We were to make the acquain-
lance of this interesting gentleman on
Sunday; he was to arrive SATURDAY
evening at the Palazzo, and the DOCTOR
had Left word that he should expect him
70 dinner at the villa the next day at IL
O'Clock, which was the primitive hour
al which we dined.
/ was always longing to give the
girls pretty little bits Of feminine
fnery. but hesitated, not only from
fear Of hurting their pride, but because,
if they were 20 pass their lives in this
secluded spot and with narrow means,
it was hardly wise to encourage tastes
suited to quite q different state OF
things: but l did so want Pia to
look her best on this particu-
lar Sunday. And Innocentina, too
why not? Was not her young doctor
sure to come in the afternoon? So l
turned over my boxes and selected
among some things had bought for
possible presents to my nieces and other
Young friends, two delicate pink coral
necklaces and two sets Of fine Maltese
lace collars and cuffs. With these in
nv hand / went and knocked, in some
trepidation, at the girls door. 'Centina
was already dressed in her gray frock
and helping Pia on with hers.
"Now, carine," began, 81 have
often told you of my nieces and my
affection for them. l am growing to
look on you two almost as if you were
nv nieces too. and | want you to ac'
cept these little gifts from your new
aunt"
'Centina's eyes sparkled, and she
clapped her hands with delight, while
Pia, with moistened eyes, murmured,
"You are too good to u.s."
fastened on the lace and the neck
laces. pronounced them very becoming,
kissed them both, and betook myself to
the S0ld.
NY health and strength were so i'm
proved that | now often Joined the
Doctor, his daughters, and one or two
of their friends in long walks about
the country. | used to hire the only
thing on wheels our village afforded.
We would start early after our coffee
and rolls for some town or village from
which we could make our excursion,
put up the trap and horse, and ramble
about for hours amidst some of the
most exquisite scenery ] have ever
seen. The Doctor fetched some wine
and beer from the tiny "osteria >
built in the shadow Of the black
gorge and within perpetual sound
of that roaring Maggin, and
having unpacked our provisions-cold
fowl, salami IA kind Of sausage), and
bread we sat down under some Spanish
chestnut-trees, on the sOftest moss and
among the lOyeliest flowers, to take our
midday meal. On these occasions the
Doctor would hold forth on philosophy,
poetry, creeds, and politics. lie was
strange mixture Of mind and matter,
and with him one had always to be on
ones guard. for he would suddenly
come down from the most transcenden-
tai heights with a rush to some Rabe-
laisian remark that quite startled ones
weak nerves.
Near our village stood rather fine
country-house, generally called the
Palazzo." 1t belonged to certain
Signor Cesare Villaspina, whose father,
schoollellow and friend Of the Doc
tors. had been dead for some years.
The father had been a soldier. The son,
having tried diplomacy for time, and
passed some years as Gtdche IN London
and Paris, had now settled down in
Florence as a dilettGHte in art and let
tiers.
One morning the Doctor informed us
that Signor Cesare was expected shortly
at the Palazzo. He was pleased as a
child over this little excitement, and in
sisted on our all going over with him to
inspect the house and grounds. My
mother and | decided that, with plenty
of warm yet subdued hangings and car
pets. Indian muslin curtains looped back
with Indian silk scarves, the huge,
haunted rooms could be made quite
habitable. Pia listened intelligently and
with pleasure to the description | gave
her of early English chimney-pieces,
carved-oak panels and cabinets, old
china and flowers and hower-stands, and
all the other things that we love to
beautify our homes with.
| asked the Doctor what sort of man
was the owner of the PalazzO. lie
laughed.
"He is my opposite in everything
And SO was his father, the colonel, and
vet we we're excellent friends. Cesart
is an aristocrat to his finger-tlps, and
am a republican; he likes the life o.
courts. and there the Doctor be
came a little pOmpous as he uncon
sciouslv fell into his fayorite role O.
Cincinnatus planting cabbages-" the
free life Of the country. | tend my
vines and make my own wine. take
life seriously, while he plays at art
plays at literature, and probably play
at love-"
smiled.
, "What will such a man do here?'
"We shall see very little of him,
= he replied. Z" lie comes for month a
time to Pallanza, puts up at thu
1 Grand Hotel, and runs over here occa
} sionally with friend to spend the dal
4 and fish," Here he caught sight o
9 Signor Villaspina's steward, and raj
0 off to catch him for a gossip. WheI
be reioined us it was to impart the as
| founding news that the padrone hat
t ordered them to begin putting every
a thing into thorough repair ; that in fu
ture he meant TO spend part Of eacl
| year at the Palazzo, in order to devot
himself more exclusively to his literar.
| pursuits than it was possible to do il
2 Florence, Rome, or even Pallanza
S Until his arrival they were to go to DR.
Q Catteneo for orders on any doubtful
point.
: :" He is not so impractical, after all,
q said the Doctor she might do worse.