New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-27
"SAVED!"
BY THE COUNTESS OF MUNSTER
hi La bella signorina pallidetta


These words were addressed. to me years
ago by the padrona Of hotel which my mother
and / had Just reached, after long and fatigulng
night journey; and trivial as they may appear
remember them distinctly. as well as every otnef
circumstance that occurred during the eventlui
four and twenty hours which succeeded our arrival
at the Hotel GOro, in Florence, ON the l "h sep
Nv lately widowed mother and myself 10 girl
of seventeen had been travelling In Italy Tor
months after an amless cratic fashion: for she;
poor soul was dnaSSgh the ~
of her grief; and we had started the night before
from A, TO avoid the heat OF day Journey
arriving in the early morning at the Hotel dOfo,
an imposing building situated on the banks OF
the Arno and formerly palace OF the Este ana
Borgia families whose quaint monograms ana '; te
out .o oo,ano.oa 20 orr onartments Nv the
pretty padrona and YEARLY passed through
the magnificent vestbule and assembled the broad
marble staircase, | curiously reminded my
nerves being probably in all irritated cond,tlon)
of picture ! had seen in childs story book
of pretty little girl with long hair, who IS mount
ing stair leading to hanging gallery, SO eX-
actly like the one before us that as we came a 70
an abrupt turn positively stopped and shuddcred
expecting 10 he met las in the picture by cruel
faced. velvet-footed panther, which was waiting
round the corner, with open mouth ana gar'hs
silly childish story no doubt. but Just one OF
those which would cling to ones memory;
The visitors apartments on the first piano OF
the Hotel dOrO opened upon the hanging gallery
and we were conducted to ours through a doorway
concealed by heavy piece Of d. tapestry, oano,o
as with pardOnabe pride she threw open the door
of a spacious and beautiful salone which owned
French windows, opening upon a delightfully."- roomy
oh, yes" answered my mother YEARLY; but
pray take us at once to our sleeping rooms 1or
we are very tired"
The padrona took the hint. and led us to two
rooms beading out of the salone and into each
other. which were beautifully furnished but one
hot I ipIin
ma! | really can't sleep IN DoA !-and III this
heat tool" -, H.,
Lady Muriel ?' my mother asked the padrona, who
reflected for n moment and then sald
rooms PREPARED rs for the Russian Princess Lipeska
and her sick son and attendants, whom we eX,
pect in q few hours; but the doctor who engaged
them, desired us to shut up three or four OF the
bedrooms as there were too many: so Lady
Muriel's maid could sleep there also-close to her
just across the gallery ,o-o
right 30 give her these rooms that Will do per,
fectly." SO all being satisfactorily arranged,
bctoOk myself TO nv apartment, accompanied Dy
the padrona but when first entered it. my spirits
generally daring to fault went down to zero
The room was so large So gloomy The walls
were hung with dingy tapestry when tremDleu
and flapped each time door was shut or that
one walked across the room; making the gro
tcsque and hideous figures represented upon II
seemingly instinct with life and with an agony
OF eagerness to leap from the walls ana proKer
me dreadful welcomed The bed, too. was fa ar
from rcasSurlng IN It's gnOSt-llke BIdnueur ~
was carved oak "fourpostcr' an ivory ana
ebony crucifX was nailed at its head, the curtains
were dark green velvet, and plumes OF leauners
waved at each corner of the canopy, belng con,
stantly stirred by mysterious gusts OF ar, ana
emitting rustng sound suggestive OF dead leayes
melancholy in the extreme ADDED 70 ail tnis
I counted five doors in the room, and the padrona
noticing my uneasy glances toward tbem assured
me they were locked. proving her words by push
ing and pulling them violently while turning the
handles, at the same time talking volubly III
Italian | was. of course. obliged. after the good
lady's eXertions, to profess myself SATISFIED ana
she was Just leaving the room when the beli
which hung in the courtyard began TO ring, and
the padrona. running with apologies to my pal,
cony which ovcrhung the grand entrance calieu
Lady Muriellal vede Ecco la principessa
ed il principe! guarda!" and then hurried down
stairs | ran and looked out, and true enough
the Russians had arrived, hours before they We're
expected and with much curiosity watched them
as they alighted. There were several clumsy
vehicles each drawn by three horses Inc pprincess
was helped out Of her carriage by two footmen
the exact counterpart of each other having greasy
and she seemed tall and finely formed with a
clear pale complexion, tawny colored halr ana
syesshcs he latter being Unusually d ,hDh ans as
The occupan;s of the second vehicle Ia sort of
invalid carriage) greatly interested me. flrst q
nrjest. with lowering face and shovel hat, and
who had seemingly descended from one OF the
carriages AT the rear, entered the bedSarrlage anu
fur rug then giving sign to the Iootinen, rirS
scrambled up the carriage steps IKE peflorhi ing
monkeys and slowly and carefully drew nor,n Sne
shoulders and head were supported by a serious,
looking young man, who j subsequently, learned
English doctor Inc young prince and too
no notice of any | was eager TO see ms
face but both doctor and priest were Determined e
he should not be exposed TO the vulgar gaze, TOT
his cap was pulled over his eyes, and his figure
was enveloped in large shawl; but as ne wa val
being disengaged from the carriage his head i b
backward, and his cap slipped of. and III h Us
anxiety TO catch il, Of the servants cntangiso
his foot in the shawl, dragging 1T completely on
and although the priest hastily replaced dt ana t
the terrified menia. he did not prevent my having
momentary view of the thin face and emacia1 Zee
figure of the sick boy ne denS saS
all around; till strangely. and for an instant dur
ing the excitement caused by the loss of his cap;
at me but he was carried so quickly into the
hotel that could not be certain Of the fact
felt no further interest in the OCCUPANTS q q
the other carriages, but longed to all / could
OF the prince and his strange encourage: crept
into the gallery overlooking the marble hall. and
wa nnc the prince must pass that Tay
As ! leant over the gallery balustrade, watch
ing. fancied there seemed some delay some con
bnt was too far of TO make out the cause at
last. however, I saw them coming, carrying the
prince up the stair, upon stretcher As soon as
,bav had nearly reached the landing, ran back
and hid myself behind my own door, to them
90 by .s;on H.. =.
princess ihow beautiful she was and how arrogant
Se 4; in, aoitsted whispers while she appeared TO
h is{e m i IN proud, suen silence Then the
y namas body Was ds., sayrs eae p and BY the
enrxen,s AS the prince and his bearers passed.
invoIantary moved out Of my hiding place, and
the doctor pcrceivns me- started b signify o and
cS.;yered and slightly unclosed lie was followed
by troop Of dirty. savage-looking servants who
chattered noisly in some cultural tongue as they
vaiked until the priest turned and frowned them