News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-05-01
LADY ANGELA'S LION.

LADY ANGELA'S LION.
Lady Angela Smy the was filled with
e passion for novelty; her tastes were
decidedly catholic, and nothing that
was original came amiss to her There
fore it was no marvel to her friends
when she foil into raptures about a
certain Marchesc di San Floriano, who
was good looking, possessed an impos-
ing title, and, in addition, could play
little instrument she called IMAM
dolinetta," sing delightful (and quite
incomprehensible) Italian ditties and
make delicious sweetmeats, whereof
he was in the habit of sending little
packets to his friends.
One hot evening in June her draw
ing room was specially crowded as a
whole constellation of particular
stars" were gathered, and she and her
niece, an enthusiastic young lady of
two-and-twenty, were extremely busy
amongst the guests, introducing and
entertaining them. A gentleman with
long fair hair and an enormous dis
play Of shirt front had just finished a
recitation, at which his audience seem
ed doubtful whether it would be more
polite to laugh or to weep, when there
was a small stir in the doorway, and
Lady Angela extended her hands in
greeting to slight, dark young fellow
with a carefully trimmed mustache,
who was carrying under his arm di-
minutive guitar.
"Ah, marchese," she said, Il feared
you would not como; you are so late"
The young man bowed gracefully as
he made his excuses, and his hostess,
placing her hand on his arm, led him
across the room to be introduced to
several of her friends. During this
process he preserved an admirable
gravity, notwithstanding the fact that
the execrable French in which she
chose to clothe her remarks on his
talents or those of the persons to whom
she presented him made her CONVEX
sation at times irresistibly comic
VOLTA, marquis, " she said at length,
as she paused in front of pretty girl
in a pale blue dress, who was accom-
panied by handsome lady in black
velvet This young lady has come all
| the way from Windsor to hear your
! delightful music"
| Agnes Sherard, as the young lady
was named, could hardly reprcss a
smile as she murmured few words in
response; and Lady Angela, being
called away at the moment, left the
marchcse to improve the acquaintance.
Agnes, however, though a genial girl,
with plenty to say, seemed seized with
an unaccountable fit of silence, and
her cousin, Mrs. Marston, was obliged
to take up the conversation until the
Italian was summoned to the music
room to give one of his delightful
ballads" Here, seated on a low divan,
with his little guitar slung across his
shoulders by a broad, red ribbon, he
thrummed a few chords, and sang in a
pleasing tenor voice an air with re-
frain in valse time. very much like
the popular Santa Lucia"
Agnes, why do you stare at that
poor young man SO intently, and why
did you not speak to himl" inquired
| plause which followed the cessation of
the music.
His face and voice seem familiar to
me" replied Agnes. Il cannot help
thinking ] have seen him before"
You met him in Rome, perhaps?"
quericd Mrs Marston.
| NO, i dlll sure dlu HOG, dilSWGf-
ed Agnes, and silence ensued, as Miss
Smythe, Lady Angela's niece, begged
the singer for another ballad.
The one about the girl at the festa,"
she said entreatingly.
Il fear | cannot recollect it," was
the reply.
"Oh, yes; please do" exclaimed a
chorus of voices.
You can improvise if you do not
remember" added Miss Smythe.
Thus adjured, the marchese began
quaint little air with rapid changes of
time and variations of key, and sang
| in patois the history of one Ninetta,
who lost her purchases, her dinner and
! finally her lover through series of
mischances at fair.
Il wish | could remember where !
have seen him." said Agnes. Per
haps | shall when I speak to him
again. | seemed to know all about
that song"
1T is popular little canzonet you
might have heard anywhere, said
Mrs. Marston, who was becoming
little tired of Agnes preoccupatiOn.
They did not again speak to the mar
chese. who remained all the time till
his early departure in the music room,
and the circumstance soon faded from
Mrs Marston's mind. Agnes, who
shortly returned to her home in the
country, thought sometimes of the
young Italian and told her mother
about him. In the course of q few
weeks they heard that he was seen ev-
erywhere with Lady Angela and her
niece, and Agnes was told she had bet
ter be prepared to attend the wedding
of her friend, Florence Smythe, as the
mareheso evidently intended taking
back to his Italian estates an English
marchesa!
One morning, amongst pie OF let
ters OH her breakfast table, Mrs, Sher-
ard found a note with an Invitation
to a picnic from Lady Angela. =,
II should like to go, mother, SAID
Agnes, as she read it. 1T is to be in
Lord Hilderton's park, and you know
how lovely it must be there now. We
have been talking of spending day
there by ourselves. -,
Yes, we can easily drive over, said
Mrs. Sherard, as she rose from the
breakfast table.
"Perhaps shall meet the marchese
again, said Agnes.
MY dear, shall begin to think the
Italian has made an impression on
you," said her mother with smile.
Il am sure you have mentioned him
half dozen times"
The day of the picnic was an ex-
ouisite one, and Mrs. Sherard and hel
daughter enjoyed their drive through
the lovely Berkshire lanes, and were
charmed with the spot chosen for the
gathering. Under the overhanging
boughs Of the great beeches and oaks
the table cloth had been spread on the
messy grass; and girls III light dresses
and young men III every variety o.
colored blazer known to the tennis
lawn, were fitting about, unpacking,
arranging and decorating the viand'
and the dishes.
The first greetings over, Miss Smyth'
| said to Agnes: There has been sucf