The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-23

SOUND OF SHOES crcaklnS apologeticallv
| was heard. and dccorously dressed
J fat man dcferentially entered the
| room. This was Sorra, the confidential
servant of the family He was man
with short-cippcd black whisllcrs,
white. podgy face, IL bald, shining head,
and black eyebrows raised over half
| closed eyes. His manner was exceed.
ingly grave. as of one performing sa-
cred functions. This man eyed the
Baroness Bravura corner-wise, and.
approaching the countess with almost
Il religious air, handed her note on
silver salvcr.
| The pulses in the Countess Medina's
temples beat violently. She took the
| note with nervous movement and as
she said. Very well, Sorra," her voice
| fluttcred.
The steward bowed and departed.
reverent and dignificd as ever The
sound of the creaking shoes died dec
orously in the corridor.
| "Ah, said the Baroness Bravura,
you expect some one?" But the coun-
tess replied with sort of nervous irri.
tation, and forcing her unsteady glance
to meet the baroness eyes:
No. expect no one
"All the same. l shall 60" said the
baroness, and she lounged to the win
dow once more, buttoning her gloves
The countess, standing behind her
with both hands on her shoulders. said:
We'll, carissma do come and see me
again tomorrow. Railways seems to
me that YOU are bringing me luck
what is it, She asked as the baroness.
who was looking out of the window.
gave a little start
We'll, said the baroness. IF bring
You luck, itsa fortunate thing that
have returned to Naples, since one of
your luck bringcrs has deserted YOU"
What do you mean
1.-THE blind bcggar has vanished.'
"Arpino gone cried the countess.
impossible" She in her turn looked
out of the window. Why, for three
months lie has never moved"
We'll, he's moved now" said the
baroness. Then noticing that the coun-
tess face had fallen. she said shaking
both her hands. and kissing her: You
must take care of yourself, my dear.
Do you know, you look to Inc as if your
nerves were going wrong"
The countess shook her head, and
smiled the sad, resigned smile of a
sanity woman who suffers: then the
jangle of the Baroness Bravura's in
Vulnerable bracelets and bangles died
gradually in the track of Sorra's creall-
ing shoes.
! This diSnitary was waiting below to
show the visitor out lie loathcd the
English, and, being a Ncapolitan born
and bred, was utterly unable to I'M
dcrstand how any woman who had Il
earrings could walk To the next house.
| Having. therefore, followed he bar.
| oness' retrcating footsteps with Il dis
dainful eye. he retired TO his sanctum-
a small room off the entrance going into
the courtyard and. having taken Il
glass OF Nc>uvio and lighted Il blacl,
cigar, stretched himself in an armchair.
prepared equally for sleep or contcn-
p!ation.
Il shall not be wanted for the rest OF
the morning: tia is clear" he said ia
himself. y significant smile PLAYED
about his fat lips He smoked his cigar
lazily till it went out, and rc-cntly he
fell into Il stcrtorous sicsta.
From This sleep lie was awakened by
the light pressure of Il hand upon his
shoulder and the sound of low voice
| in his car-but a voice which 10 him
sounded so drcadfuilv that he started
up trembling like man in Il palsy and
with the sweat standing out on his fore.
head.
''Eccelcnza, he babblcd, .wc
thought you were at Cascrta." Count
Medina. Il tall. gaunt man. with a
bristling mustache pointed upward and
Il fixed penetrating eye, smiled good
mmorcdly.
He was dressed quietly in a frocll coat
and tall hat. like an English gentle
man. The scar from the lions claw on
his white check showed up very white.
II have delayed my departure to Ca
scrta," he said. still smiling gravely at
his servants astonishmcnt Il have
made mp my mind to remove my whole
household there-at once"
TO remove your whole household TO
Cascrta, eXccllenza and at once?"
Yes, my good Sorra. There are r.u-
mors of cholera in Naples. Make all
preparations to start in an hour. The
order is somewhat sudden. possibly, but
do not know why YOU should look so
surprised. He toyed with his cycglass,
breathing on it. Then he asked care.
lesSly:
lis the countess at home:
"Ics, excclenza. No. Ycs-that is,
| shall go and seq
E.''I will not trouble you. good Sorr;.:
| will go and sec for myself. Meanwhile
stir yourself. Lock up everything tc-
low here, and bring the keys TO me in
madame's boudor.'
lie went upstairs calmly. according TO
] his nsual fashion: but WHOM lie WAS