New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29
THE STRANGE STORY OF OUR
VILLA.

Villa de rOrient, Avenue DIES Citronniers
Nice Really, our address looks unc on well
contemplating, with her head on ons side the ef-
feet of the words she had just written.
1T really does, we agreed in chorus We
always agreed with Mrs. Brandon; it saved
We were three "lone-lorn' females-two spin
sters and widow-who had agreed to share a
house, or, rather, part Of a house-for we occu-
pied but one storv-at Nice for the winter.
First there was Mrs. Brandon-our chaperon,
housekeeper and dircctress in chief-tall, blond,
distinct voice, which always made itself heard and
obeyed; then came Miss Lucy Lester, plump,
f tae Syn IF b i se sn %n
an angle about her either moral or physical
Lastly there was the present writer, who mod
esty prefers to leave her portrait to the reader
imagination, trusting that he will paint 1T in the
most)attractive colors at his disposal
The supplementary members CT the party were
schoolgirl Of thirteen Georges inseparable, COM
palion, "Chum," small, sharp and extremely in
pudent ,foA-terrier, and Josephine. our stout
kitchen, which her capacious person entirely filled
In spite of its name there was nothing in the
least Oriental about the appearance of our villa.
IL was simply q gDod-slzed, square, plnk-and-
white house, looking, George said as If il were
built of naugh, with green balconies and shutters
and q semicirouar flight of steps TO the front
door. 1t stood in the midst OF an extensive gar,
den planted with orange and lemon trees ana
sheltered on one side by rocky HILL which rose
above it, sheer and straight like a natural wall
At the end of the garden was a rustic bench shell
tered by gnarled old clive-trec.
The house was furnished with remarkable taste
The house agent, through whom We took our ap-
partement Informed us that the landlord NJ. de
valeyre-a gentleman Of good birth, though not OF
large means, who was now on shooting tour in
Corsica-had spent many years OF his life IN the
East, and our rooms contained not "a few souvenirs
of his travels iE the shape Of ornaments, rugs
and draperies to say nothing OF his own clever oil
slya e nrio oil
the walls.
The rooms, though decidedly small, were bright
and airy, and the Outlook on the garden, where
the oranges were ripenng under their glossy
leaves, delightful. Altogether we felt we might
congratulate ourselves our good fortune.
YES proceeded chief" glancing compla-
Gently around her-we were sitting in the dining
room after lunch on the third day of our arrival
lit is really trouvaiIle. SO charmnsly situated,
looked all over Nice and found nothing T. suit us
SO VEL wei m;ant ;nassa assented 1ucv Lester
could wish, perhaps, that the bedrooms were
little larger ="
And that they did not open one out OF the
other like a nest of boxes. OF which mine Is the
inside box ] ventured TO add.
Mrs Brandon glanced at me austerely over her
sIf we, whom you disturb by passing through
our rooms, do not object TO that, l think you
need not she observed reprovinsly
'sBut il seems you do object" l returned.
Every morning | am greeted with anathemas
mot loud. but deep half smOthered under the
why will you persist in getting up at such
unearthly hours, waking people out OF their
beauty Sleep?
teaching Chum to balance pencil on his nose
"but do wish the woman upstairs would not
make such noise Mt night; can't 90 TO sleep
for her The ceilings are 50 thin one hears every
The woman upstairs ?" her mother repeated.
"What do you mean. child There is no one in
the house but ourselves The upper stories ana
= There is some in the loom above mine
oil the same GcorSie persisted. She keeps me
awake by walking about overhead. sometimes NUT
tcring and laughing TO herself. and sometimes
sobbing as if her heart would break. Last night
] stood up on the bed and raped the eclhns Win
my umbrella to silence her. but she Kept on all
the same. Chum heard her too-dldnt you sir ~
Chum. glad OF any interruption to his leSson'
harkcd an emphatic assent.
We'll. now. that is very strange, Miss Lester
remarked, dropping her knitting nave iancicd
myself, do you know, that heard some one mov-
ing about overhcad-not only at night, hut III the
Perhaps there is some servant or caretalcr
left in charge Of the rooms; MIS- Brandon
said after pause; . will ask NJ. Gilict when
We saw NJ Gillct, the house agent, the follow
ing day. lie called, as he explained politely, to
ask after the health Of these ladies'" and 10 as
certain if we were satisfied with installation
lie was round. fat, oily man of middle. age.
WIN p a1e q%ts "y well and psTise'S sati:isd
Mrs Brandon replied gracously, answering for us
ell. as usual; But thought you told Us, NJ
C3illct that the upstairs rooms were unOccupicdy
$50 they are, madame There is no one in the
house but yourselves and your servant
Then who is it my daughter hears at night
in the room above hers ~ lie raised his eye
brows. glancing inquringW at George
% hear w0In8n walking about and talking IN
herself she explained. :" can't understand what
che says: it is not French.
All" His face changed from smiling in
credulity 70 startled gravity He drew IN his lips
end looked perturbed.
1T must be Madame de VALERIE" he muttcred
IT can be no one else. Just like her to turn VI
again in this mysterious fashion without word
OF warning. Monsieur will be furious when he
knows she is here, and shall certainly think it
my duty to inform him at once"
! inquired. iIe assented. " '''
But why should he be displeased Has she
not right 10 occupy her own housc?'
"Well-no-that Is just IT, Whea they sepa-
rated by nafual consent q year ago il was en-
pressly stipulated, as a condition OF his making
her an allowance that che should not return here
or in any way modest him. had it from his own
Va Why did they separate ~ Miss Lester inquired
curiously.
z He shrugged his shoulders.
Jncompatibility OF temper was the reason |
given, but, of course, there were others. The |
fact Is, il was one OF those madly romantic mar |
novels. She was an Arab girl whom he picked |
up somewhere in Algeria, and insisted on marry |
ing TO the scandal OF HE family and friends That
il her portrait" he added nOdding toward pic |
turc on the wal; painted by Monsieur himself |
soon after his marriage"
We looked with interest at the canvas: a slight |
but clever oil sketch Of young Arab girl, with |
olt init fop n sfr