New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23
CHAPTER TX.

disposed toward Laura, and that the repuisloh
she had felt for Arden had depended upon HIS
dcformty, to which she had now grown accus-
toned, us was quite natural She had aiWa!o
been careful not to speak out her mind upon the
subject TO Francesca, and had been more 'hah
cautious in other respects. She was lar 700
clever a woman to let him hear the gossip she
had originated except through outsiders In tie
way of general conversation. and now she found
il easy TO change her tactics completely without
doing ANYTHING TO rouse his suspicion She
seemed very much preoccupied, however, In spite
of her efforts TO seem cheerful and agreeable DUR
ing the two DAYS which preceded the dinner party
her father had obliged her to give. There were
domestic details, too, which gave her trohoie
and she had more than enough to occupy her'
Her maid had been very ill, too. and was oareS
beginning TO recover. Every woman OF the wof!u
knows what it means TO be suddenly deprived Oh
O thoroughly good maids services Just az 'he
opening Of the season. That was one more an
noyance among the many she encountered, ahd'
IN her opinion, not the smallest
There was, of course. no open Illumination III
what she was forced TO do, hut she felt the shame
of defeat very keenly whenever she thought oil
her interview with her father. 1t was not sur
prsinr that her hatred of the Ardens should sud-
denly take greater proportions under clrcum-
stances so favorable to its growth. And she
hated them both with all her heart while pre-
pairing herself to receive them with open arms
and protcstations of affection. But she dld
everything in her power to make the meeting
elective. She even went so far as 10 Duy pretty
little gifts for the Prince and Princess oil ueraho
and for Laura and Arden, which she took the
trouble to conceal with her own hands In the
folds of each ones napkin just before dinner )
pretty little chiselled silver sweetheart boxes LOT
the two ladies, and tiny matchboXes lot the men.
Both the elder Savelli being away at the time
she arranged everything according to her own
taste. which was excellent thus taking advantage
Of her place temporary mistress Of the mouse.
Here were flowers scattered on the table. a form
of decoration of which the old butler disapproved
shaking his head mournfully as he carried out
Adele's directions.
She did not overact her part when the evening
came. for she knew how 10 be very charming
when she pleased, and she meant on the present
occasion TO produce very strong impression
upon every one present at dinner. She sue
caeded we'll The Ardens themselves were sur
prised at the pleasant feeling which seemed 10
pcrvade everything. Gerano looked at his daugl-
ter approvingly, repeatedly smiled, nodded to her
and at last drank her health. Don Francesca was
delighted, for he saw in his wifes manner the
strongest refutation Of all that Arden had told
linn two days earlier. Moreover. he had Laura
Arden on his left and was at liberty to talk to
her as much as he pleased, which was in itself
great satisfaction, especially as she herself was
morc than usually cordial, being determined not
- ittr,y herself Francesca looked across the
table az Arden more than with significant
Glance and inwardly congratulated himself upon
having said nothing to his wife about the diff
Guilty.
Arden looked i'll. He had caught cold during
that interview with Saveli in the icy drawing
room, and even ordinary cold told quickly
upon his appearance in his weak state OF health
But he did all in his power to seem cheerful and
talked more than usually well, that his wife
alone knew that he was making an effort.
So the dinner passed oil adInirably-so WE'LL
indeed, that when all were going home Laura
end her mother looked at one another as though
they could hardly believe what they had seen and
heard The Princess of Gerano began TO doubt
the truth Of tho accusation against Adele, and
even Laura fancied that they must have been
very much exaggerated. The Prince himself. the
ONLY one of the party who had heard the slandcr
from AdeIe's own lips sentence by sentence. and
almost word for word as Ghisleri had repeated
il 10 him. wisely held his peace, while by no mean"
~ wisely believing that his daughter had re-
pcnted and was carrying out his instructions IN
all sincerity. lie kissed her ahectionately on the
forehead when he went away. and she felt that
she had won victory.
"yon look a little pale, my child" he said
~ have noticed it all the evening. lie very care
full " your health. my dear"
YES, papa-but ! am quite well, thank YOU
answered Adele
Sc, she did not lock we'll. There was an odd
r9htcncd look in her eyes when they were
AL zone and she was left alone with her husband
.;o - do 1-V
lcstowins infinite praise upon her tact and talent
as a hostess Though she did not hear all he
said she was vaguely pleased that, after spend
Ing the whole evening at Laura's side, he should
stay nj home instead of going 70 the club, ami
find 50 many pleasant things to say. I'm spite oil
her success however she spent restless night
Laura looked dnXiously at Ardcns face when
they got home. lie looked worse. and coughcd
two or three times in way she did not like
"Yon are very tired. DEAR" she said "ion
had better not get up tomorrow. The rest will
do you g0od.'
Il think you are right" he answered; 4" ]
need rest"
The next morning his cold worse, and he
did not rise. He seemed restless and nervous, TO,
perhaps from the fatigue OF the previous even
ing. The doctor came and said there was no dan
ger az the cold vas not on the lungs, and that
tie best thing TO be done was TO stay in bcn two
or three days. Later in the afternoon Pictro
Ghislcri called, and Laura at Aiden's express de-
sire, received him alone, promising to bring him
into the bedroom aftcrward. Several days had
passed since they had met. Ghislcri was looking
f,esber and less nervous than the last time Laura
had seen him. lie, on his part, saw that she was
anxious again, for there were dark shadows under
her cyca. az there had been when she had first re-
turned from England
is anything wrong?" he asked, rs soon as
they met. ANN
Herbert has a bad cold," she answered. "Thc
doctor saws it is nothing serious, bat he coughs
and am worried about him.
Ghisleri reminded her that there was nothing
the matter with Arden's lungs, and that cough
might be d very insignifcant affair after all then