The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-07-17

ehAN0A AAeN ing AOOhOd Nv LIZ
from head to foot to make sure that he
was worthy Of such a place. Then he
added:
Fortunately you have but few steps
to take because the Palazzo Gamberti is
almost opposite here, that house, you
see, where there are so many lights.
The officer went toward the house
pointed to him. 1t was an antique
building of rich and elegant stye-a
pearl among lentils in comparison with
the other houses.
"She must be a lady and no mistake, "
said Terbiani to himself, not only at
seeing her home, but also at the aspect
of the servant that came to open the
door.
1.-The signora marchesa is at the Villa
di Givioso, =" said the domestic, show
ing the lieutenant into a drawing room
furnished in antique brocade, where a
great fire was cracking merrily in the
porphyry ohimneypiece. The servant
added:
eff the signor tenente wishes to read,
ON that table are the newspapers, in that
bookcase some books. If the signor
tenente wishes that 1 should prepare
him some tea or coffee, that | bring him
some liquors.
mo, thank you" replied the officer
absentmindedly.
Perhaps the signor tenente would
like to go to bedY"
"No, no; thanks, . repeated Terbiani.
ST never go to bed before midnight.
This last phrase was uttered i'll the
hope that the marchesa would come
home before that hour.
"Here is an apartment kept as 1 like
TO see one, and a domestic worthy to be
the envy of many a master, " was the
mental approval of the officer as he
stretched himself in a wide, low and
deep armchair before the glowing fire.
He opened a newspaper, read without
understanding a syllable the leading
article, which was upon the foreign pol
ICY. Then little by little he forgot his
reading. He began to watch the flame
that arose in tongues, blue, golden, red,
and ended by absorbing himself in a
thousand dreams more luminous,
strange, many colored and capricious
than the flame itself. They lasted I'M
til the moment when the marchesa in
person entered the room a little after 10
o'clock.
She was much prettier, to look at her
closely, than Terbiani had judged her
at first sight.
Welcome, lieutenant, ;" said the lady
with the ease of a perfect woman of the
world. 81 have just met at my moth
er's house II of your companions, and
from him I learned that you were here,
so I'm come home in great haste to full
fill the duties of hospitality.
The young man bowed deeply, at
once subjugated by those bright eyes
that looked mischievously at him and
by the subtle smile Of those red lips
which addressed to him words so gra-
cious-without suspecting, poor fellow,
that he himself was the cause of that
mirth held within bounds only by ex-
quisite politeness.
In fact, that indiscreet Bompane, in
formed by chance a few moments after
his arrival at Givioso of the existence
and perfect health of the Marchese Gam
berti, had not been able to restrain his
hilarity, and invited to explain it by
the family into which he had been re-
ceived he had related the change of the
billit of quarters, the enthusiasm and
the matrimonial hopes Of Terbiani.
Such was the true motive of the ready
return of the marchesa, who, delighted
with the opportunity which presented
itself for the exercise of her wit and
her good humor, had fastened to come
to take her part in the little comedy.
"Do not let my presence hinder you
from retiring, lieutenant, said the
lady, with coquetry. "You must feel a
great need of rest after this fatiguing
days march in the snow"
And he gallantly:
"Oh, signora, there is no WEAKNESS
that could make me nounc these mo-
ments Of your charming conversation.
Gas to the charm of my converse
ton, " she said, laughing, permit me
to make you observe that you are not
yet in a position to judge of it. As for
me, instead, =" she quickly added, deter
mined to appear coquettish, lit seems
too good to be true to chat with a per-
son who does not belong to my family
and whom 1 do not see every day. | as
sure you that one has quite enough of
solitude after a whole long winter pass
ed in this forsaken little place"
81 can believe it, signora marchesa-
But why condemn yourself to this Sc
clusion?'
"Ah, this is it. The physician has
known how to persuade my family that
this rest was absolutely necessary for
me, and / have preferred to subject my
self to the DOCTORS advice rather than
to the scenes of tender reproach that my
refusal would have provoked. AT all
events, l have gained the color Of a
peasant, for 1t seems that to be bored is
good for the health. You can't imagine
the impossible length of a winter day
in this place and how hard it is to oc-
cupy the endless hours that compose it.
81 Understandable, / understand
repeated the young man, pulling his
pointed mustache.
The dialogue thus begun ran success
lively over the whole ground where 1t
could be carried by a man and a wom-
an of good society who meet for the first
time. They talked of literature, art, So
ciety, and discovered that they had sew
eral mutual friends at Rome, Milan and
Naples.
The marchesa, pleased with the af-
fair, which was, moreover, very harm
less, and treasured by the fact that her
husband would return the very next day,
permitted herself some phrases, enough
to lead ON any a
''Ah, l wish they would send me
every day an officer to entertain, = she
concluded, Offering to Terbiani her slen-
der little hand. IT have been so well
amused this evening"
In saying these words she was per
fectly sincere.
AS to the lieutenant, he was in the
fifth heaven.
"Really this is absolutely what is
wanted for me, +" be thought as he sank
between the fine linen sheets, perfumed
with orris, that had been prepared for
him. Pretty, elegant, witty, certain
ly of good family and with money.
What a nose, like a hunting dog, 1 have
had, Ell? Now it is a question Of ma
neuvering well. Tomorrow / will de-
velop my plans.
And he went to sleep, dreaming Of
his good fortune.
On awaking he found an invitation
from the Baron Corati di Givioso for
a breakfast, followed by a fox hunt.
"I'm going ahead under full SAIL,
exclaimed the young man, rubbing his
hands. ''This breakfast and this hunt
today are what is wanted for my ma
neuvers-of love, not war.