The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-20
LUCKY fellowr. WINS cried ON every

and you-whosc house are you fOr!'
asked Terbiani OF the lieutenant with
the eyeglass They had been cpmpan-
ions at tho school of Modena and re-
manned intinate friends fn the pagi-
ment.
GAS for me, don't complain, re-
piled tho other with his girlish voice
drawling the words '"The widow Clam
berti is my hostess -
Widow! What wiIfowe That I'M
beetle of a landlord did not tell US that
she was widow"
But that Is Just tho thing for me-
Psolo. my dear fellow, be good Let us
change lodgings. 1t Is O favor for
which shall DO grateful 10 you all my
life. 4" Thus did Terbiani beg md sup
plicate him
Change with BDmpane-thht Is bet
ter-so yuu can pay court 10 thab blond
young lady"
'No mol like brunettes best pro-
fer widows. They arc more piQuant
Come. beg of you Think that your
compliance may perhaps decide my
whole life
well, take my lodging" sighed the
young lieutenant, with affected resigna-
ton. "Go and warm your heart in tho
presence of the Marchesa Gamberti, and
toast your boots at the fireplace Of her
parlor.''
Then Terbiani rushed to hunt up hts
valiSe; next into one of the rooms Of
the inn. where he worked complete
metamorphosis In his apparel: changed
his fatigue dress, frayed and discolored,
for brand fine new uniform, and with
out re-entering the dining room went
to ask some directions of the landlord as
to the pace where Casa Gamberti was
"Ah, you are Quartered therep En-
cellentl" approved the fat landlord
after having looked at the lieutenant
from head to foot to make. sure that no
was worthy of such 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 M antique
building of rich and elegant stye-a
pearl among lentils in comparison with
the other houses.
"She must be u 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
The signora marchesn is Mt the Villa
di Givioso,' said the domestic, show
ing the lieutenant into drawing room
furnished in antique brocade where
great fire WIS c1ncllling nierrily In the
porphyry cilimne1nece. The servant
added:
eff the signnr tenente wish,. To read,
on that table are the newspapers, i'll that
bookcase some books If the sig7ior
tenento wishes that l should prepare
him some tea or coffee, thet bring him
some liquors"
mo, thank you. replied the ofibnr
absentmindedly.
Perhaps the signor te1nIt,e would
like to go to bed?''
''No, no; thanks, repeated Tcrtiani
II never so TO bed before midnight "
This last phrase WAS uttered in the
hope that the marchcsa would olune
home before that hour
Hero is an apartment kept ITS like
to sec one, and u domestic worthy to lie
the envy OF many mAster' was tho
mental approval Of the officer Ms he
stretched himself in wide. low and
deep armchair before tire glowing fire.
He opened newspaper, read without
understanding syllable the leading
article, which WIS upon the foreign pol
icy. Then little by little he forgot his
reading. He began to watch the flame
that arose i'll tongues, blue, golden. red
and ended by absorbing himself in II
thousand dreams more luminous,
strange, many colorcd and capricious
than tie 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 prctticr. to look ut her
closely, than Tcrbiani had judged her
at first sight.
Welcome, lieutenant, " said the lady
with the ease of perfect woman Of the
world. Il have just met at my moth
cr's house one of your companions, and
from him learned that You were hero,
50 I'm come home i'll great haste to full
fill the duties of hospitality'
The young man bowed deeply ut
once subjuSatcd by those bright eyes
that looked mischicvously at him and
by the subtle smile of those rcd lips
which addressed TO him words 80 gra-
cious--without suspccting. poor fellow,
that he himself WAS thc cause of that
mirth held within bounds only by ex-
quisitc politcneSs
In fact, that indiecreet Bulnpine, in
formed by chance few moments after
his arrival at GiviOso of the existence