The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-16
GOOD LADY DUCAYNE
By MISS BRADDoN. .sAsr
CHAPTER VI.


am well-but ain not quite so strong
IS I was when used to trudge to the
West-end to buy half a pound of tea
Just for q constitutional walk-or to
Dulwich to look at the pictures. Italy
is relaxing; and feel what the people
here call slack. But fancy can see
your dear face looking worried as you
read this. Indeed, and indeed, l am
not i'll. am only little tired OF this
lovely scene-as suppose one might
get tired of looking at one Of Turner's
pictures If 1t hung on wall that was
always opposite one. think Of you
every hour in every day-think Of you
and our homely little room--our dear
little shabby parlor, with the arm chairs
from the wreck of your old home. and
Dick singing in his cage over the sew
ing machine. Dear, shrill, maddening
Dick. who. we flattered ourselves, was
so passionately fond of rs. Do tell mo
in your next that he is well.
MY friend Lotta and her brother
never came back after all They went
from Pisa to Rome. Happy mortals!
And they are to be on the Italian lakes
III WHlCl idhC Woo NV uVSAuCo
when Lotta last wrote to me. She has
been charming correspondent and
has confided all her little flirtations to
me. We are all to go to Bellaggio next
weekly Genoa and Milan. Isn't that
lovelyf Lady Ducayne travels by the
easiest stages-except when she is bot
tied up in the train de luxe. We shall
stop two days at Genoa and one at
Milan. What bore / shall be to you
with my talk about Italy when l come
home.
Love and love-and ever more love
from your adoring BELLA"
Herbert Stafford and his sister had
often talked of the pretty English girl
with her fresh complexion, which made
such a pleasant touch of rosy color
among all those sallow faces at the
Grand Hotel. The young doctor
thought of her with a compassionate
tenderness-her utter loneliness in that
great hotel where there were so many
people, her bondage to that old, old
woman, where everybody else was free
to think of nothing but enjoying life.
1t was hard fate and the poor child
was evidently devoted to her mother,
and felt the pain of separation-''on
two of them, and very poor, and all the
world to each other" he thought.
Lotta told him one morning that they
were to meet again at Bellagio. 1.-The
old thing and her court are to be there
before we are" she said. II shall be
charmed to have Bella again. She is so
1,n~;r md ~, ov>it Nf osC al
touch OF home sickness. ! never took
to girl on short acquaintance as I
did to her."
II like her best when she is home
sick" said Herbert; ''for then am sure
she has heart"
''What have you to do with hearts,
except for dissection1 Don't forget that
Bella is an absolute pauper. She told
me in confidence that her mother makes
mantles for West. end shop. You can
hardly have lower depth than that. I"
II shouldn't think any less of her il
her mother made match. boxes"
mot in the abstract-of course not.
Match. boxes are honest labor. But you
couldn't marry girl whose mother
makes mantles."
"We haven't come to the considera-
ton of that question yet," answered
Herbert, who liked to provoke his
sister.
In two years hospital practice he had
seen too much of the grim realities of
life TO retain any prejudices about rank.
Cancer, phthisis, gangrene, leave man
with little respect for the outward diff.
ferences which vary the husk Of hu-
manity. The kernel is always the same
-fearfully and wonderfully made--a
subject for pity and terror.
Mr.. Stafford and his sister arrived at
Bellaggio in fair May evening. The
sun was going down as the steamer ap-
preached the pier; and all that glory of
purple bloom which curtains every wall
at this season of the year flushed and
deepened in the glowing light. A group
of ladies We're standing on the pier
watching the arrivals, and among them
Herbert saw pale face that startled
him out of his wonted composure.
There she is" murmured Lotta, al
his elbow, but how dreadfully changed
She looks wreck
They were shaking hands with her a
few minutes later, and flush had
lighted up her poor pinched face in the
pleasure Of meeting.
1 thought you might come this eve
ming" she said. I'VE have been here q
week"
She did not add that she had beer
there every evening to watch the boat
in, and good many times during the
day. The Grand Bretagne was CLOSE
by, and it had been easy for her to creer
to the pier when the boat bell rang
She felt joy in meeting these people
again; sense of being with friends; {
confidence which Lady Ducayne's good
ness had never inspired in her.
'Oh, you poor darling, how awful!
i'll you must have been," exclaimed
Lolita, as the two girls embraced.
Bella tried to answer, but her voic,
was choked with tears.
What has been the matter, dear
That horrid Influenza suppose?"
mo, no, have not been I'LL hav