The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-09
CHAPTER v,

CHAPTER v.
One day Bella questioned Lady Du-
caynes French maid about those two
companions who had died within three
years.
They were poor. feeble creatures, -
Francine told her. They looked fresh
and bright enough when they came to
Miladi; but they ate too much. and they
were lazy. They died of luxury and
idleness. They had nothing to do; and
so they took to fsncying things fancy.
ing the air didn't suit them, and they
couldn't sleep.
II sleep we'll enough, but have had
a strange dream several times since
have been in Italy"
"Ah. You had better not begin to
think about dreams. or you will be like
those other girls. They were dreamers
and they dreamt themselves into the
cemetery"
The dream troubled her little, not
because it was ghastly or frightening
dream, but on account of sensations
which she had never felt before in
sleep-a whirring of wheels that went
round in her brain. great noise like
whirlwind, but rhythmical like the
ticking of a gigantic clock; and then in
the midst of this uproar as of winds and
waves she seemed to sink into gulf OF
unconsciousness, out of sleep into far
deeper sleep-total extinction. And
then, after that blank interval, there
had come the sound of voices, and then
again the whirr Of wheels, louder and
and once more the blank-and then
she knew no more till morning, when
she awoke, feeling languid and op.
pressed.
She told DR.. Parravicini of her dream
one day, on the only occasion when she
wanted his professional advice. She had
suffered rather severely from the mos
quitoes before Christmas-and had been
almost frightened at finding a wound
upon her arm which she could only at
tribute to the venomous sting of one of
these torturers. He put on his glasses
and scrutinized the angry mark on the
round, white arm, as Bella stood before
him and Lady Ducayne, with her sleeve
rolled up to her elbow.
"Yes. that's rather more than Joke"
he said; 'he has caught you ON the top
of vein. What a vampirel But
there's no harm done, signorina, moth
ing that little dressing of mine won't
heal. You must always show me any
bite of this nature. 1t might be dan
gerous If neglected. These creatures
feed on poison and disseminate it,"
'And to think that such tiny Great,
ures can bite like this" said Bella;
my arm looks as if it had been cut by
knife"
If were to show you a mosquitoes
sting under my microscope you wouldn't
be surprised at that" replied Parravi-
cini.
Bella had to put up with the mosquito
bites, even when they came on the top
of vein, and produced that ugly wound.
The wound REQUIRED now and then at
longish intervals, and Bella found DR..
Parravicini's dressing speedy cure. II
he were the quack his enemies called
him, he had at least light hand and
delicate touch in performing this small
operation.
Bella Rolleston to Mrs. Rolleston. -
April 14th.
EVER DEAREsT,-Behold the check
for my second quarters salary--five and
twenty pounds. There is no pinch off
whole tenor for years commission as
there was last time, so it is all for you,
mother, dear. have plenty of pocket
money in hand from the cash | brought
away with me, when you insisted on
my keeping more than / wanted. 1t
isn't possible to spend money here-ex-
cept on occasional tips to servants, or
sous to beggars and children---unless
ono had lots to spend, for everything
one would like to buy-tortoise shell,
coral, lace-is SO ridiculously dear that
only millionaire ought to look at it.
Italy is dream of beauty; but for
shopping, give mo Newington Cause
way.