The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-07-31
Receives.
y X II X 4;

it mcanW
1T means that you have stumbled
into tragedy, my dear Lord Herbert"
she answered. "Will you give me your
armp
They walked slowly up the long. still
ball room.
But what does IL mean" he repeat
ed. "Have | mistaken the date?
have come over from London To be
hcre-crosscd this afternoon. an Paris
was talking last week about your re-
ccption tonight"
at mcans-I do not know exactly
what il means" she answered.
"Hushn
They entered the music room. The
musicians were standing about talking
in little groups. Martoni-the great
Martonl-was lounging in an easy
chair, smoking Il cigarette. He rose at
once at their entry. She looked upon
them coldly.
"Signor Martoni," she said "wlIl you
be good enough TO playT
He was obviously amazed.
bul-inc duulfHSt, ilHuhih'.
Your audience is here" she an
swered
From the music chamber they passed
back into small anteroom leading
from the ball room. The sound OF the
violin pursued them. Martoni. who
played only for thousands. played for
them.
She motioned her companion 10 sit
by her side.
II will tell you what know" she
said quietly. 'Afterward | must ask
you TO go away. This afternoon Ar
was here. She asked me some Oues-
tiOBs."
"WellY
"My married life, ms you know" she
continued. speaking with perfect self
possession, was magnificent failure
IL appears TO me now that Armand
paused only In the midst OF n career OF
dissipation 10 sccurt~smy wealth by
marriage, and Immediately returned 10
the Irregularities of his former lifc
I bore all that considered a sclf-re-
spccting woman should bear--nay,
morc-but there were limits, and he
reached them. l objected TO provid-
Ing the wardrobe aud jewclry for his
little dancers. My father and his father
before him worked hard and honestly
for their wealth and II seemed To me
SaCrilegious to see IL squundcrcd In
such "A fashion, SO, as you know.
left my husband"
You were right" he murmurcd 81
will not speak i'll of the dead, but men
knew him for what he was"
Il lived alone and quietly. did my
best TO avoid all scandal. You your
self know, Lord Herbert, tha; l did
not wholly succeed"
II admit nothing Of the Sort nc an.
Swcrcd firmly. "In Paris they would
gossip of the angels"
For the first time her voice shook n
little. Lower and lower grew the
music of the violin. To him its song
| seemed 10 have become blended with
| Che story she told for. though her
words were cold ana measured. ne. nj
| any rate. was conscious OF the passion
| surgng underneath.
My dear friend" she said, "I will
accept your belief in me as blessed
gift. will not tell you the story of
that man Lcssault MS have had to tell
1t to-day 10 the Princess"
| "Shc asked you to tell her. hc cx.
claimed.
| "She asked me for the truth She
said that there had been talk. IT was
better for her 10 know. To every word
] spoke She listened with n cold smile
When | had finished l had n horrible
fear. | was not sure whether she he
levcd me. And other callers came
She went away without word. And
| to.night-secT
| There was crash from the violin
Madame stretched ont her hand She
pointed To the empty rooms. Tie hot
color flushed in the young English
mans checks. lie would have spoken
but she stopped him imperiously.
"Armand's relations MI hated me Tot
leaving him." CHE said. slowly. "I nj
lowed him $4,000 Il year, and they cailct
1t boggary. Then there was his las
strange wish, the only wish ne cX
pressed about me. that should live II
paris-that, after my year OF mourulus
was over should come back am0ugS
his friends. | dctcstod 81 | wished {,
20 back 20 America--or England, bus
after those last words of his. how coul,
~ Cannot you see. Lord Herbert
what am forced to think? This is hl
rcvcEgo. his and theirs. oh. II Is sdcl
q hateful thought. | wanted To thinl
kindly Of him. and the Princess wa
always gracious to me. Yet"
) lie interrupted her.
1T looks pretty bad" he admitted
chcerfully. although I never though
the Princess would stoop to such
, thing. But. after all. every tragedy IA
; it's lucky side for some one. and
2 should never have had this tetc-a.tet
with YOU II your rooms had beei
crowded with guests"
Your tete-a-tete appears TO be rs
: sured." Madame In Comtcsse re
marked. with a faint smile. you ma
even look forward to taking me in {
supper"
e "Oh. hut I am scrious-vcry serious
4 | Murialf 10 ho safd s,l.l.,I. fo.,fv. g.