Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-21

see in our colder cline, where scarlet
and purple flowers grow wild and lux
uriant, where the vines trailed their
, ties grew tall and wild. Grounds
! where, in the midst of grove OF
orange tres, one caught sight of stat.
ues of rare beauty-a Hercules, a
| Cupid with his bow, Venus full OF
seductive beauty, Apollo with godlike
proportions. There. under the spread
| ing shade OF large sycamore trees.
chairs and seats were placed; where
the pale, passionate magnolia flowers
! blossomed, chair and stand for read
| ing had been stationed.
Every visitor who came to Florence
made point of calling at the Villa
Pisani; the guide-books all pointed ii
out as one of the show places of Flor.
ence the Beautiful
One bright morning in August, when
when the rich glowing loneliness Of
the summer had reached its height,
ad the grounds of the villa were one
bewildering mass of fragrance and
bloom, a lady stood looking, with a
far-off glance, over the Arno to the
| hills beyond. Near her grew a gladi-
olus, all scarlet and gold; the bees
had buried themselves in bells, hum.
ming for very JOY in the bright sun
shine; the blossoms around her were
musical with the songs Of the nightin.
gales. She herself was beautiful as a
poets dream; but there was an ex.
preston of WEAKNESS on her face, a
shadow in the violet eyes, nervous
compression of the sweet, tender lip,
shine.
Lady Violante has gained in beauty
and yet she has lost.
The slender, grlish figure has de-
veloped into perfect beauty. She
looks now like the ideal of a young
wife and mother. There is, too.
deeper gold on her hair, a falrer flush
on her face, and yet something has
died out Of her loneliness that Is never
to live again The brightness, the
youth, and the hope are gone; in their
place has come an expression Of pa
tience-half of fear, as though she
lived in the habit of REFRESHING every
thought and every word.
Her dress was simply perfection; of
white shining material that falls in
deep, graceful folds, and Is fastened by
band Of FURNISHED gold She wears
ne matronly headdress; the golden
hair falls in ripping waves over the
fairest neck and shoulders that the
world ever saw.
AS she looks across the Arno there
steals over her perfect face an expires.
sion of unutterable sadness. The per
fumed air and the singing birds bring
no gladness to her
A few minutes more, and Lord Wv.
ian Joined her
Still looking for Rupert Violante?"
he asks. How much trouble you give
Yourself over that child. He is six
years. old now, remember. You can
not expect him to spend all his time
in the nursery"
She sighed Like all mothers. she
knew the time must come when her
nursing would take flight and pass
from her gentle, tender care; yet she
dreaded the time She longed to keep
him, to shield him from all the
dangers that would beset him; to keep
him to Heaven and herself.
Then her face frightened, and a
beautiful color flushed even her brow, |
a beautiful light flashed in her eyes;
for, far off amid the tall myrtle trees, |
she heard the clear, ringing voice of
child.
mere is Rupert" cried Lord Wv. !
ian, That is Beatrice with him"
Then by the golden gladlolus, |
through the grove OF silver-nowered
orange trees, comes a woman whose I
beauty Is as gorgeous as passion,
flower in the SUM- woman with !
face that would have charmed a.
Titan, with it's glorious coloring: her |
dark radiant eyes, straight hrows, !
and magnificent features. her clips
like crimson flowers" her marvellous
lovoliness Sladdouing all who locked
upon IT. A woman whose every move. j,
mont was ftll of imperial grace and |
dignity for Beatrice Leigh was in tho /
Springtidc OF her life and nature had
Iavished every charm upon her.
Sho made superb picture as she
passed the ahimmoring orange trees. |
and Lord Fiyiaus eyes briuhtenod
with admiration With one white |
hand Beatrice held fast the little
dnger of child, evidently naughty
aud somewhat refractory child. for he
seemed most unwilling tc comply With
her wishes,
Where VAS he, Beatrice" asked
Lord vivian. as she came nearer.
j will tell YOU myself papa, cried
the young heir of Sclwyn
You have heou lost for more han
tive hours Rupert" said Lord Vivian,
gracelN where have YOU hecn2"