Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-28
AVILLAIN
 ITALY

| T WAS the last day of March. The l signora, attended by her friends, was sitting in the cosy library. As she glanced down the columns of the even- ing paper this short announcement caught her eye: For sale. The villa of the Count Soragna." She clasped her hands.
 Just what I have been wanting So long," she cried. q will go tomorrow and look at the place."
 Tt has been for sale for five or six years at least,' observed one of her friends. Tt must be frightfully spider webby by this time"
 "A few spider webs are easily brushed away" replied the signora, who was al. ready busy finding directions as to how to reach the Soragna villa Yes, but the real point of my remark was that if no one has taken the house in that length of time it cannot be very desirable.'
 T refuse to allow the point. am 'sufe9that' n is only jealousy on yoiir part because you did not find the adver- tisement yourself" and the signors smiled triumphantly. The next morning among the rare travellers at the north station at Milan was lady, tall and distinguished look ing. She was evidently accustomed to admiration, for she did not appear to notice the glances universally bestowed upon her, and her whole attention seemed centered in the little guide book in her hand
 Six months of country life, amid ab- solute solitude" the signora thought, az she took her seat in the train.
 The Villa Soragna was situated in the very midst of the Alpine foothills. There were no towns. scarcely even villages, nothing but woods and fields in the neighborhood. The signora had found ler ideal at last.
 Not that the signora was an enemy of mankind. On the contrary. she loved her fellow creatures. sometimes in par ticular, but always in the abstract. as behooves all good Christians. But there were times when she felt an irresistible need to see people from a distance in order to love them more.
 The almost empty train ran swiftly on its way. and the signora amused her self when the swift slimpses of the villas dotted here and there upon the road
 T am sure that mine will not be like any of those" she said with a shrug of her beautiful shoulders. "If they were built by a machine they could not be more alike"
 When the train stopped and the signora had descended from her com partnent she turned to one of the three hackmen who pressed around her and asked:
 Can you take me to the Villa So- ragna?"
 The Villa Soragna." repeated one of the men, hesitating slightly. as if re- calling something he had forgotten. Do you Tot know the way ?" said the signOra qGickly.
 Yes. indeed, Excellency. it is not yer, far"
 Very well. Let US start.' and the signora hastened 10 take her seat in the rough country coach awaiting her.
 This is certainly the solitude for which I longed." she thought as the peasant drove slowly along the winding road. T think I could love my fellow creatures very eeariy if I vas allowed to gaze at them from this remote corner of the world"
 At length the wagon stopped before an iron gateway which opened upon a long avenue. leading to a long stone villa. surrounded by graceful trees.
 Is this the Villa Soragnar-
 The same" replied the driver. lacou- ieaIly.
 As she spoke a man appeared at the gate
 You wish to see some one a the villa?" he inquired. raising his hat po- lfely.
 The signors smiled in quick apprecia- tion-
 ~Tse villa itself please she said. -Is it 10: fir saley-
 The man looked at her closely. scrutin- izingiy- until the signora felt almost sbazh@ Tnen s.oriy opening the door