The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-04-28
AVILLA IN
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 cIasped her hands.
Jus. what I have been wanting so
long" she cried. II will 60 tomorrow
and look at the place.
1T has been for sale for five or six
years at least observed one of her
friends. 1T must be frightfully spider
webbJ 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 rea( b 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'
Il refuse to allow the point. l am
sure that it is only jealousy on your
part because you did not find the adver-
>isement yourself" and the signora
smiled triumphantly.
The next morning among the rare
travellers at the north station at Milan
was lady, tall and distinguished look
ms. 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.
xix months of country life, amid alb
solnte solitude" the signora thought, as
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
neigh5orhood. The signora had found
lor ideal at last.
Not that the signora was IN enemy OF
mankind. On the contrary, she loved
her fellow creatures, sometimes. in par
tlcular, 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 glimpses Of the villas
'1otted here and there upon the road:
Il am sure that mine will not be like
any of those she said with shrug of
her beautiful shoulders. III they were
built by a machine they could not be
more alike
When the train stopped and the
signora had descended from her COM
partment 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 not know the way?" said the
signora quickly
Eyes, indeed, Excellency, it is not very
far"
Very we'll! Let us start" and the
signora fastened to take her seat in the
rough country coach awaiting her.
This is certainly the solitude for
which l lOnged." she thought as the
peasant drove slowly along the winding
road. Il think l could love my fellow
creatures very dearly if I was 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.
us this the Villa Soragna?"
The same" replied the driver, lacou-
ically.
AS she spoke a man appeared at the
gate.
You wish to see some one at the
villa?" he inquired, raising his hat DO
litely.
The signora smiled in quick apprecla-
ton.
"The villa itself. please" she said.
rs it not for sale?"
The man looked at her closely, scrutin-
izingly, until the signora felt almost
abashed. Then slowly opening the door.
he said:
Enter"
The carriage drove lumberinelv nm
the beautiful avenue, shaded by tall
Lombardy poplars, now family tinged
with green. Seen closer, the villa was
even more beautiful than from a dis
lance. and the signora drew a long
breath of pleasure as she nurmured:
''aow lovely it is here!"