Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-08
AVILLA IN
ITALY

t WAS the last day of March. The
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 l have been wanting so
long" she cried. Il will go tomorrow
and look at the place"
1T 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.
Eyes, but the real point of my remark
was that if no enc has taken the house
In that length of time it cannot be very
desirable.
II refuse to allow the point. 1 am
sure that it is only jealousy on your
part because you did not find the adver-
isement yourself" and the signora
onHeu lIIuupudully.
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 alb
solute 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
neighborhood. The signora had found
Der ideal at last
Not that the signora was an enemy of
mankind. On the contrary, she loved
her fellow creatures, sometimes in par
dcular, 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
dotted here and there upon the road
Il 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 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.
Yes. indeed. Excellency, it is not very
far"
Every well! 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 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.
rs this the Villa Soragna?"
1.-The same" replied the driver, lacon-
ically.
AS she spoke man appeared at the
gate.
.You wish to see some one at the
viila?" he inquired. raising his hat po-
litely.
The signora smiled in quick apprecia-
uon
"The villa itself. please she said.
els It not for sale?"
The man looked at her closely. scrutin-
ixingly, until the signora felt almost
abashed. Then slowly opening the door,
he said:
ENTER"
The carriage drove lumberingly up
the beautiful avenue. shaded by tau
Lombardy poplars, now family Hinged
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 murmured:
'>fiow lovely 1t is here!n
As she stood on the threshold the