The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-03-16
AVILLA IN
ITALY

| 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 have been wanting Sc
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 hen
friends. 1T must be frightiully 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 II no one has taken the house
in that length OF time 1t cannot be very
desirable"
Il refuse to allow the point. | am
sure that IT is only jealousy on your
part because you did not find the adyer-
tisement 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
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 boob
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
her 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 glimpses Of the villas
dotted here and there upon the road.
Il am sure that mine will not be Ike
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
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"
Very 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 | longed." she thought as the
peasant drove slowly along the winding
road. Il think 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?"
The same" replied the driver. lacon-
ically.
AS she spoke a man appeared at the
gate.
You wish TO see some one at the
villa?" he inquired. raising his hat po-
litely.
The signora smiled in quick apprecia.
ton.
The villa itself, please" she said.
is It not for sale?"
The manlooked at her closely, scrutin-
izingly, until the signOra felt almost
abashed. Then slowly opening the door,
he said:
Enter"
The carriage drove lumberingly I'D
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 murmured:
How lovely 1t is here!"
As she stood on the threshold tho
stranger who had admitted her appeared
again.
If you will permit me. signora, will
serve as your guide" he said. Il am
the steward"
The sfgnOra was conscious as a vague
feeling OF disappointment at the mans
words. Surely, she thought that air of
birth and breeding belonged to some
one Of a higher station. lie made her
think Of Titian's famous Portrait Of
which she had long ad-
mired In the Pitt Gallery.
THE proprietor does not live here?'
she asked.
THE count is absent" replied her
opening the door and stand
ing aside for her to enter.
AS the signora went from one beauti-
ful room to another she was more and
more delighted. The combined ele-
sance and simplicity Of the whole
harmed her.
THE people who lived here" she
thought, must be different from others.
The unr., ninr,.n IN ~. H. ..IdDr ,.rnnn |