Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-11

never. never do. No one must know
that she was In America. about g. step
into the widest Of wild adventures
No: she must not be found oue. The
king who had been kind 70 Der. aud
the court must never know. From
their viewpoint they would have de
clared that she was about TO tarnish
distinguished nsme. 20 outrage the
oldest aristocracy In Europe the
court Of Italy. But she had her own
opinion: what she proposed 20 do was
In itself harmless and innocent But
this gentleman who leaned out OF the
Window She had seen the match
fare IN the young mans face. Was
Il the face she had seen in that 6ash
OF light that interested her sufficiently
TO risk the nOte7 Against the dark Of
the night II had appeared for an iD
slant. clean. crisp. rudy as a cameo
The face warranted confidence.
She had sung because she had been
happy. happy with that transient hap
piness which ar times was her portion
Could she ever judge another man by
his ioOks7 She believed not How
she bad run, The man. bareheaded.
giving chase and the burly policeman
across the street,
She stepped down from the alcove.
wound the gray veil round the riding
crop and tossed them into a corner
Somehow 10 the daylight the magic
was gone from bis face. for she had
recognized him that frst day In the
park. He rode well She touched a
bell A maid appeared.
"Bettina you will go 70 the Office Of
this newspaper and inquire for letter
addressed to Nine. Angot And be
quick, for ] may change my mind"
The maid was back 10 a half hour.
There was a letter. thenT The
points were dancing again IN the blue
eyes
You may 80. Perhaps" and Bettl-
mas mistress smued-''perhaps I may
let you read IL and answer It after I
am done with t. That would be
rather neat"
The slight nod was n dismissal. and
the maid went about her duties. which
were not many IN this house.
Meanwhile the lady with the vene-
tian hair toyed with the letter. Club
paper. Evidently be was not afraid 10
trust her But would he amuse her?
The contents gave her n genuine SUP
prise. She ran 90 the window Ital-
ian. II was written On Italian. with
all the hourishes OF an Italian born.
She turned 10 the siguature-Hillard.
So he had signed his name I'm full?
She ruminatcd. How came such
name 90 belong 20 a man who wrote
Italian so beautifully? she looked NJ
the signature again. John-Giovanni
She would call him Giovanni She
had been rather clever To have
had the Wit 70 look IN the library
for the blue book aud the club
list-not every woman would have
thought OF that. Then a new inspira-
ton came 20 her She sent Rpttina
FOR the card basket She scattered the
contents upon the foor and sat down
TuTkishwiSe She sorted the cards
carefully. and. To- she was presently re-.
warded She held up the card 10 tri-
umph. lie had called az this house on
day He was known.
then. 90 the master and mistress. Very
good. She now gave her full attention
TO the letter. which she had not yet
perused:
To the Lady Ia tho Fog:
To begin with. let me say that l. too
have laughed. Bu; there was some degree
OF chagrin In my laughter. on my word
OF honor. Il was distinct shock 90 my
sense OF dignity when : saw that idiotic
personal OF mine IN the paper Ia is my
nrst onense OF the kind. and am really
But the situation was not ordi-
nary Ordinary women do not sing IN
tho streets after midnight. As YOU could
not possibly be ordinary. my orense mas
greater magnitude. To intite personal
TO gentlewomaut a thousand pardonsi
/ doubted that u would come under your
notice and. even n u did ! was sure that
you would ignore a. To find a woman
with an appreciable sense OF humor IS
rare. To ind one who couples this with
out my name confuses me
Indeed" murmured the lady.
Doubtless you have the club list in YOUR
house DO you know. when the letter was
brought me . saw nothing unusual about
The address 40 was only when / began
this letter tnat I compromised how clev-
er you were There are half a dozen
p H. > at ANe Cluu- tell YOU trutnfullV
over my own name that your voice star
led me
was startled because my thoughts
we're far away. / was dreaming OF Italy.
where was born. though there ~ no
more italian blood In my veins than there
IS I'm yours.
What made him think that. I won
iery"
4 therefore write this IN a language IA
nlilar 20 US both. certain you could not
ling LecocQ's songs IN Italian II you did
Tot speak and understand IL thoroughly.
Slgnora or slgnorina. whichever 70 NAV
be, have we no mutual friends2 Are you
cot known 10 some one who knows me
'ome one who viii speak for me. my
character. my habits?
1T Is rather dull letter so far"
'aid the lady
You say you SANG because at that mo.
nent you were happy This implies that
'ou are not ALWAYS SO Surely with a
voice like yours. one cannot possibly be
d 81 Ii