The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-07

sOclGteS I'm the opera troupe
Kitty. OMally and Smith. however
were convinced that u dirty italian
prison would he their ultimate resting
place.
Suppose we 90 and break the news
TO Worth" remarked Smith.
O'Mally assented. stopping a moment
In front of La Signorina.
I'VE have all been together for many
weeks" he said yet who you are
none of us knows"
The shadow of smile lay upon her
lips and vanished. MY name Is Sonla
Hilda Grosvenor." And her voice was
music.
Tomorrow" said Merrihew. Pm
going to look up the jail and engage
rooms ahead. 1t might be crowded"
Both he and Hillard rode back 10
their quarters for the night. but they
found that sleep was practically out of
the question.
The morning sun poured over the
hills, throwing huge shadows IN the
gorge below. O'Mally shifted AS the
wind veered internationally there came
to him the perfume of the locust trees,
now In fun bloom. Pietro rocked. his
legs crossed. his face blurred In the
| drifting tobacco smoke.
"No more tourists, Pietro?"
NO" Pietro sighed.
Did you ever see La Signorina be-
fore? Do you know anything about
herr"
Never. Nor answered Pietro. with
the perfect candor Of an accomplished
| liar.
"Have you ever seem
'Zitto! She come" Pietro got up
with alacrity.
La Signorina was as daintily fresh
In her pink frock as spring tulip.
Her eyes were shining. but her color
was thin.
81 have been looking for you. Mr..
O'Mally," she said. Il have lust re-
ceived telegram from her hlghness."
OMally accepted the yellow sheet.
II can make out word or two" he
said. ITS In Italian"
Il forgot" apoogetically.
Briefly, la Principessa iii Monte
Blanca gave Sonia Hilda Grosvenor
full authority TO act as her proxy in
giving the ball. AS for the invitation.
she knew absolutely nothing about It.
This last statement rather staggered
the erstwhlle concierge. If the prin-
cess hadn't issued the invitation. who
the deuce had?
The dreamy. pleasurable days at the
Villa Ariadne were no more. The
spirit of suspicion now stalked
abroad. And there were n-coming and
going Of the many needed extra serv-
ants. to and froing of extra garden.
ers and carpenters and the sound of
many hammers. The ballroom and the
dining room were opened and aired
and the beautiful floors polished.
In Florence there was deal of ex-
element over the coming affair. for
the villa Arladne had once been the
scene OF many splendid entertain
ment There had always been a mys-
terry regarding the Principessa di
Monte Blanca. Many doubted her ac-
tual existence. But the prince was
known all over Europe ms a handsome
spcndthrift. And the fact that mt this
precise moment he was ouartered
with the Eighth corps in Florence add
cd largely to the zest of speculation.
AS for Hlllard. well indeed he UNI
derstood now why Mrs. Sandford bad
warned him. He understood now
what the great mistake was.
lie was always Mt her heels now.
but speaking no more of his love. She
understood and was grateful. Once
she plucked n young rose ond gave It
TO him. and he was sure that her hand
touched his with pity. though she
would not meet his eyes.
AT o'clock on the afternoon of the
day before the ball. now that the
noise had subsidized and the servants
were IN their quarters. La Signorina
went into the gardens alone. An hour
earlier she had seen Hillard mount
and ride away, the last time but once.
lhere seemed to bear down upon her
lhat oppression which one experiences
~ nightmare Of being able to Nv so
high, to run madly and yet to move
slowly. always pursued by terror.
even now there was a single avenue
or escape. but she knew that she could
not profit by it and leave these unfor-
'unate derelicts TO shift for them
serves. Love. She laughed brokenly
ma struck her hands In suppressed
ury. A fitting climax this. All the
world was mad, and she was the mad
lest in it.
some one was coming along the
'aih. She wheeled impatiently. She
wanted to be alone. And of all men
orth was not the one she cared 10
zee But the sight OF his pale face
ma set jaws stayed her words. She
Waited restlessly
i have something to say to you,"
he said, upon which your future wei.
are largely depends"
i am listening" She showed sur-
rise.
mere mas been a tremendous won
err as understand. about this ball
regard to the strange manner i'm
Vnich the invitations were issued"
nave you found out who did TIP
he demanded