The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-10-14
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.

rette
"iIave you those lettersT
"one of them I'll show YOU
'Why not the otherW
at would be wasting time 1t mere
ly relates to your adventure. Sh,
sailed the day after you dined witt
her"
"That accounts for the shutters. Th'
police and the caretaker were bribed
II suspect they were"
IF | were vain man, and yot
know lam not, might ask you II sll,
spoke well of me IN this letter, Un
derstand am not inquirlng"
But you put the question as adroit
ly as a woman We are sure of vanity
always Yes. she spoke Of YOU She
found you to be an agreeable gentle
man. But" with gentle malice. "siif
did not say that she wished she had
met you years ago under more favor
| able circumstances.
Come. give me the death stroke and
dare, and I'll be content with it."
She opened her handkerchief purse
and delved among the various articles
therein,
Il expected that you would be asking
questions. so am prepared. did not
tell my husband for that very reason
He would have insisted upon knowing
everything. Here, read this 1t is only
glimpse
He searched eagerly for the sigma
ture.
Don't bother" she said. "The name
is only a nickname We gave her al
school"
SCHOOL, DO you mean to tell me
that you went to school with her.
Wherey'
in Pennsylvania first, then in Milan
Read"
o Cara Mia-If only you knew how
sorry am to miss you! Why must you
sail at once? Why not come to my beat
tifui Venice? ] have so much TO say that
cannot be written. You ask about the ad
venture. Pouf goes my little dream of
greatness. II was a blank failure. The
officials put unheard OF obstacles in our
path. The contracts were utterly disre-
garded In the first place, we had not
purchased our costumes and scenery iD
Italy.
Costumes and sceneryT Hillard
sought the signature again.
The base OF all the trouble was clerk
f,. 49, l.fa af Ia eata .fa
that there would be no duties on costumes
and scenery. Alas. the manager and hts
backer are on the way TO America sad
der and wiser men! We surrendered our
return tickets to the chorus and sent
them home. The rest Of us are stranded
lis not that the word ?--here In Venice.
waiting for money from home II | were
alone. II would be highly amusing, but
these poor people with mel There is only
one way | can help them. but that-neverl
You recollect that my personal income is
quarterly. and It will be two months be-
fore / shall have funds. There are per
sons moving heaven and earth to find me.
My companions haven't the least idea
who | am. SO here we all are wandering
about the Piazza San Marco. calling at
Cooks every day ia hopes Of money J
am staying with my maid IN the Campo
Santa Maria Formosa. near our beloved
Santa Barbara. ! have guaranteed the
credit Of my companions. and they believe
that Venetians are generous people. Cen
erousi Perhaps you viii wonder how |
dared appear on the stage in Italy. A
black wig and theatrical makeup-these
were sufficient. A duke sent me an lnyi-
tation to take supper with him, aa IL ]
wese ballerinal ] sent one OF the Amer
lean chorus girls little mink for mis-
chief She ate his supper and then ran
away. | understand that he was furious.
Only few months more Nell. and then
may come and go as please. Come TO /
Venice. CAPRICCIOsA 4
HiIlard did not at.f laby- 4
rinth to this mysteft ,anrieeiosa-- (
Kitty Kiiligrews unknswn prliaa dom
na. and all he had to do WIS 10 take I
the morning train for Venice. and 4
.weniy-four hours later be would be /
prowling through the Campo Santa
Maria rorDosa.
Mrs. Sandford observed lan curl
,usly. even sadly. why couldn't bis
iancy have been charmed by an every
lay. sensible girI and not By this
extraordinary woman who
'eoled diplomats. Haunted dukes and
sept king al arms length as 9 pas
imef And yet
''csprieeIoea. he unused aloud
That ~ not her name"
"And shah not tell II you"
"But her given namef Just straw.
to hold on I'm drowning
nan
III liz Htida"
'-Tha; Is German n
''she prefers IL 10 Sonia
"sonis fiida. IL begins well. May
ssep this letter.
Certainly rot with that cara mlaf