The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-04

~ softly upon the roof of leaves
that covered the sidewalks
| along Castle avenue.
! Almost in the center of the imposing
! line of palatial residences stood the
! home of the Duke of Perse, minister
! of finance, hanked on either side by
/ structures as grim and as gay as it.
| self. yet far less significant in their
! generation. Here dMelt the most ina-
! portant man in the principality. not
/ excepting the devoted prime minister
himself. Not that Perse was SO well
beloved, but that he held the destinies
/ of the land la Midas-Hke fingers. More
[ than that, he was the father of the far
famed Countess Marlanx, the most
! glorious beauty at the Austrian and
Russian courts. She had gone forth
/ from Graustark as its most notable
! bride since the wedding day of the
Princess Yetive. late In the nineties
Ingomede, the beautiful, had joutneyed
/ far to the hymeneal altar. The hus-
! band who claimed her was a hated,
dishonored man In his own land. There
werc those who went so far as to say
! that her father had delivered her into
/ the hands of latter day Bluebeard.
7 who whisked her off into the high
| lands, many leagues from Vienna.
/ She was seen no more In the gay
+ courts for a year. Then of a sudden
/ she appeared before them all. as dag
I Zlingly beautiful as ever. but with n
haunting. wistful look in her dark eyes
/ that could not be mistaken. The old
count found an uneasy delight in ex-
hibiting her to the world once more,
plainly as bit of property that all
men were expected to look upon with
envy In their hearts
Then the Duke of -pense resumed his
residence in Edelweiss, opening the
| old palace once more to the world. His
| daughter after the death Of the prin-
home of her girlhood So long as the
princess was alive she remained away
| from -Edelweisa. reluctant TO meet the
/ friend who had banIshed her husband
! long before the wedding day In Buda-
pest. Now she came frequently and
! stayed for weeks at a time, apparently
happy during these escapes from life
In the grea. capitals.
OF late she came more frequently to
| Edelweiss than, before. John Tullis
/ was always to remember the moment
/ when he looked upon this exquisite
! creature for the first time. Tint was
months ago. After that he never ceased
being a secret, silent worshiper at her
transient shrine.
Ten O'Clock on this rainy night a
carriage has drawn up before the low
er gates to the Perse grounds, and a
! TALL shadowy figure leaves it to hurry
through the shrub lined walks to the
massive doors
/ Tullis had long since ceased to be n
I welcome visitor in The home of the
Duke of Perse. The men were openly
resented the cool Interference OF the
sandy haired American: on the other
hand Tullis madeSno effort to conceal
1 his dislike, If not distrust, of the older
man.
The countess was alone In the long.
warm tinted library.
ut Is good OF you to come" she said
as they shook hands warmly. do you
know it is almost a year since you last
came to this house?'
lit would be century, countess, IL
! were not welcomed In other houses
j where l nm sure of glimpse of you
from time TO time and word now and
then"
/ They both seated themselves before
a glowing open fire.
1.-The duke has gone to Ganlook to
! play bridge with friends" she said at
once. "He will not return till late. l
have Just telephoned-to make sure"
Her smile did more than to raassure
| him.
"Of course you will understand how
| impossible II is for me to come here.