The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-04-30
The Traitor" "A Short Story
BY RENE MAIZEROY.

Jacqueline and I had just finished
our tea on the terrace The sea had
changed color and looked like an i'm
mense golden mirror enlivened by the
red and white sails OF the fishing
boats and sailing vessels and the yel-
low smoke Of the steamers The shad-
ow was coming down from the noun
tains and began to cover the rose gar
dens below.
An automobile stopped outside the
gate and my collies barked loudly.
Francois brought me card. on which
! | read name absolutely unknown to
me: Princess Tatinana voronje'
The lady insists on seeing you at
once. sir"
Show her into the parlor," l re-
piled, annoyed at this unexpected and
unwelcome intrusion.
/ Absolutely indifferent to the beau.
ties of sea and sky as revealed by the
large open windows. evidently nervous
as if every minute was precious. the
Russian lady was pacing up and down
the floor. She resembled nothing as
much as large tiger trotting back and
forth in its cage. | was immediatel,
struck by her beauty, which was un
usual. grand and tragic. The trans
parency of her complexion. the form
of her face framed by a wealth of curl,
fair hair, her round ivory-white throat
every detail was dazzling and perfect
Without any preparatory explana
tions she blurted out: Il like your vii
la. 1t is just what want, isolated a.
it is from all other habitations. How
much do you ask for it:''
Rather hurt fby her rudeness. re
piled dryly: My villa is neither 70
sale nor for let. madame
81 will buy it no matter what tn
. price, sir. 1t pleases me, it has takel
my fancy completely, and it would b
the first time anyone refused to ful
fill wish of mine. How much do yo1
want: One hundred thousand: Tw
hundred thousand!"
Il am very sorry madame, that
am not able to please you, but l low
my villa myself and could never thin
7 of parting with it."
She tapped her foot impatiently an
> bit her lips until they bled, turne
quite pale with anger, but calme
| down and said: LET us say no NOR
: about it, sir. I hope there are othe
? solitary villas along the Esterel Don
3 you know one which resembles yours
told her of the Moorish palac
E which Lord Norsey. the most errati
! and original of lovers, had built 2
= great expense on the lonely rocks {
! Cape Roux to please an Italian bale
l dancer, and which had stood empt
4 since he broke off his liasion with he
r and committed suicide inside its wall
. Nobody wants it, I said, 'becaus
b it reminds of DEATH"
b The princess shrugged her shoulder
! and murmured as il speaking only
herself: Houses, too, have their dest
e n.y."
= AS she turned to walk towards tt
door after thanking me for the info
nation. noticed she had a deep sc;
in the left temple and that the lobe |
her left ear was torn to shreds.
=
This is what the custom officer
Marius Gratidis and Josephin So
pelle, told the judge at Grasse wee
after had had this singular visitor.
For four years the handsome pala,
with it's white and blue minarets al
cupolas. had been deserted. SO thu
were greatly surprised one evening
see it brilliantly illuminated, while II
sound of singing, the laughter of W
men, strains Of violin and piano mus
was borne across the waves. The IL
ter carrier, Peyssette, and the roa
mender, Baladoux, told them the ne
! morning that some enormously Ri
Russians now owned the villa. and tn
= to drive away the ghost of the de;
2 lord, they were feasting and celebrs
ing AN night. They added that Il
y party consisted of half dozen peopl
: a princess, her two cousins and thr
:, friends, one of whom wore an immen
beard and long hair like pope. al
two chauffeurs and a pretty lit
chambermaid. who did not understal
a single word of French.
The next evening there was no i'll
- mination, no music, no singing ia
which did not surprise the stolid Gl
tadis-while Sospelle swore that it W
!. not natural. He asked the letter CT
:. rier and the roadmender. who said th
h the princess automobiles had pass
!. going towards Cannes at dawn.
4 Sospelle insisted that there must
). some mystery in this, and towards da
: he succeeded in persuading Gratadis
:. go with him to the villa. Stran
= meowings. as If the only inhabitar
II were gigantic cats, made them DO
a. tremble and nearly caused them
= turn back but at last Sospelle who W
A. an old athlete and had been sOldi'
" climbed balcony and pulled his co
rs rade up after him. When they look