New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY Z. 1911

temptations 10 SciZc idpplIl'oo' No'V ".'''' -
might chimcrical dreams OF somehow keep
ing her word and her lover too, dark mo-
mcnts when she bchcd her life a sacrifice IN
the cause Of a doubtful coup d'etat. Eight
hours Of storm and stress, and at the END Of
IT al the deck Of the Truscott yacht, Venice
fading into the sea, the Adnauc ana the
Unknown before.
Two factors had played crucial parts IN
holding her to what she conceived 10 be her
duty. One was Saccarelo. Among letters
addressed to herself there was by mistake
handed her an cnvclop bearing the name OF
the great diplomat. If the old man had
stood before her in the flesh she could have
received no more vivid impression Of his tire
less, pursuing presence.
"Do you expect Baron Saccarcllo" she
asked, handing the letter back TO the porter,
"Tonight,' said the man, and held his UNI
formed shoulders the higher because ne
could make such a reply. "The Baron al.
ways stops withus when he comes TO Venice.
Mere spies then were insufficient Sacca-
relic must stand guard himself now that the
Fircbrand ncarcd the outskirts Of the Bal
kans. Now, if ever, Rodoslav had need Of
her,
The second factor was her Aunt Helen,
who had lightcncd her deepest darkness by
announcing that after all she had decided to
accept Mrs. Truscott's invitation Justin
thinks it best she explained. "Olivcr's
coming has put another face on the matter.
They are 10 be 50 occupied for a few days
that should see nothing Of Justin if stayed
here; but have told Virginia She need not
bring Ms back TO Venice If she will land us
al Ancona, We can return by train
ANN found her presence on board singu-
"A larlv comforting. Her domcsticity tenn
pcred the secret drama Of the expedition.
when all was said, this need be no more than
such cruise as hundreds had taken. Regusa
would mark the end Of her pact with Rodo-
slav once in Venice again-ah, surely the
future would be kind
RodoSlav himself seemed 10 wish 10 make
her forget his real crrand. He had appar-
emily left care behind in Italy. For all his
bearing told, the great adventure, now i'm
minent. might have been the mere peasur-
ing Others deemed it. Their jaunty sur
roundings secuted the notion Of grim secret
purpose. Whose fancy was 50 robust as 10
see a iilibustcrng craft in the Don't Care:
An unfricndv critic once called the IruScott
Yacht a floating boudoir and the Truscot's
themselves had 10 admit that its bravery OF
enamel and brass, its costly panclings and
frcscos. its hangings, its mirrors, u.s. general
air of cushioned ease, went far 10 Justify the
gbc. Nor could its owners by any mental
iugglcry be made 10 seem anything more
sinister than their normal selves. The stock
broker looked purscr, rather than buca-
nccr, in his seafaring uniform, while the sun
dry costumes that Virginia assumed for the
cruise each and all carried merry sug-
gcStion OF comic opera.
For that matter, the threshold Of the IN
known, as revealed in the island dotted coast
Of Dalmatia. was scarcely Of a character TO in
timidatc Tara, compact within its walls;
Sebcnico, rising terrace on terrace TO its
worn CASTLE Spalato, with its mighty SOLVE
Mrs Of imperial Rome, all seemed TO her
but part Of another unSpoilcd, gay costumcd
Italy y for Regusa, its lovclincss stripped
her Of adicctivcs. She saw it first as a vague
mystery Of towers and cliffs. picked out by
lights. Then came a vivid and unforget-
table impression Of its streets; for Rodoslav
would not hear 10 their sleeping on board.
"You are my guests now he said. y
carriage is waiting at the pier, the villa IS
ready. the table is laid. | arranged every
thing by telegraph from Spalato.'