The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-20
CHAPTER XVII.
The Ball at the Villa

CHAPTER XVII.
The Ball at the Villa
DO you know the Duchessa?
asked Flora Desimore.
Yes" II was three o'clock the same
afternoon. The duke sat with his wife
under the vineclad trattoria on the
quay. Between his knees he held his
Panama hat. which was filed with
ripe hazelnuts. He cracked them Wig.
orously with his strong white teeth
and filliped the broken shells into the
lake. where a frantic little Ash called
agoni darted in and about the slowly
sinking particles. Why" The duke
vas not any grayer than he had been
four or five months previous, but the
characteristic expression of his fea.
lures had undergone a change. He
looked less Jovian than Job-like
| Il want you 10 get an invitation to
her ball at the Villa Rosa tonight"
| We haven't been here twenty-four
hours" in mild protest
What has that to do with IL? IL
doesn't make any difference"
| II suppose not" He cracked and
| ate nut, Where is he?'
| He has gone to Milan. He left
hurriedly. He's a FOOL, impatiently.
| Not necessarily. Foolishness 10 one
thing and discretion is another Oh
| we'll; his presence here was not alb
solutely essential. Presently he will
marry and settle down and be a good
boy" The next nut was withered, and
he tossed 1t aside. rs her voice real.
ly gomez
No" Flora leaned with her arms
upon the railing and glared at the
whipping water. She had carried the
Apple OF Discord up the hill and down
again. Nora had been indisposed.
II am glad of that
] She turned the glare upon him.
II am very glad OF that. considering
your part In the AFFAIR
| Michael -"
BE careful Michael is always a
prelude to temper. Have one OF
these offering a nut
She struck IL rudely from his hand
Sometimes | am tempted to put my
two hands around that exquisite neck
OF yours.
, TRY it,"
NO. / do not believe il would be
wise. But II ever I find out that you
have lied TO me. that you loved the
fellow and married me out OF spite
= He completed the sentence
by SUCCESSFULLY crunching a nut
| The sullen expression on her face
gave place to q emile Il should like
TO see you In rage"
No. my heart; you would like moth
Ing OF the sort. | understand you
better than you know; that accounts
for my patience. You are Italian. You
are caprice and mood. come from
a cold land. II ever | do get angry.
run. run. as fast as ever you can"
| Flora was not, among other things,
frivolous or light.headed. There was
an earthquake hidden somewhere in
this quiet, docile man. and the innate
deviltry OF the woman was always try
ing to dig down to 1t. But she never
deceived herself. Some day this earth
quake would open up and devour her.
! Il hate him. He su ibbed me. ]
have told you that a thousand times"
| He laughed and ratified the nuts In
his hat
II want you to get that invitation"
And X do not?"
Il shall return Immediately &c
Paris"
And break your word to me?"
AS easily as you break one OF these
nuts"
And IL l get the invitation"
Il shall fulfil my promise to the
letter. will tell her as promised. .
! "Out OF love for me-"
Out OF love for you, and because
the play no longer interests me-
II wonder what new devilment is
at work In your mind"
| Michael, l do not want TO get into
a temper. II makes lines in my face
hate this place. II is dead. I want
life. and color, and music. | want the
trest OF September In Ostend''
Paris, Capri. TaOrmina. Ostend:
marvel IL ever you will be content 10
stay In one place long enough for me
to get my BREATH
My dear. | am young. One OF these
days | shall be content to sit by your
great Russian fireplace and hold your
hand"
Hold IL now"
She laughed and pressed his hand
straight in the eye" He did SO will.
man. And II you ever look at another
woman Well"
"Tll send over for the invitation -
He stuffed his pocket with nuts and
put on his hat.
! Flora then proceeded secretly "a
polish once more the Apple OF Dis
cord which, deal furnished for lack
of use, she had been compelled 10
bring down from the promontory.
/
| Am | all right?" asked Harrigan.
! CORTLAND hooded. You look Xix
q soldier In mutt. and more than tina
Ike the gentleman that you natural
lily are quite sincerely
The ex.gladiator blushed. This 1
tthe reception-room. There's the ball
room right out there. The smoking
room Is on the other side. Now. how
In the old Harry am ! going to se
across without killing some one?"
Courtlandt resisted the desire To
laugh. Surprising you let me pilot
You over?"
I You've the referee. Ring the gong. .
| Come on, then"
L .CA0fi0ue6p