Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-20
CHAPTER XVII.

u @ YOU know the Duchessa?"

~ asked Flora Desimone.
Yes 1t was three o'clock the
same afternoon. The duke sat with
his wife under the vine-clad trattoria
on the quay Between his knees he
held his Panama hat which was
filled with ripe hazlenuts. He crack
ed them vigorously with his strong
white teeth and filliped the broken
shells into the lake, where a frantic
little fish called agoni darted in and
about the slowly sinking particles.
"Why?' The duke was not any gray
er than he had been four or five
months previous, but the character
istic expression of his features had
undergone a change. He looked less
Jovian than Job-lilke.
II want to get an invitation to her
ball at the Villa Rosa tonight"
I'VE haven't been here twenty-four
hours" in mild protest.
What has that to do with it? II
doesn't make any difference
Il suppose not" He cracked and
ate a nut. Where is he?"
"He has gone to Milan. He left
hurriedly. He's a fool" impatiently.
Not necessarily. Foolishness is 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 it aside. rs her voice
really 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
IT am glad of that"
She turned the glare upon him.
Il am very glad of that consider
ing your part in the affair."
michael 81"
BE careful. Michael Is always a
prelude to temper. Have one of
these offering a nut
She struck it rudely from mis- hand
Sometimes I am tempted to put
my two hands around that exquis-
lite neck of yours"
Try it,"
mo, I do not believe it would he
wise. But If ever / find out hat
you have lied to me, that You loved
the fellow and married me out OF
spite He completed the sen
tenee by suggestively> crunshing a
nut.
The sullen expression ON hel. face
gave way to q smile. II should like
to see you in a rage"
NO. my heart, you would like
nothing of the sort - UNDERSTAND
you better than you know; that ac-'
counts for my patience. You are
Italian. You are caprice and mood,
I come from a cold land. II ever
| do get angry, run, run az 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 in
nate deviltry of the woman WIS al
ways trying to dig down to it. Dut
she never DECEIVED herself. Some
day this earthquake would open up
and devour her.
II hate him He snubbed me. I
have told you that thousand times, ="
lie laughed and ratified the nuts
in his hat.
Il want you to get that invita-
item
And if do not?"
Il shall return Immediately to
| Paris"
And break your word to me-"
AS easily as you break one of
| these nuts"
And if I get the invitation"
II shall fulfill my promise to the
i letter. ] will tell her as l prom
ised"
"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 | do not want to go into a
| temper. II makes lines in my face. |
hate this place. 1t is dead. | want
life. and color. and music. | want the
| rest of September in Ostend"
/ Paris, Capri, Taormina, Ostend; |
marvel IL ever you will be content to
stay in one place long enough for me
to get my BREATH"
MY bear, ! am young, One of these
days ! shall be content to sit by your
great Russian fireplace and hold your
| hand"
Hold II now"