The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-15
The Enarlleled
Bracelet
By CLARISSA MACKIE

ut is a charm, madame" smiled
Count SOrio as he bent above Mrs
Raymond's pretty hand. ITO wear II
will avert the evil eye and a host OF
other ills" He smiled charmingly down
at her.
you are very kind, count" protest
ed Mrs. Raymond. withdrawing hei
hand and picking up a silk covered
jewel box, but, really. cannot accept
this bracelet"
'Not as souvenir of those delight.
full days in Florence?" reproached the
handsome Italian. II am sure your
husband VIII join me in the wish that
you may accept it as a token of my
warm friendship for my good friends,
the Raymonds" He laid his shapely
hand on Dick Raymond's broad shoul.
der and smiled the smile of good fel.
lowship into the young Americans
honest eyes.
Dick Raymond smiled rather doubt
fully. for when he had last met Count
Enrico SoriO it had been q most un-
pleasant occasion; he had detected the
impoverished nobleman cheating at
cards, and, although Dick had allowed
the matter to pass until the game was
concluded, he had privately informed
Sorio Of what he had seen and warned
him. There had been one moment
when things hung i'm the balance. The
Italian had looked ut Dick with MUIR
derOus hate in his black eyes. but he
had not offered to avenge the insult in
blood; he had merely turned on his
heel and walked away. and the Ray
monds had not seen or heard of him
for many weeks until this sunny after.
noon. when the repentant nobeman
had called upon them, apologized hand
somely to Dick and rendered an ex-
quisite enameed bracelet as a peace
offering to Mrs Raymond.
You will not permit the acceptance"
flared the count You perhaps have
suspicious that come by it not hon
estly? Alas. what sad reputation
have gained through one small Slip"
He turned away to hide his emotion.
Ethel Raymond. touched by the grief
of the temperamental Italian. smiled
and nodded at her husband. Dick flash
ed q smile back. and his big hand went
out to grasp the long. yellow fingers of
the nobleman.
Very well. count. We will consider
fhn m 0lnSnd &c 20 hn h,ao
let, / am sure Mrs. Raymond will be
charmed to add it to her collection of
Florentine enamelS. Come, my friend"
he smiled rs the count turned a trans
formed countenance toward him
come. let us walk on the terrace and
will. of course, stay"
With pleasure" beamed Sorio. And.
with Il deep bow TO Mrs. Raymond and
significant smile as he watched her
lingering the enamelod bracelet. he fol
lowed his host on to the terrace, where
there was II delightful view of the
lovely Arno flowing toward the distant
sea and the hills that encircle the city
of Florence.
TO the men walking on the terrace
the view was Il familiar one. but never
tiresOme. Sorio had been born in Tus-
cany, and he loved it, Dick Raymond
was landscape painter and lie loved
1t because Of its unchanging beauty.
AS they passed the drawing room
windows it was Sorio's dark eyes that
flashed an inquiring glance through
the open easement. Always be smiled
furtively as he noticed that Ethel Ray
mond was holding the bracelet in her
fingers and admiring its beauty.
He did not love Ethel He hated her
with deep intensity born of her hus-
bands deadly insult to him many
weeks ago. Her husband was devoted
to her. Through the wife Sorio might
be revenged upon the husband. Re
venge was sweet. and it was very near
just now.
Come down and look at our roses"
urged Dick. And, quite confident that
he could leave the enameled bracelet
to do its duty, Enrico Sorio followed
his friend down the steps, and they
in the garden.
In the meantime Ethel Raymond sat
there dreaming over the enameled
bracelet.
The door opened, and Carlo announc.
ed visitor
mime. Testino!'
A tall, graceful woman, clad in white.
came forward. and Ethel laid aside the
bracelet and went to meet her with
hands.
"Ah, I.isetta. am so glad to see
you." she cried warmly. "Sit here.
Margot shall carry away your wraps.
You must remain for luncheon. Count
Sorio Is here"
Lisetta TESTING flushed beautifully
and involuntarily glanced around the
room.
"They are walking I'm the garden"
explained Ethel demurely. for she
knew that the fair italian lady and the
count were deeply I'm love with each
other. She suspected q romance here.
and she was prepared to watch II with
for. like most women, she
thoroughly enjoyed love affair.
81 am surprised" hesitatcd the beau
tiful widow as she gave her hat and
to the waiting servant II