The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-12-23
AModernLady
Of Lyons
By MARTHA V. MONROE


cupant, lady, said to the chauffeur:
go up to the rooms of Signor Wis
cont and tell him that Miss Flynn IS
waiting for him"
The chauffeur disappeared and 70
turned, followed by an Italian perhaps
thirty years Of age and handsome as
picture. Instead of looking pleased at
the appearance of the girl in the car he
knit his brOws.
Come for drive" she said.
II cannot" he replied as though al.
noyed. Shall he busy this afternoon"
Il leave Rome tomorrow. This Is
your last opportunity to be with me"
The man could not repress look Of
pleasure at this. He heSitated, then
got into the car and closed the door
behind him.
Take the Appian way" said the
lady to the driver.
After threading several streets they
passed through a gateway and found
themselves on that great road which
centuries before had been the favorite
thOrOughfare of the Romans. There
was little said between them. The
man made several efforts to start
conversation. but they all failed. The
woman seemed preOccupied. If her
companion had been placed so as to
look her in the face he would have seen
a dangerous glitter in her eye As
they passed various objects of interest
her companion endeavOred to interest
her in them. Coming to a columbia.
rum, a building with inches within
for urns containing the ashes Of the
dead. he proposed that they alight and
inspect it.
NO" she replied; Il wish for lar
ger cemetery today. We will visit the
catacOmbs."
Several miles from Rome there is an
entrance To these subterranean cham
bers. and when they reached it they
left the auto and joined a party of
sightseers. A guide led the way down
a marble staircase, and at the bottom
all were provided with candles. Miss |
Flynn took position AT the end of the |
line. which compelled her escort to do |
the same. They passed through a mar
row corridor, on each side of which re- |
posed the bones of the early Chris. |
tians.
Come" said Visconti; I'VE shall be
left behind" as he noticed that his |
loitered.
Would it trouble you to be left |
alone with me?" asked the girl by way |
Of reply. When you were making
love to me at my home In Texas you
sought every opportunity to get away
from others with me-"
The mans brow darkened, but he
made no reply. Coming to a place
where the corridor divided. Miss Flynn
struck into the one which the party
had not taken.
Where are you going?" cried the
man.
Il am going where We shall not be
troubled with others"
Heavens, Emily! Don't you know
what it means to be lost in the cata-
,ombs?"
IF you are afraid go after the 9th.
ers."
The man stood still; the girl went on.
He called TO her, but she paid no heed
70 him. Then he ran after her She
lad gone some distance, so far indeed
hat he saw only the dim light Of her
'andle. He followed faster and came
Up with her standing in a space where
he corridor opened into q chamber.
Then she turned and faced him.
Come back he cried in terror.
NO; We will remain here. Once, at
ny home on the other shore of the
Atlantic. when we were standing on
he sands washed by the great gulf.
'ou said to me:
- would rather die with you out
N the bosom of those waters than live
without you Now | say to you
would rather die with you in these
ubterranean labyrinths than live with
ut you
The man paled. You do not know
What you are saying" he pleaded.
We are in danger. Already the guide
as led the party far from us. 1t will
e pure luck If we find them again.
T not we may wander here till we are
I'VE will die together"
MY God. Are you in earnestr
Were you I'm earnest when you
iayed Claude Melnotte to my Pauline?
he only thing that saved me from be-
lg your dupe was that you heard my
athers cattle to be a hundred head I'm.
tead OF thousands. You disappeared
8 suddenly as you had come. You did
OF know that he had sold his steers
nd put the money into cotton. came
ere to tell you in these catacombs that
am rich"
"Rich!' exclaimed the man.
Yes: rich enough to buy you a pal
re In the heart Of Rome. But what is
lat to us nowT'
Nothing unless we can find our way
Ut Of here" !
The girl laughed. Then. assuming a
me even more cutting than before.
he told him that she would die with I
I'M In the catacombs. but would not
We with him In the world above Then I
lie blew out his candle and her own c
ley stood I'm darEpacS I