The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-12-14
CHAPTER xV-continued.


the window to cool her flushed face,
and standing there, overlooking the IA
miliar square, she summoned back her
dimming memories of the Italian. In
dubitably, he was romantic figure,
more darkly beautiful than any other
man she had seen, and with some
thing unknown and alien about him.
-. +. He had been very good to her;
she recalled her awakening in the cot
tage, with Avezzana's eyes upon her,
and the subsequent scene which mad
so filed her with unreasoning panic.
He had asked for her guardians
address. Now she knew why. :.
How fantastic 1t all was! he
had been brave, too, there in the midst
of the fighting. And Italy was
most lovely place-Densley had said 1t
was a paradise for lovers. 1t was
strange how remote her association
with Densley seemed; only an irradi-
cable impression of his sophisticated
viewpoint remained, and gentle -e-
gret. 1t might have been years
ago that he had died. ;. Life was a
queer business. How could any
one want to marry her without know
ing more of her.? Still, 1t was nice
of him. -. A countess, too. Glamor
stole over her senses, and yet she was
sad: she did not know why. Her
guardians acceptance Of the idea OF
her leaving him depressed her.
1t made her feel homeless and miser-
able. To her amazement, tears
suddenly brimmed in her eyes. She
welcomed them In a luxury of emo
SIN, and flung herself face down
her bed. . Sobs shook her,
powerfully.
She was interrupted by sharp
knock on her door, and Mrs. Cortland's
Hurried voice inquiring, "Ann, who in
the world is a Count Guido Mario
Avezzana inquiring for me-and for
your"
Ann stayed her sobs, and called
TREMENDOUSLY, Count Avezzana? Down
stairS?"
''Yes, in the library. Who Usher"
HE was at Gettysburg Aunt En-
fly"
"You must come down at once"
81 can't. 1t will take me a long
time You go down and see him, Aunt
Emily, do"
"He asked for me, Ann. Naturally
ID ! shall go down. But hurry"
Ann found it impossible to obey this
command. She wanted very much to
see -Avezzana-she was breathless at
the thought of him below, waiting.
She was all on fire with curiosity as
TO what he would do next, but at the
same time she wanted to look her best
when she confronted him, lest he
should regret his amazing overtures.
She ran to the glass and scrutinized
her face; although she had only just
begun to cry, her eyes were undoubt-
eddy rather red 81 look even worse
than / did In the train," she murmured
discontentedly, as she poured water
ir+o her wash basin. The cold was de
Gus to her flushed face; no one
,uld ever know she had been crying
Sc decided, when she looked in the
irror again, after prolonged applica.
lions. She fingered over her dresses
unable to decide which one she should
INT on; but she was determined that II
ould not be black, and finally she Sc
lected an apricot green tissue, which
she had worn In the spring before she
put on her mourning. In 1t she had a
young and vernal look that was un-
doubtedly charming She had a heart
ening conviction of 1t, herself.
AS she stole down the stairs she
could hear alternately Mrs. Cortlandt's
high voice and Avezzana's lower, more
emotional tones. "What are they talk.
ing about?' Ann wondered, pausine
midway on the steps, She thought that
they seemed to be getting on very
well without her, so when she went
down the long library to greet the
young italian officer she assumed 6
little air Of Indifference Avezzans
sprang to his feet at her coming anG
regarded her with intent eyes, He
was more beautiful than ever, and hi.
uniform was more splendid than rht
one he had worn on the field. Under
his look she was inclined to be some
what uncomfortable, and when he ben
to kiss her hand she flinched visibly
1t was impossible for her to aceep
this salutation casually, and she fel
self-consciously that Mrs. Cortlandt:
massive presence was not the place fo
an amorous interlude She sent he
lightning glance under her eyelashes
but even before Avezzana's head wa
lifted Ann could see that Mrs. Cort
landt had preserved an air of world,
complacence.
WELL" she thought unbidden, "Il
have to get used to it, if / am goin;
TO live in Italy,"
After that they conversed. TIL,
three of them sat very upright in thei
chairs and went politely through tn,
topics of the day. Ann was amazed
at herself; she had not dreamed sh
had such reserves of conventionalities
1t seemed to her that hours passed be
fore Avezzana rose smartly to his feet
bowed planted a kiss first on the ex
act Gametrical back of Mrs. Cort
landt's hand, and then on hers, ant
prepared to take his departure. On
his way to the door he paused. a
though struck with a sudden thought
1.-THE ambassador from my countr,
will be in this city on Wednesday
Would it, perhaps, prove amusing t,
you, Signora, to meet him? If so
will arrange little dinner at tn
Fifth Avenue hotel. where 1 am stop
ping for, it is possible, a fortnight"
"A fortnight" thought Ann, with
flashing grin. HE doesn't think I
will take very long" However, an an