South Wind

ions (in winter-time, for instance, when the powder was not so likely to run down her face), might have passed, so

days when the Troglodytes, Manigones, Septocardes, Merdones, Anthropophagoi and other hairy aboriginals used to paddle across, in crazy canoes, to barter the produce of their savage African glens-serpent-skins, and gums, and gazelle horns, and ostrich eggs-for those super-excellent lobsters and peasant girls for which Nepenthe had

hange gossip, make appointments for the evening, and watch the arrival of new-comers to their island. An admirable rule! For it effectively prevented everybody from doing any kind of work in the morning; and after luncheon, of course, you went to sleep. It was delightful to be obliged, by iron convention, to stroll about in the bright sunshine, greeting your friends, imbibing iced drinks, and letting you

, farmers, fishermen, citizens, a municipal policeman or two, brightly dressed women of all ages, foreigners in abund

plete seclusion on the island. They called themselves the "Little White Cows," to mark their innocence of worldly affairs, and their scarlet blouses, fair hair, and wondering blue eyes were qu

in the imitation Val of her bosom, was leaning on the arm of an absurdly good-looking youth whom she addressed

hy inroads upon her carefully powdered cheeks; she wanted to look her best on the arrival of Don Francesco, who was to bring some important message from t

ly to the annoyance of the parroco, the parish priest, who was doubtless sounder on the Trinity but a shocking bad orator and altogether deficient in humanity, and who nearly had a fit, they said, when the other was created Monsignor. Don Francesco was a fisher of me

promisingly Lutheran. The men were past redemption, all save the Commissioner who, however, was under bad influences and an incurable wobbler, anyhow. Eames, the scholar, cared for nothing but his books. Keith, a rich eccentric who owned one of the finest villas and gardens on the place, only came to the island for

and sailed across the piazza like a schooner before the wind. But his discourse, usually ample and f

fish, Duchess," he rem

and resembles a broken-

face all furrowed! He

s mad. In every case,

l be here i

It's in the NEW YORK HERALD. Sailing by the MOZAMBIQUE. But they d

cesco wa

and so yellow! He must have t

ied," said the Duchess, giving

to introduce such a lion to the local societ

if it's the right one-the one you read about

at! I couldn't tackle a bishop. Not an Afr

He won't bite a pr

ady is saying to you,"

been on this island long, but I have already found out the Duchess! You do it, Don Fr

ding to this stern and rather tired-looking man; she was gracious. She made all kinds of polite enquiries, and indicated the various sites

ture whose walls had plainly not been whitewashed for many long years. "It

y, Duchess. I never h

unmitigated ruffian,"

h! I have acres and acres of rooms to walk about in," she continued, addressing the bishop. "All by

a hermit," De

but nobody can manage it like she can. She has the true gift. You will make tea for us in Paradise, dear lady. As to luncheon, let me tell you in confidence

slightly embarrassed. "And where," he

the end of the promontory? She is so romantic. That is why she bought a house which nobody else would have bought at any price. That little place, all by itself-it fascinated her. Bitterly she regrets her choice. She has discovered the drawbacks of a promontory. My dear Duchess, never live on a promontory! I

rema

our fortune, D

three behind and four in front. He says he has counted them carefully. He declares that an

aid the Duchess. "He upsets me with his long

d Don Francesco, gravely shaking his head.

Antichrist was, but she felt sure

, I would never ask him to my house aga

ozen young gardeners who carried various consignments of plants w

, he used to declare, were not fit for publication. That was only his way of talking. He exaggerated so dreadfully. His face was clean-shaven, rosy, and of cherubic fulness; his eyes beamed owl

h had taken an instantan

alk it over. And I like those Bulanga people-fine fellows! You liked them too? I'm glad to hear it. Such a lot of nonsense was talked about their depravity! If you have nothing better to do, come and lunch to-morrow, can you? Villa Khismet. Anybody will show you the

y," suggested

Heard. "But I must look for a cousin of mine

riest

e dwells like a hermit, all alone. You can drive up there in a carriage, of course. It is a pity all these nice people live so far away. There is Count Caloveglia, for instance, whom

abouts, thought Mr. Heard. And yet

d he

the fog. And does it alw

, in the afternoon. The sirocco, this year, has been most

Duchess. You know I on

! Don Francesco w

good God wishes it to blow. He has be

. Quite an informal little affair. I may count on you, Bishop? You'll all come, won't you? You too, Mr. Keith. But no long words, remember! Nothing abou

a commonplace name,

ut there is nothing com

I would call

ar

cture of his cousin. He did not

The real novelty! Looks after the baby, and thinks of her husband in India. I belie

ttle child," sa

Mr. Heard?-who limps like Mephistopheles and spits continually. They say he wants to imprison all the Russians. Poor folks! They ought to be sent ho

name," remar

y animal. They are gre

" said the Duchess. "Only th

n," correct

nd ugly! Nobody has a r

han the cinematographi

ni

Don Francesco. "I think God created him in order that mankind

ed in a flannel shirt, tweed knickerbockers, brown stockings, white spats and shoes. Such was the Commissioner's invariable get-up, save that in winter he wore a cap instead of a panama. He was smoking a briar pipe and looking blatantly British, as if h

d a Commissioner he

h re

issioner for Nicaragua. An incomp

l," observed Don Francesco. "He is President of the Club, Mr. Heard.

r a critical glance

oner looks redder in the fa

"is one of Mr. Parke