The Place of Honeymoons

rater, too, a black-silk affair. He tossed up the sponge and went down to the dining-room, the ends of the conqueror straggling like the four points of a battered weather-vane.

villa wasn't at all fashionable, and the run of American tourists fought shy of it, preferring the music and dancing and card-playing of the famous hostelries along the water-front. Of course, everybody came up for the view, just as everybody went up the Corner Grat (by cable) at Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. But for all its apparent dulness, t

was a king; there was always something to look forward to at the dinner hour; some new way of servi

eep you fol

am

d good-naturedly. Never that ton

y he looked down. In the heat of the battle with hi

room, philosophically. There was always somethi

ora, "why can't

e shoes!"

and I for one am going to stop. Look about! So few men and women dre

that his mistakes are being condoned by you," bitterly responded t

s elbow slyly dug i

d that humiliates; on the contrary, it was of a mothering disposition; and the ex-gladiator dimly recognized it, and felt more comfortable with her than with any other woman excepting Nora. She understood him p

t broke up through these artificial crustations. True, she never knew how often he invented these trivial ailments, for he soon came into the knowledge that she was less concerned about him when he was hale and hearty. She still retained evidences of a blossomy beauty. Abbott had once said truly that nature had experimented on her; it was in the reproduction that perfection had been reached. To see the fathe

eir nets, there was no reason why Nora could not be a princess or a duchess. So she planned accordingly. But the child puzzled and eluded her; and from time to time she discovered a disquieting strength of character behind a disarming amiability. Ever since Nora had re

st up among the great and the so-called, who forget whence they came in the fierce contest for supremacy upon that tottering ledge called society. The cad and the sn

going with us

. "For once the Barone got ahead o

d not call him b

e him, and he is a

l the Barone by

ans will never understand western customs, mother. I

chman?" ask

Frenc

you meant it," s

to the stage. You will never s

ading when the time com

on the fingers of one hand. Three of the

me poverty-stricken artist," said the

call Donald pov

u will neve

never

e had acquired from long hours spent at the p

he w

desperately in

all in love with you, Celeste. Every time you play the fourth ba

aughed bravely. "He leaves me quic

ur, gl

t care for the art

of conversation. He walked in tight proper pumps, and sat

ut in the night air

ha'n

would let you wear the soles off your shoes if she

not true," the m

ear 'em talk. I wish they knew

he village for you to-day,"

on how to keep the creas

ous

o the last of the romaine.

ing ready now," said Nora

cigar," adde

Tobacco won't hurt me any, and I get a g

smile

his h

octor at Marienbad said that father was the soundest man of h

of a little twinge in his heart, a childish subterfuge to take Mrs. Harrigan's attention a

you to

only wanted to

frighten me to death," reproac

m only smoking native cigars, and it takes a bunch of 'em to get the taste of tobacco. All right; in a few mon

al Us

ak a

und. It has all the names of the forks and knives and spoons, and it tells you never to use sugar on your lettuce." And then she threw her arm aro

" Tears came into M

id old stumbling-block, but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, that is, at the ring

If a certain American countess had not patronized her; if certain lorgnettes (implements of torture used by said son of Satan) had not been leveled in

nd ironic cloaked by those smiles, that tinkle of laughter. In fact, Nora from Tuscany flirted outrageously. The Barone sulked and tore at his mustache. He committed any number of murders, by eye and by wish.

minably!" whispered her mot

a good time ... You

ough the mazes of the waltz, as some po

d them not only by sheer beauty, but by exuberance of spirit. And they followed her with hating eyes and whispered scandalous things behind their fans and wondered what had pos

or king celebrated in verse. The object of his visit had gone to the ball at Cadenabbia. At the hotel he demanded a

one else in the world, stole out to the quay to commune with the moon, she saw him jump from the boat to the landing, scorning the

ave fou

hat I had been i

left everything-duty, o

man that might b

nce," he sa

persuasion. "Will you marry me? Will you make me your wife legally? Before all the world? Will you surrender, for the sake of t

am mad!" He co

innuendoes in the newspapers? Your Highness, I was not born on the Continent, so I look upon my work from a point of view not common to those of your caste. I am proud of it, and I loo

find a priest. You are right. I love yo

which had ever been at her side stepped into the breach. And as she saw the tall form o

lled. "Am I making y

arone stared keenly at the erect and t

en," said Nora, as she laid h

nd the two left him standin

one demanded. Nora withdrew her hand from his arm. "Pardon me,"

fell asleep against Celeste's shoulder, and the musician never deviated her gaze from the silver ripples which flowed out diagonally and magically from the prow

ss, lounging against the rail of the quay. The search-light from the customs-boat, hunting for tobacco smug

it?" as

thought I wa