The Harris-Ingram Experiment Part 21

May Ingram's gift was unique; a mahogany box, inlaid with the rare edelweiss, encasing a Swiss phonograph, that was adjusted to play "Elsa's Dream Song" from Lohengrin on Gertrude's marriage anniversary, till her golden wedding should occur.

Next morning after the sun had gilded the domes and spires of Paris, the Harrises sat at breakfast in a private room, fragrant with fresh cut flowers. Gertrude wore at her throat her lover's gift, and she never looked prettier or happier. All the morning till 11 o'clock everybody was busy, when the ushers and friends began to arrive. Soon came the American amba.s.sador, his wife and children. At 11:45 a bishop of New York City, Claude Searles of London, and intimate friends of the Harrises and George Ingram followed, till the private parlors were full.

The orchestra of twenty pieces of Grand Opera House, stationed in the reception hall, played the "Largo" of Handel. In the third parlor from the ceiling were suspended ropes or garlands of smilax and bride's roses, which formed a dainty canopy. White satin ribbons festooned on two rows of potted marguerites made a bridal pathway direct from the foot of the stairway to the dais beneath the canopy.

On the low platform stood the bishop and the manly bridegroom expectant, when a voice at the foot of the stairway, accompanied by three instruments, sang the Elsa's Dream Song. The wedding party came downstairs as the orchestra played Wagner's Wedding March. The bride was dressed in d.u.c.h.ess satin of soft ivory tone, the bodice high and long sleeves, with tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of jewelled point lace. The bridesmaids wore pale yellow cloth, with reveres and cuffs of daffodil yellow satin and white Venetian point. Mrs. Harris wore a gown of heliotrope brocaded silk, trimmed with rich lace and a bodice of velvet.

The wedding party took their places and Mme. Melba accompanied by piano, harp, and violin sang Gounod's "Ave Maria."

The bishop addressed a few earnest words to the couple before him, spoke of responsibilities and obligations, and then the formal questions of marriage, in distinct voice, were put to George and Gertrude.

Mr. and Mrs. George Ingram received hearty congratulations. The guests retired to the banquet hall where breakfast was served. One table with marguerites was reserved for bride and bridegroom, ushers, and bridesmaids. Before the breakfast was ended the bride and bridegroom had escaped, but soon returned, the bride in a traveling gown of blue cloth.

Volleys of rice followed the bridal pair, and more rice pelted the windows of the coach as it drove to the express train which was to convey the happy pair to Fontainebleau for a day, and thence into Switzerland.

In the evening Colonel Harris entertained a large party of friends at the new opera house. The Harrises next morning left for southern France.

Before the marriage day George and Gertrude had carefully provided in Paris for the welfare of May Ingram whom both loved. And well they might, for May had a n.o.ble nature, and her music teachers in Boston, who had exerted their best efforts in her behalf, believed that she possessed rare talents, which, if properly developed, would some day make her conspicuous in the American galaxy of primadonnas.

They had secured for May sunny rooms at a pension in the Boulevard Haussmann, where a motherly French woman resided with her two daughters.

In beautiful Paris, May Ingram was to live and study, hoping to realize the dreams of her childhood, a first rank in grand opera.

CHAPTER XX

ABOARD THE YACHT "HALLENA"

Before leaving Paris Colonel Harris was solicitous that his son Alfonso should accompany him to Rome, and Leo urged the artistic advantage of a trip to Italy, but Alfonso had attractions in Holland of which the father knew not. Leo, of course, had his suspicion, but did not wish to betray his friend, and so Alfonso returned to the Netherlands ostensibly to study art.

Before leaving New York it was frequently stated by Leo that when he reached Rome he hoped to be able to even up favors with Alfonso by a series of visits among his relatives, the famous Colonna family. While Leo regretted seriously to lose this opportunity, he was quick to see that the change of plans would leave him much in Lucille's company, the thing that gave him most pleasure. Lucille before leaving Harrisville had a severe attack of the grip, and Mrs. Harris hoped the journey abroad would prove beneficial to her health.

The ocean voyage had brought the roses back to her cheeks, but the railway trips, the over-work of sight-seeing, and especially the excitement of the Paris wedding, had renewed frequent complaints of heart difficulty, and at night Lucille was restless and failed to secure satisfactory sleep. Of course the mother was anxious, and was glad when the express arrived at Nice, on the Mediterranean. Fortunately this was not the fashionable season, so quiet quarters were secured overlooking the terraced promenade, the small harbor open to the southeast, and the smooth sea beyond. Here Mrs. Harris hoped that her daughter would speedily recover her health.

Nice is charmingly situated in a small plain near the French frontier at the foot of the triple-ridged mountains, which shelter the city on the north and east against northern winds, while the river Paglion bounds Nice on the west. Far beyond stretch the snow-clad peaks of the Maritime Alps.

In the cold season thousands of foreigners, especially the English, visit this winter paradise. On the high background are Roman ruins and an old castle enclosed by bastioned walls; leading to two squares, one of which is surrounded with porticoes, are streets embellished with theater, public library, baths, and handsome homes that are frescoed externally.

In Nice the patriot Garibaldi first saw the light, and just above the town on a sunny hillside lies buried the ill.u.s.trious Gambetta.

Lucille was soon able to sit on the portico and watch the vessels in the harbor come and go, also parties of excursionists in pleasure boats, and well dressed people in the shade of the great palms on the adjacent promenade. Thus hours went pleasantly by while Leo often played delightfully on his guitar.

Few if any places in the world are like the Riviera where in winter months royalty and aristocracy gather. Here come the gay world of fashion and the delicate in health to beg of death a respite of a few more days.

The physician in attendance upon Lucille advised much outdoor air, and frequent coach rides along the sh.o.r.e were taken to Cannes, to Monaco, and Mentone.

In the seaport town of Cannes, a bright gem set in groves of olives and oranges, Napoleon landed from Elba on the first of March, 1815. The tri-color of France was again thrown to the breeze, and en route to Paris Napoleon received on every hand the renewed allegiance of officers and garrisons. The French were wild with excitement, but Europe was filled with amazement. Again France was conquered without the shedding of blood, a victory unparalleled in history.

Lucille particularly enjoyed the ride of eight miles east along the peaceful Mediterranean, also the visit to Monaco, capital of the princ.i.p.ality of its own name, with an area of about 34,000 acres. Monaco is beautifully situated on a promontory in the sea, and has an attractive palace and cultivated terraces. The ruling prince resides here six months and at Paris the other six months.

Monte Carlo is a veritable bit of paradise so far as nature and art can work wonders. Around this famous gambling resort grow aloes, orange trees, and tufted palms. Within the handsome casino weak humanity of all nationalities is allured by glittering promises of wealth. No wonder a dozen or more suicides occur every month.

It was three o'clock on the sixth day of the stay at Nice, when Colonel Harris sitting on the porch of the hotel and using a marine gla.s.s, discovered to the southwest a tiny craft rapidly approaching Nice. For three days he had been anxiously watching and waiting for the arrival of the "Hallena," built at Harrisville for the son of his special friend Mr.

Harry Hall.

Before leaving Paris, Harry Hall Jr. had invited the colonel's family to coast along the Mediterranean in his new yacht. It was arranged that the "Hallena" should touch at Nice and take aboard the colonel's family.

Young Mr. Hall was to rejoin his yacht at Gibraltar, and doubtless he was now aboard.

The colonel grew nervous as he observed the approach of the little boat.

It had been agreed between Harris and Hall that the yacht would fly the Union Jack at the bow, the national banner at the flag-staff, and a streamer bearing the yacht's name at the mast-head.

As the colonel again wiped the dust from his gla.s.ses, Lucille said, "Father, please let me try the gla.s.s, perhaps my eyes are better." While Lucille eagerly looked toward the yacht, Leo watched every motion, as the mention of young Hall's name in connection with his great wealth had awakened jealousy in his heart.

Suddenly Lucille shouted, "There she is! I can see the stars and stripes; how welcome is the dear old flag, we see it abroad so rarely!"

"Hasten, Leo," said the colonel, "and ask the hotel proprietor to raise the stars and stripes over his hotel."

Colonel Harris had promised Mr. Hall to do this, and so advise him where the Harris family were stopping. No sooner was the red, white, and blue given to the breeze above the hotel, than a puff of white smoke was seen on the yacht, and then came the report of a gun in response to Harris's flag signal. Bills were paid at once, and the Harrises took carriage down to the landing. As the "Hallena" glided in between the piers, she was as graceful as a swan, or as Leo expressed it, "as pretty as a pirate."

Harris himself when at home saw the yacht launched, and he was as proud of her behavior then as were the officers of the Harrisville Ship Building Company.

The yacht had now approached so near that Colonel Harris and Harry Hall saluted each other, and in five minutes the Harris and Hall parties were exchanging cordial greetings on the deck of the "Hallena." "Captain Hall," as Harry was known at sea, was very cordial to all. Colonel Harris was glad again to meet some of his old Harrisville business friends.

Luke Henley and wife were of the Hall party. He was stout, resolute, and ambitious; his wife womanly and well dressed. Henley early learned that money was power. Combining what he fell heir to with his wife's fortune, and what he had made by bold ventures in the steel, ore, and coal trade, he was enabled to live in a fine villa, overlooking the water, and to carry on an immense business on the inland lakes.

His business, however, was used as a cover to his real designs in life.

Influential in the local politics of Harrisville he had experienced the keen pleasure of wielding the silver sceptre of power, and he longed not only to be the "power behind the throne," but to sit on the throne itself and guide the Ship of State.

Major Williams also was one of the "Hallena" party. He was young, slender, and had a cheerful smile for everybody. He had climbed to the presidency of the Harrisville Bank which had thousands of depositors, and which wielded a gigantic financial power.

It was decided not to start for Genoa till the next morning. Dinner was soon announced and Captain Hall offered his arm to Lucille, whom he placed at his right hand, and Mrs. Harris at his left. The dinner hour and part of the evening were spent in pleasant reminiscences of what each had seen since leaving Harrisville. The marriage of George Ingram and Gertrude was also a suggestive topic, and many agreeable things were spoken. Captain Hall was present at the Paris wedding, and it was the stately beauty of Lucille more than all else that prompted him to invite the Harrises to take the Mediterranean cruise.

Some of the mothers of fine daughters in Harrisville had exhausted their wits in trying to entrap Harry Hall, who was impartially attentive to all, but was never known to pay marked attention to any young lady. That Captain Hall should overlook the other women on the yacht, and place Lucille at his right hand was so marked that Major Williams after dinner, lighting his cigar, said, "Henley, why wouldn't Harry and Lucille make a good match?" "Lucille is a beautiful girl," was all Henley said, and as the lights of Nice disappeared, the "Hallena" party retired for the night.

An early breakfast was ordered as everybody wished to be early on deck to witness the yacht's departure for Genoa. As the "Hallena" responded to her helm, the United States consul at Nice hoisted and lowered the flag thrice, as a _bon voyage_ to the American yacht, and the consul queried whether the American statesman was yet born who was wise enough to introduce and maintain such a national policy as would multiply his country's commerce and flag on the sea. Patriotic Americans stopping at Monaco also responded with flag and gun, as the "Hallena" steamed swiftly away.

The sun had reached the zenith, when Captain Hall sighted Genoa, and he called Lucille to stand with him on the bridge. "Superb Genoa! Worthy birthplace of our Columbus," said Lucille.

"Yes," said Harry, "Genoa is older than Borne; she was the rival of Venice, and the mother of colonies."

As the "Hallena" approached this strongly fortified city of northern Italy, the capacious harbor was a forest of masts, and a crazy-quilt of foreign flags, but not one ship was flying the stars and stripes, a fact which saddened the hearts of the tourists. The "Hallena" steamed past the lighthouse and moles that protect the harbor, and all the guests of Captain Hall stood on the forward deck admiring the city with its palaces, churches, white blocks, and picturesque villas that occupy land which gradually rises and recedes from the bay.

On landing, the officials were very courteous, and gave Captain Hall and his party no trouble when it was learned that that "Hallena" brought travelers only. The Genoese are very proud of their city and its past history, and they are courteous to Americans, especially so since the Columbian World's Fair.

The tourists found the streets in the older part of Genoa narrow, seldom more than ten feet wide, with lofty buildings on either side. But in the new portions, especially on the wide Strada Nuova and the Strada Balbi, the palaces and edifices present fine architecture.

Nearly a day was spent in driving about Genoa with its flower-crowned terraces. It was after five o'clock when the party stood before the n.o.ble statue of Columbus recently dedicated in a prominent square filled with palms and flowering shrubs, and near the princ.i.p.al railway station. Here the statue welcomes the coming and speeds the parting guest. Its design is admirable. Surmounting a short shaft is Columbus leaning upon an anchor, and pointing with his right hand to the figure of America; below him are discerned encircling the shaft ornaments symbolic of Columbus's little fleet, while other statues represent science, religion, courage, and geography; between them are scenes in ba.s.s-relief of his adventurous career.

Dinner was taken aboard the yacht as it steamed away from Genoa. The flowers that Harry had bought for Lucille's stateroom she thoughtfully placed on the table, and with the porcelain they added artistic effect.

The day's experiences were reviewed, and, as the appetizing courses were served, the conversation drifted back to the World's Columbian Fair which all had attended. Many of the wonders of the "White City" were recounted, and Henley in his off-hand manner repeated a compliment which was paid by a cultivated Parisian who visited the Fair. The Frenchman said that at the last Paris Exposition, he saw immense and unsightly structures, such as one might expect to find in far-off Chicago, but that at the Columbian World's Fair, he beheld buildings such as his own artistic Paris and France should have furnished; that the Columbian Fair was an artistic triumph that had never been paralleled except in the days of imperial Rome by her grand temples, palaces, arches, bridges, and statues.