herly 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 th