THE SPELL
BY
WILLIAM DANA ORCUTT
AUTHOR OF
“THE FLOWER OF DESTINY” “ROBERT CAVELIER”
“THE PRINCESS KALLISTO” ETC.
ILLUSTRATED BY
GERTRUDE DEMAIN HAMMOND, R. I.
HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
MCMIX
Copyright, 1909, by Harper & Brothers.
All rights reserved.
Published January, 1909.
TO
MY FRIEND
GUIDO BIAGI OF FLORENCE
MODERN HUMANIST
NEITHER MASTER OF FATE NOR VICTIM OF FATE
BUT CO-PARTNER WITH NATURE IN SOLVING
HIS OWN PERSONAL PROBLEM, THIS BOOK IS
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
ILLUSTRATIONS
| “THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFERENCE IN MEN,BUT ALL HUSBANDS ARE ALIKE”(See page 14) | Frontispiece |
| SLOWLY THE SPELL BEGAN TO WORK UPONINEZ’ BRAIN. SHE WAS NO LONGER INTHE PRESENT—SHE WAS A WOMAN OFITALY OF FOUR CENTURIES BACK | Facing p. 54 |
| “BECAUSE ‘BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS’ DO NOTPOSSESS HUSBANDS,” REPLIED THE CONTESSA,SAGELY. | " 192 |
| SO JACK HAD SENT HIM TO PLEAD HIS CAUSE,HELEN TOLD HERSELF; AND IN HERHEART SHE RESENTED THE INTERFERENCE | " 334 |
BOOK I
MASTER OF FATE
THE SPELL
I
“Now, Jack, here is a chance to put your knowledgeof the classics to some practical use.”
Helen Armstrong paused for a moment beforea Latin inscription cut in the upper stones of theboundary wall, and leaned gratefully upon her companion’sarm after the steep ascent. “What does itmean?”
Her husband smiled. “That is an easy test. Theancient legend conveys the cheering inte