Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-07-07
TIE Br,rr,ruL ROMAN GIRL,

| spent the winter there alone, in lit
tie apartment, in an obscure street which
opens on the Place d'Espagne, with a Ro-
man painter, who took me to board along
with his family. My features, my youth,
my enthusiasm, my solitary position in the
midst of a strange country, had interested
one of my travelling companions on the
way from Florence to Rome. He had
conceived sudden attachment for me-
He was handsome young man about my
own age, and appeared to be the son or
the nephew of the famous singer David, at
that period the first tenor of the theatres
of Italy. David travelled along with U.S.
He was man already advanced in years.
He was going to sing, for the last time, at
the theatre of San Carlo, at Naples. David
treated me like father, and his young
companion overwhelmed me with atten-
tions and marks of kindness. l replied to
these advances with the openneSs and art.
lessness of my age. We had not reached
Rome, when the handsome traveller and
myself were already inseparable compan-
ions. The courier, in those times, did not
employ less than three days in going from
Florence to Rome, At the roadside inns
my young friend was my interpreter; III
the vehicle he kept the best place beside
him for me, and if l fell asleep | Was sure
of having his shoulder as pillow for my
head. When alighted from the vehicle,
at the long ascents of the hills of Tuscany
and Sabina, he alighted along with me, ex-
planned to me the different features of the
country, told me the names of the towns,
and pointed me out the monuments. He
plucked himself the handsomest flowers,
and bought the most tempting figs and raj
sins; for me on the way. he crammed my
hands and filled my hat with these dainties.
David seemed to look with pleasure Oh the
affection displayed by his travelling COM
panion for the young foreigner. They
smiled sometimes while looking at me, with
an air of intelligence, of inesse and good
natute. As we entered Rome at night, i
alighted naturally at the same inn with
themselves. was conducted TO my cham
Der, and did not awake till summoned the
next morning by the voice of my young
friend, who knocked at my door and in
Nlltu me 10 uItdkldst. i uTtSSeu my ScH III
haste, and descended to the saloon where
the travellers were assembled to breakfast.
| wished to shake hands with my travelling
companion, and | sought for him in vain
amongst the guests, when general laugh
burst forth from every one present In
place of son or nephew Of David's, ] per-
ceived at his side the charming figure of a
young Roman girl, elegantly dressed, and
whose dark tresses, woven in band around
her forehead, were fastened behind by two
long gold pins with heads OF pearl, like
those still worn by the present women OF
Tivoli. 1t was my friend, who, on arri-
wing in Rome, had resumed her costume
and her sex. ] might have suspected the
truth from the tenderness of her look, and
from the grace Of her smile. But ! had not
the least suspicion. s'Dress does not change
the heart" said the fair Roman, blushing
"only you shall not sleep any more on my
shoulder, and instead of your receiving
flowers from me, it is you who shall pre-
sent me with them. This adventure will
teach you not to trust to appearances Of
friendship which may be displayed towards
you hereafter; they may happen to b
something widely different" The young