The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-11-05

SAILING rNDER FALSE c0fORs.
II was In the year 1885, before italian
unitY or independence was thought of,
when The Journey from Rome 10 Florence
occupied six days and q hall, and when The
Grand Duke Leopold dwelt IA rcgal mag.
influence In the Palazo Pitt. that two
young EnNiishnnen st NJ breakfast In a
Florcntine palace, In which, without very
much erowdlng. might have been stood
half a dozen Of the " brownstone fronts
of Finh Avenue or Madison Square. But
for the loveliest view In Italy, which was
spread out under It's vast windows, the
room In which they sat would have been
almost cherries from lis height and size.
Below them were terrnced gardens, spark.
ling with fountains, and rich In the luxu-
rant foliage which makes Italy almost a
paradise to modern ewes. Beyond and
around rose the magnificent amphitheatrc
of hills in whose midst Florence lies
nestled, with the silver Arno winding at
their base, and crowned with the tower
and convent of Fiesole and the cloud
capped spire of San Miniato on their very
highest peak.
Il was a scene to rouse thu. &1klmsiasm
of any one who had lived lonG GI|ough in
the world to throw off the lf.absorption
and self-indulgence which are the chamc.
~teristics OF extreme youth, and which,
thanks to a merciful Providence, time
rarely fails TO modify and subdue.
Our young friends, who, by-the-way,
were doing full justice to a most luxurious
breakfast, were far more interested in their
plans for future enjoyment, and in discus.
sing the animated specimens of natures
bsndiwork whom they had met in their
yesterdays travels, than they were in the
art treasures within, or the natural beau
ties outside the fair city where they had
elected to spend the coming six weeks.
The young men were old college friends,
and had been traveling-companions on the
continent Of Europe for nearly three years.
In personal and mental attractions they
were fairly matched; in social status and
position widely apart. One was a noble.
man, the other a commoner. One had
broad acres, and a rentrroll that was
counted by hundreds of thousands; the
other had but an inheritance Of three hun
dred pounds a year and remote expecta-
tons from an estranged uncle. In short,
one was William Adolphus, Earl Of Graf
ton, Of Grafton Castle, Willis, with minor
estates in halfthe counties of England; the
other was plain Roger Merton, OF nowhere
at all. sgf 81 aaa n
"Tt's a very dangerous experiment, my
lord" said Mr.. Merton, as he raised the
marble hand which served as presse. papier,
and took out a dozen letters lying under
meath. The English in Florence are as
thick as leaves in Val0mbrosa,' and there
are hundred chances to one that you will be
recognized and exposed"
What an old muff you are, Roger; and
what do you mean by mi-lording mes How
can ! be recognized by people who have
never seen me Haven't l looked over the
list Of all the strangers in Florence, and
there is not a anne | know among them ?
Besides, am | not ready to sacrifice the silk
lest beard and mustache in Tuscany, and
appear before the world, all shavefi and
shorn,' without decoration or adornment,
acomplete specimen Of the true middle
class Briton Il beg your pardon, Merton),
resting my hopes or success upon the quail
tiles Of heart and biain alone. Pass the
claret, old fellow. and liold your tongue
while l look over these letters and make out
the plan ofmy campaign. BY Jovel what
q thing It Is TO haee a plan and a something
before one, besides dawdling through pic
ture-galleFies, and being mi lorded' and
'your lordshiped' BY all the mewling, pull
Ing, namby- pnfnby tuft hunter between here
and MAYFAIR! Let me see-to the English
ambassador to the Chamberlain Of the
Grand Duke introducing Lord Grafton and
his friend Mr.. Merton. Lucky | had your
name included in my letters, Roger. We'll
the whole thingis arranged in my mind,
old fellow, and you're not to have a word
to say. Only remember that gou are Lord
Grafton for the time being, and as you
won't sail under false colors, and go out
and have q good time among the managing
mammas and the husband hunting daugh.
ters-why, Lord Grafton must be an in
valid and d hypochondriac, and never be
seen by any one but his valet and his at
tached friend, Merton"
VERY we'll" replied Roger, as he shook
the ashes from his meerschaum on, to Il
small silver plate-".a willful man., you
know the old saving, Grafton. But it does
seem to Inc the most insane project that was
ever set on foot. Do be persuaded to give it
up, like a good fellow. ffyour object is 10
winAnd WOO the lovely girl we met at Val
ombrosa yesterday, do It without trickery
or deception. Let her know you for who
and what you are, and trust
"To the noble indifference to place and
power that exists In the female mind,r in
terrupted the Young lord. "No, / thank
YOU, Roger; there's an amount of stiff.
n~eckedness in o old fellow, that would
ret the better Of me on any other point, but
on this nv mind is made up. / shall never
ret such achance again, and I'm resolved to
ne plain MI. Merton LOT the next SIX weeks,
and see what | can do towards breaking
women's hearts without my title and estates