Litchfield enquirer., 1875-06-10
fFrom Harpst's Aagazine-l PAun EvEEEEa,s P0RIRAlT.


 The crowd in. the Piazza del Popolo
 waited ia hEsathlssa expeesatiea. 0ppo-
 ming, the Pincian Hill rose greenly, with
 its palm trees plainly defined. But there
 was something more: an odd structure, a
 skeleton-the ghost. We might say. of
 many architectural fancies-rose up weird
 and white. with the background of green
 gloom. The Italian soldiers were walking
 about with apparent nonchalnnce but real
 vigilance, for there was always danger of
 republican outbreak when the people
 were assembled ca qaasse;; and what more
 fitting time than the birthday of Rome for
 a grand emeuteP
 Yes, that was the cause Of the gather ing; very problematic event-at least the
 share which the twins had Ill it, and the
 date more problematic still-but it was
 enough to bring the fete- loving people to-
 gether, and better than the old days, when
 the captives were butchered to make a
 Romansholiday. Seats had been arranged and hired out, and those who were com fortably settled in them looked out con- placently on their poorer neighbors in the piazza, Nho were iostled about by the CIO"u dIlu uIiiIGafF.
 Whenever there was an unusual commO- ton portly lady in one or the seats would cry out: ''There's scrimmage Wotever are they hup to now? I'm sure I card a shot. Oh, Cathie. just fancy a revolu-
 tionr'
 Rheira yefy gentle voice would answer:
 "Oh no. mamma; there's not bit of dan- ger. Paul Is certain of that"
 And then manly growl suceeeded.with something re-assuring and little impa tient.
 Mel Stanley, an American artist, who had come to Rome to try and discover the art of selling pictures, began to grow cu- rious about his Eeighbors after awhile. and cast a backward glance in search of the voice. He had lived among Italians for years, and associated largely with long, haired, spectacled German artists, so that the sound of pure refined English was a treat to him.
 All the party were staring at the archi- tectural skeletons on the Pincian Hill. and he had chance to examine them. The young girl had one of those pure English faces of bloom and child-like freshness, and sunny golden hair, which one notices in Rome, among the dark-eyed beauties of that country. She was very young, but there was more 6rmness and decision in her face than in that of her portly mother, and her eyes, clear, limpid, and blue, were full of eloquent feeling. The face suited the voice, Mel decided. as he viewed with the eye of an artist this fresh face, like an English violet, and mo- ted the4long 'half-uncurled locks of sun- shiny hair which lay III such beautiful contrast over her black velvet dress. Her hat was of black velvet also. A long black ostrich plume foated back among the golden curls. The lady mamma, a com fortable looking woman of forty-five, the lines of her face lost somewhat indefinite ly in folds of fat, had been handsome too in her way, and was stylishly dressed, but something about her seemed to indicate lack of refinement. Perhaps Mel decided this because he had heard her voice ard language, perhaps because she had an overblown and flushed appearance, or be- eause she was such contrast tothe young girl at her side. But these contrasts are met m life, so that one wonders how this mother can have such daugh- ter, or how this daughter can have such mother, continually.
 Mel found himself wondering. And then he remembered Panl. What was Paul like?
 Paul was like hundred other English men, only somewhat dark, and not so well-fed-looking. He had an absent ex- preSsion, as if he hardly saw the arrange ments for the fire works or the beautiful girl at his side. Then Mel noticed that his coat had a very clerical cut, that his tie was white.I and that, he must be either student or clergyman. '..And very High Church at that" decided Mel, as 8 blaze of light called his wandering eyes off to the display on the hill. Sud- 1enly, as if touched by an enchanter's wand, the buildings whose skeletons had stood out in such bold relief blazed into ,olofed light Wonderful, mysterious, Deaa atifal,; +lrthe pride of Italy was there ,rrayed. The Campidoglio ill white light, he Cathedral40 Milan with starry pima ,les all aflame with crimson and emerald gems, the grand St. Peters in living char acters of flame, Pisa's tower, aud many other structures, ,shone resplendent against he dark green background of the Pincian Hill, While across the whole, and seeming 70 fence of the whole from the surging mass of people, was heavy festooned garland of green leaves and immense roses m burning light. Then the fountains themselves in the Piazza del Popolo sent np torrents of fire instead of water. Won 1erfnl indeed were those fountains of fire. The voice of the English dame was heard, amidst the murmur of admiration, Well, 1ows they couldn't do better than that in England" Being a loyal subject of Queen Victoria, she could utter no higher praise ,a19uTGO,. .a490IG>}
 ''I never saw anything half as fine" said Paul, 'tand I believe nothing better could be gotten up, except, perhaps, in St. Petersburg, where they beat creation as the Americans say."
 Niel~was surprised to hear SO lively emanating from the abstracted High -Churchman. He began to speculate on the young mans relative position to- ward the fadfes: Was fe a brother? Nief' rather hoped he was; but that suppositions was tpet af rest speedily by His addressing 'he portly dame as aunt
 Well, I do say that Rome is entertain ng,' cried the elder lady, enthusiastical- y. -h'Fhereis thihgs to suit every taste ruins and antiquities for the antiquarians, 'tattary and pictures for the artistic, mo- safes and all sorts ofjewelry for the peo- ole that fke et6I adorn themselves, and even fine horse fSr the horsy young men; DutsI must saylit's painful to see all that money lavished in the churches while the people are starving, I hope some day true evangelical religion will be spread abroad in this benighted land There I never saw, such Roman candle in my life. I suppesethese things were invented here, and so they call them Roman candles"
 Now the hill and the skeletons of the various buildings were lit with Bengal lights, white, green. and red. with beau tiful effect; and then the surglne crowd began to move out of the square. The pageant was over, and Mel felt almost sorry to go. He fingered n little till he saw the party movlng of in front of him. The gentleman Paul was just at his side when man in a priest dress passed. say ing to him in an andibie whisper, s"To- morrow at Angelus.
 Mel started. It seemed as if the mys- terlons words must be meant for him: but he saw Paul's face just then. and the strange trouble on t. showed him there was some mystery there. 5 He felt aninex- ntwN