The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-25
a LEGHORN HAT.

Nine slock of cloudleSs summer
morning. The basket phaeton stood at
the door in the narrow noisy street be-
low, but Mr.. White had already gone TO
his Office, Annie pleaded headache, and
the children had their allotted tasks with
the German governeSs to accomplish. l
must either remain within doors during
the hot hours Of the day or go out alone.
l decided on the latter course.
~ am too old 10 require any ohape-
ron, l said, with a laugh, and glanced
in the mirror.
There beheli r not unpleasing image
Of q little woman attired IN gray, with a
silvery veil over her plain face, in the
act o. fitting on pair of quite infinite
SINAI gray gloves. l kissed my good
Annie and the children, as II bound on
a long and perilous voyage, and departed
in the basket phaeton.
What new world was that all about
me 1t was the city of Leghorn, with
its tall houses, rendered dingy by sea
damp. and wide white squares, the atmo-
sphere reiolent of tar. the quays throng-
ed with shipping, the clumsy tunnels OF
Oriental steamships relieved by the
lighter trscery of interlacing masts
against the sky. I ike ships; in their
boundless suggestiveness they resemble
wishes, hopes, ever coming and going on
some fresh errand.
The phaeton ratified through the main
thoroughfare, once Via Grande, and now
rebaptized, after the manner of all ltal-
ian cities, in the name of Victor Eman-
uel. I noticed with the interest of
stranger groups Of bronzed sailors; the
untldy Leigh srn woman with trailing
gown, and tapping handkerchief tied
over her frowzy head; the brilliant uni
form Of an occasional officer strolhng
lSnguidly TO his cafe
Then the Sea Gate was reached, and
bevond stretched the white road which
threads its way beside the Mediterranean
10 the beautiful suburb of the Ardenza.
The sea breeze waited to me delicious
coolness the hedges Of evergreens and
oleanders in masses of rose bloom
mingled rich odors the stunted trees
dropped their feathery foliage laden with
gray dust. I gazed out over the sea,
which sparkled ike sapphire, with the
light houses so bright at night, now
pallid in the morning which no longer
hsdneed Of them, and the sails ghstening
with an exquisite silvery whiteness on the
horizon. glanced down the white road
as il curved along the strand, bordered
BY its fea.hery trees and oleanders, its
gardens, hotels and villas stretching TO
the MaremmA, and the coast | might
never explore.
This is the most beautiful shore IN
the world, and the old Romans knew it,
Isoiloquized ; and just then the phaeton
paused.
Nv destination was the bath Again
the charm OF novelty delighted me, for
it was my first summer with Annie's
household. Bathing at Livorno is made
q pastime, a recreation, instead OF
serious business. / walked out on a
pier which terminated in a round space
shielded by a tent from the suns rays,
and thence the smiling old bath woman,
in q Tapping straw hat, conducted me
down a passage, bordered on either side
by little tents with green doors, to my
destination. Once consigned to the
bdrdccd, / was free 10 remain in the
tiny house, with its roof OF mating and
walls OF striped canvas, where the water
rippled in of transparently green hue,
or to part the curtains and issue forth
boldly as n swimmer. decided to re-
main secluded in nv crystal bath, as
was alone, like mermaid in cave.
I was startled by the curtains being
separated from without, and the appear
ance of a mans head, with long sandy
beard. The head advanced with such
evident intention Of tall body's follow
ing that I uttered a faint scream OF
alarm, when the intruder retreated
hastily with a muttered " Beg pardon.
/ received the apology with such dig
nifty as is possible to a very small lady
in flannel bathing suit, hanging to a
rope to avoid drowning in deep water,
and with her head done up in an oil-skin
cap.
"Some stupid Englishman !" said,
pettishly.
The hour was too early for many occu-
pants Of the large tent, and when l
emerged from nv bath l drew a chair
near the railing to again gaze out over
the beautiful Mediterranean. An Amer
ican man-of-war had entered the port the
previous day. / endeavored TO descry
her, with the old pain at my heart. My
brother Harry, young, brave, good, des-
tined TO become a great man, as / be-
lieved, had died OF fever on board ship
of Callao five years ago, smitten down
without power to send me a message,
although, thus stricken, was left alone.
Yes, all alone shivered in the bright
italian morning, while my eyes searched
wistfully for the man-of-war. Since then
every frigate had become to me Harry's
ship, and every officer in uniform assur-
edly must be my dead brothers friend.
Five years of winter and summer in the
old house at home, wandering from room
to room in a ghostly fashion, with the
portraits of father and mother in the
shadow of the best parlor, and Harry's
dog following me with dumb intelligence
to thrust his nose into my hand five
years of mourning, of silence, that left
me plain little old maid, my hair turned
gray Then Annie, happy wife and
mother, school mate and friend of many
years, had written to me long letter
from her home at Leghorn, where her
husband was engaged in business, urg-
ing me to come abroad. I saw my future
clearly enough. In this genial house
hold l should be companion, friend, old
maid aunt to the children. sighed.
Just then the merchant whose wares
were displayed in one corner OF the tent
-tortoise-shell, coral, and sienna-wood
trinkets-begged me to take chance in
his lottery. took the box, and turned
out the dice on the board, having paid
n franc. The merchant counted up the
numbers, and found the corresponding
one in his stock of prizes represented by
a set of coral. resembling sticks Of red
sealing-wax. Somebody approached and