Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-04-20


of Monterosa, in Italy. Ia reply to tn,
obee1uious landlord, with whom
guests of the MILFORD class were elk,
angel visits few and far between" ht
announced his intention Of remaining
couple of days, desired to he shown
to his room, and ordered coffee to be
served in the parlor. In few min
utes he descended to the public room
of the inn, and with much relish sip
ped the cup of refreshing coffee whicf
the landlord had brought in: and de
clining the cigars proffered by the lat
ter, proceeded to fill and light favo
rite Eleerschaum, and blowing clouds
of fragrant smoke toward tho low cell
ing, was soon immersed in a brown
study.
The traveller, whose name was
Frank Melville, was about % years Of
age, and good specimen of manly
beauty. Exactly six feet Gin his stock
ings," his figure was 80 well proper.
toned that you did not give him cred.
it of being more than the average
height. His short, curly. light brown
hair framed countenance ruddy with
health and sparkling with good humor
while the deep blue eyes shone with
intelligence. He was an artist, and
had seized the first Opportunity TO put
into execution II long-cheriahed inten.
ton of making toue in Italy; and
the desire of beholding fresh scenes
had induced him to turn aside con.
siderably from the well beaten route
pursued by the ordinary tourist.
He had hitherto experienced great
pleasure in his tour. But never!heI less
when the shades of evening began to
fall, he generally felt somewha. soil.
tary, and longei for some companion
with whom to compare notes and ex-
change ideas. On the particular even
ing on which our story opens, he felt
more than usually restless and low.
spirited. A craving for some excite.
ment took possession of him. But in
the quiet, secluded village of Montero-
IA, what excitement, mental or phys.
ical, could be found2
There being no other way open &c
him Of passing the time, he decided t.
try stroll. The narrow, irregular
street of the village WAS almost desert
ed nothing was TO bo seen except some
children playing in tho sand, and geese
walking in long procession, cack ling as
they went. Strlding rapidly onward
Melville soon came to the outskirts Of
the village, and plunged into the ad
joining forest. The luxuriant Leakage
of the stately trees, which were in til,
full vigor of their growth, naturally oh
tanned his chief admiration. The ali
was scented with tbs odor Of fresh resi-
and MOSES; while perfect stiffness
RI of a sanctuary, prevailed, more fittec
however to mere ase his depression
than to afford him the mental slimula.
for which he craved. He had walked
alta smart pace for some thirty minute,
when the sudden sinking of the sun ant
the deepening twilight warned him tha
it was time to retrace his steps. Turn
ing back, he was soon conscious that h,
had lost his way, and began to iamen
his imprudence in yenturing 80 far in
to an unknown and apparently track
less forest without having taken SON,
bearings by which to shape his course
Just as he was beginning to resy.
himself to night under the trees, h,
discerned the smoke OF a fire at n,
great distance, and heard in the stl
evening air the notes of violin. 4
walk of u few minutes brought him t,
the scene. In the shelter of the wall
of an old ruined castle were seated som,
twenty or teirty gypsies, grouped il
every variety of picturesque attitud,
rNnpI tho rI1utnntoru lri
which hung large pot over n WOO,
fire. The men wore ed waistcoats, or
namented with large silver buttons
which glittered i'll the tireIighr; tn
women-at least the younger ones
scarlet bodies and chemisettes trimm g,
with gold embroidery, and round thei
recks rows of glass beads. A few with
cred old crones, yellow aad toothless
who served as foils to their younpe
companions, completed the band. A,
the tire cleaned and dashed on tn,
picturesque group, SO bright with color
Melville longed for the pencil Of Sal
vator Rosa, that he might preserve tn
scene forever on caLvas.
The gypsy who had been perfnrmin
on the violin ceased playing at the ~
proach of Melville, and speaking in cS
cellent Tuscan, invited him to he seal
ed and join their primitive repsst. Mel
vile accepted the invitation as frankl
" as it was given. From boyhood til
Mngari, their origin, strange custom
and wanderingS had been q favorit
subject of study with him. He ha
read many of the books describiu
there wonderful people, b yrrow's II 4
cali" among the rest: and was fsmilia
with a considerable portion of the voc
abulary of the Italian gypsies; indeed
the manners and habits of this rovin
race had always possessed for him
peculiar and fascinating interest.
In Il few Ainutes Frank was dis
cussing a portion of hedgehog
which, rubbed with garlic and stuffe,
with wslnuts, had been pasted on a spi
over the quick-hre.
"Wkere is Melits?r exclaimed tn
violin player. whose name was Orlsn
do. What has become of hel?'
Our tourist WAS in the act of raising
n cup ofsome very good Silician wine t
his hips, when his look fell upon Wis
ION of feminine beauty, sucn as he ha,
never seen in all his travels. Through
an opening of the tent, came youn
girl, apparently not more than eiShtee
years of age. Slightly above the mid
die height, her slender, supple figur
moved across the messy carpet wiz
bewitching grace. Lsrge oriental eye:
full of liquid lustre, softly gleame
from beneath eyebrows black as night
The features were perfecs i'll their con
tour. The finely chiseled nos,
the lips like cupiGs bow" the softl
roun led chin isht have served q
M odels to modMn Phidiss. The &
bundant hair was of a lighter tiat tina
the eyebrows, and Of rich war;
brown. The complexion was ais
somewhat lighter in color than the Oh
binary gypsy type, but still suHi cientl
dark TO show that she came OF Bob.
milan stock. ..r-f5 .. ~.
Calamity springing to his feet, an
extending his hand. Melville offered {
conduct her to zee 8. the eyenin
meal, with an air as respectful as il b
had been sccosting an English Dutch
ess. But the gypsy girl refused th