The record-union., 1891-05-17
AHPARO'S MISTAKE.
Written for the SUNDAY UNION by Len.I
CHAPTER V

Guy Winthrop, with his party of
friends, had gone to Rome, intending to
return TO Florence in week.
But never was tourist so indifferent
to the wonders of this fine old city, with
its historical and classical associations.
Ills mind, filled with thoughts of Am
paro, had no room for other admiration.
Standing in the catacombs, looking at
the tombs Of dead Caesars, he was glad in
his heart that he was a live Winthrop
and eligible for conquering hearts in
stead Of long dead but great ruler.
Standing beneath the old obelisk, just
within the Flaminian gate, before him
vista of palaces, churches and variously
gabled houses, all he could see was Am
paro's deep, dark fringed eyes.
Absently he replied to his friends COM
ments as they climbed hundred steps,
crossed an open square and entered
large building with massive etruscan ma
sonry. The thrilling memories which
the very name of capitol gives were not
his. Memories of the girl he loved and
was uncertain of, were more thrilling,
and Forum, Vatican and Coliseum
broken columns, triumphal arches, mar
ble palaces, majestic temples, shattered
pavcments and renowned heroes might
Just as well have been in oblivion for all
he cared. His sole thought was to re-
turn to Florence and her whom his soul
longed for and his heart turned to.
His friends, enthusiastic tourists, found
it useless to drag him nnwillingIy with
them in their daily walks and sight-see-
ing excursions and soon left him to him
self. II it were not for his promise to
stay fortnight with them he would have
returned to Florence. Finally one night
as they all sat smoking and lis tening to
DF IfoTi
nading his love, Will Bisers, Guys par
ticular chum, remarked: Guy, old boy,
are you in love? II so confess your sins
and get up and get, for / swan you are
no use to gods or men in your state?"
Guy cOlored TO the roots of his blonde
hair as he replied: In love? What
makes you think sO?'
Symptoms, my boy, symptoms" re-
piled VIII. 1.-The faraway gaze of your
optics and your general asininess A
youth that melancholy has marked for
her own," continued Viii.
WELL" said Guy, laughing, you are
SO much up to snutficity suppose you tell
me who am in love with?''
Zone of those Italian chestnut beauties,
l suppose, in Florence" said VIII. "Or,
oh! Great Scott! I know" he continued,
eXcitedly, that Spanish girl from over
the sea. Well, old fellow, I wish you
luck; but my idea is that English Prig
just had fortune left him by some old
relative that dropped his boots for wings
in a better land. Why in thunder don't
you go back and find out your latitude
and longitude, drop your anchor, take
souudings and save your ship? Don't let
an English Pug whip brave New York
er. II can help you wire Immediately.
III be best man, groom, anything to get
you out of hole"
Thanks" said Guy. 81 will take
your advice and meet you all later in
Venice"
Meet us, no." said VIII, theatricaIly
waving his cigar. I'VE will never meet
you again. You are gone goose to our
crowd; but I'll ask the fellers if they
won't bless you, my son, and give you a
send Off TO the grave of bachelorhood and
bury you with hOnors," he said, as Guy,
laughIngly, bade him good night.
VIII fingered to smoke out his cigar
and mathematical all girls; 'and this
darn Spanish girl that spoilt our whole
trip for Guy" he soliloquized. Guy was
general favOrite with all of them and
now he was in love. "Pshawr' and here
Win threw away his cigar and planted
his feet energetically: 'If she jilts him,
by the Great Harry she will rue it, if
make her in love with me to do it." he
said. Then laughed aloud at his conceit,
although he was handsome fellow, who
had every reason given him by the fair
sex to consider himself a heart breaker
and continue himself hardened and
tough. So he retired TO dream of chasing
a dark-eyed beauty into the Arno and
holding her down until gOndOla passed
over her, and she arising the other side
held him down. He aWOke to find he
had rolled the sheet tightly over his head,
thus Occasioning the sensation. 1t was
daylight, and he could hear Guy firing
his boots into valise and rustling
around, so he arose to see him off, and
then returned to tell the others Of the de-
parture, giving business as an excuse
for it.
Business" and "headache' the mas
culine and feminine excuse the wide
world over. No one thinks of giving a
more original one. So the early train
for Florence whirled around with Guy
on his way to Amparo, full determined
90 lay his heart at her feet. All unnO-
ticcd, the beautiful scenery, the "morn's
bushes" =" all lost. Vineyards, with dew
ladened grapes, fields of violets scenting
the warm air, all passed without one
thought. The wheels of the train seemed
TO say IN unison, with his thoughts,
My darling, my darling Amparo."
His eyes were gazing at mental photo
graph of her lovely face, and the way
seemed long, so anxious was he to meet
her again. The train glides slowly into
the great station, and his heart beats fast.
He could not seek her at that hour He
must wait. So he walked to the hotel
and spent two restless hours. Then put
ting on his cap be walked hurriedly up
to their pension, only to hear from the
Greek boy that they had gone on a
weeks visit to Venice with the ''Feru-
gias.n
Well, he could only return to his hotel.
and he said, as he went, THANK the
Lord that Stone is not with them" But
where was the Prig, anyhow. He could
hunt him up and hnd out how he pro-
crossed.
So he hurried to his rooms only to find
them vacant, and to hear of the accident
and detentions. in consequence of which
he was at the "Del CoronnerD So back
he walked, feeling sorry to think he had
thought anyway but kindly of that un-
fortunate man away from home and
friends and injured. The Greek boy
ushered him upstairs on his inquiring for
Elmer, and in few moments he was at
his bedside shocked TO see the change a
four weeks illness had wrought
Elmer was still so weak from the low
fever that had set in that he could not
raise his head from the pillow, vet a
IGendly face was welcome change from
the sorrowful thoughts that really re-
t2rdcd his recovery. Guy chartered
pleasantly to him of the news from
nome, the trip and other matters of inter
est; then shook up the hot pillows with
his firm, gentle hands, procured some
lcewater at a neighboring cafe, and so
soothed and comforted the injured man
that he dropped off into a refreshing doze.
AWakenlng from it he found that Guy
mad lett, but had put two baskets Of de-
hcloqs French grapes right where he
could reach them.
Elmer, although previously hating
Guy, only in iealously, for he really rec
oghlzeQ ms tine character, now felt so
grateful to him that he actually longed