The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-18
AND THE OTHER,
BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.
Author OF Little Lord Fauntleroy.
WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE HELENA INDEPENDENT.
quick little bow was often returned by a

his quick little bow was often returned by a
nod.
They had 80 much money, these forestieri,
Giovanni thought they might we'll be good
natured. Think what lives they must have,
these people who were rich enough to travel
away from unpleasant weather, and who
lived in the great gay hotels. eating won
derful things three times a day, waited upon
by dozens of servants, and with an impos-
ing concierge in uniform and gold buttons,
who appeared on the broad white marble
hower-bordered entrance steps and calling
up q waiting carriage with a majestic wave
of the hand and a loud 'Avante,' carried
out to it wraps and cushions and hold the
door open while the signoras entered, touch
ing his gold-banded cap gracefully as they
drove away. All! what life it must be, to
be sure.
But though he was only a little peasant,
Giovanni knew that fortune had not been
SO unkind to him after all. He had his
voice and had had luck with it ever since
the man with the harp had proposed that
he should go and sing with him before the
hotels and villas. Giovanni had a share of
the money, and he was comfortably fed and
given warm clothes, even to the extent of
chilly nights, for fear he should catch cold
and become hoarse. The man with the
harp knew he was worth something.
he had a full. sweet, strong voice, and he
sang his songs of the people with a u!elodi-
ous freshness. He had a little repertoire of
his own, and was not reduced to singing
Santa Lucia" as often as MANY of the
street troubadours. There was a little song
of a reproachful lover who rather embar-
rasslnRly recalls the past to his unkind fair
M When l am far away" he says, "vou
will remember the kisses you have piyen
me--yes, you will remember then,'' etc.
And Giovanni used to stand with his
hands on his hips and pour fourth these
reproaches in his clear, full boyish voice,
looking SO happy and young and content
that II was very charming; And then there
was Ale Carolies and the kitlrata, and
about the Betsagliere-the dashing sharp
shooters who went "double-quick'' through
life in thor picturesque cloaks and broad-
brlmmed hats on one side, with the great
plumes of cocks feathers sweeping their
| shoulders.
''Ihe Bersagliere have feathers on their
hats" he sings in Neapolitan dialect. Here
many little capons and hens have to ba
destroyed to provide all thisb beauty, Love
the BerRsaliere-love them-they are the
saviors of your country"-and all 80 gaylv
and with such a swing to the air that one
could imagine a Bergsaliere hearing him
would rush forward and shower upon him
unlimited sold.
Inc morning my story begins was n peg
rect one. 1t was In January. but San Reno
was hooded with brilliant sunshine. the
Mediterranean was like a great sapphire,
me ar was so soft as if it had been May.
Giovanni was In a joyour humor-but then
he usually was--as he and the man with the
harp mounted the long fight of stone steps
which led into the hotel garden.
II wonder how much we shall get?' he
said to his companion. 1.-The Strand Hotel
des Anglals has not been SO full this month";"
That was the name of the hotel they were
going to sing and play before.
The mar with the harp planted it in a
coed position before the long flight of
broad white marble entrance steps. There
were big pots of palms and a~zaleas and
towering plants of various sorts on each
side of the steps all the way up to the glass
door, which one of the servants always
stood behind, ready to open.
Giovanni took his usual boyish pose with
his hands on his hips and began TO sing.
de sang the O of the r0pIoachful lover