The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-08
PART7III.

.a al the corners. sour estates
~ nj the phenomenal size and sweetness
~ the melons, nectarines, peaches'
strawberries and figs grown In those
as,sctable lands and forwarded in huge
hampers when his Highness delgneo 70
bavel in foreign parts; Prlnce ohAruo
r..les. villas and hunting-lodges; his
ss,Ne. horses, dogs and game; his
.,r.a his forests; his immense retinue
and oriental pomp.
/ Tho txciturn old vintner hacked the
i-.,,hhorn earth, but Florioplainly per-
ce;ved he >vas ruminating. Il
4Vhere ane his estatesT' /
"Hungry."N 'r
.Hunsary? That's far?"
.Uungrv." reioined the youth, airily,
,"js near or far, according as you 60
The old man mpsed bitterly upon the
INEQUALITIES of life and vineyards n
"Soft as butterT Al
"As fresh butter" k,r. 4
"Wbatis his whole name?" lftNHxssj
.sedet. acternumque set1ebit f,sT5ss
replied Is F1orio, glibly, without the
Inuiver Of an eyelash. "And that's py no
means all of it. He's got a lot more.
,Gentlemen Of quality always have, you
know. Bless you, they don't mind how
many names they haye!" :.
By this time the vintner had heard
prince Chardo's name so frequently re-
iterated that it had become an estab-
lisbed fact which naturally proved the
Authenticity Of Florio's claims. Tho
man belonged tothat large category OF
;ndividuals--not exclusively vintners-
who. of an unimnginative and essential
w suspicious turn OF mind, viii yet be-
!iieve the most moustrous tale II they
but hear it often enough.
"He is here, your prince"
ssHe is on the way" Floriosaid, sweet.
,,v "You needn't say any thing about 1t
lust yet. He prefers to travel quietly
That's why I'm not wearing my livery
II am only one Of the under servants,
iyou know. A lot Of tss were sent on IN
advance. It matters not to him how
manv come. He's not one that counts
noses" Florio stared at the sky ana
The earth. yawned and swung,his heels
with lordly irresponsibility.
| pbe peasant, whose back ached. bc
<rawed some envy in thedensegutturaL
Iof his monosyllabic response.
I'm expectedly and unwar1antably
ithe a, niable trifer now grew .didactic.
began to suggest, to instruct, TO relate
how m uch better things were done in
prince Chardo's noble Vineyards
fact. TO, meddle and dictate.
The q intner responded wrathfully
that he wanted none of that
"If Won really don't care about get
Ting on -Florio shrugged rhis shoul-
lders.
Eying ham disapproviugay. the old
iman delibe rately seated himself on the
Ground, dr,,w a small bottle OF beer
and some black bread from baske,
behind a cm-nnt BUSH and silently
lpartook Of his vesper. Somewhat mol
lifted, he rema rked, succinctly:
"Do three hundred vines, and yor
,sweat"
BetweenAother> >appeasing draughts
he added:
Besides. it'stnot my work. Tv'
other jobs. I'm sixty-fve years ole
and INV backs stif. But my son Vim
lcenz has broken his arm. It's easy I.
Isit on q wall and brag."
"Oh, I don't mind lending . han'
bust while you are ut your beer" re
turned the PRINCES minion affably
Jumped from the wall, flung of hi
coat, seized pick, and, being twenty
two years old. strong. supple and pos
sessed of urgent reasons for desiring :
please, set to work in n manner tha
Mfneyarxi had never behore experienced
when the old man resumed his toi
lFlorio still continued. He was ratht
tired, he said, lplling about and wal
ing for the prince. Hemot only worke
steadily and swiftly uhtil seven o'clocl
hut he told exactly the sort of safe ar
'creaking joke which the vintner re
ished, and finally declared he was we
Icome to the three hours assistanc
IT was not worth talking about, wh'
,one had good situation.
They parted on the best OF terri
after Florio had consented TO he
again or the morrow--this time for
usual wages. He sauntered oft. but !
turned to ask, as a mere afterthougl
.if the man could recommend qui
lodgings not too far of. Happeni
TO have cousin who sometimes
looms, he wrote her name and addr'
at Florio's request; $50 she'll know
oil right" the young man explain'
pleasantly. "Tve a mate with me-"
added, "a nice fellow. but lazy. Ill
mot touch your vineyard"
"Dut you'll not fail me tomorrow.
"Oh, dear, no. Only one thing col
prevent. Sudden orders from Prii
Chardo. II is fair 10 tell you that
The peasant nodded approval.
~<hated strangers, but when you kn
who Is who, IL is different
That night as Richard lay in g'
bed 81 simple but clean room. Flo
with a chuckle. asked:
us your highness quite comfor
ole?"