Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-29
A HERO.

1t was the 10th of last November that
first made his acquaintance
Perhaps l had better say "their &C
qualntance. l was staying with De
diglio at his place near Florence, and that
afternoon l went on an exploratory walk.
One of the first things I saw was the
pair OF them arm in arm.
they We're staggering up and down the
dirty little Via Vittorio Emanuele, theiI
red caps nicely adjusted over their ears and
their canvas trousers gracefully tucked in.
to their yellow CATERS
Is there a regiment here?" 1 asked OF
the blind beggar.
"Nossignore. Those two are home on
leave. They are off to Africa next week.
Holy Virgin bless you, signoro!"
had nothing to do that afternoon SO !
made friends with the two soldiers.
1t was easy. An admiring glance, a
question or two, and it was done, and we
were soon seated in front of the cafe drink
ing red sirup out of eight sided glasses.
The taller Of the two was the talker.
Yes" he explained. "We go to serve
la patria"
HAS the signore been to Africa? No?
One OF our lieutenants was once there and
1t is said that he shot lion-or was it an
elephant Vanni?"
Tiger" answered the little brown one
briefly.
Very interesting" said, lighting my
pipe. Waiter, some cigars. And when
do you go?"
tWn han1y To Tlnro,oo
we embark from Naples ON Thursday"
1t was al7ays Luca who did the talk
ing, Vanni sitting silently stirring his
sirup
- see you are great friends, " remarked
presently. you are lucky to be going to-
gether.'
Luca threw his arm affectionately about
Vanni's shoulder and gave him a little
hug.
"Sissignore, we are friends since we
were babies. Eh, Vannif'
Vanni grinned, screwing up his little
black eyes. 4 Eh,. altro'' he answered.
Ngiorno, Gigina" suddenly exclaim-
ed my two warriors together, jumping up
and bowling with much impressement
Gigina, a stoutly built black eyed girl,
whom | knew to bo the daughter of the
innkeeper, nodded gayly:
Ngiorno, she returned, with kill
ing glance, which included both of them
Then she passed on.
There was an awkward silence.
"Bellina, began automatically Luca
grlnned and gave conquering twist to
his little mustache.
Vanni shuf1led his feet and swallowed
great draft of sirup.
"Gigina is very beautiful" observed
Luca. "We dance together. .
You must make very fine couple I
Mmm! Non o'e male--not so bad.
Vanni is too short for her.
But Vanni has fine shoulders, ven
tured mildly.
Vanni rubbed his nose with the back Of
his hand.
She weighs more than Luca, he said.
Luca shifted. "She gave me the red
rose she wore in her hair at the fair"
And you lost it, -
Vanni leaned his elbows squarely on the
little table and grinned at his dearest
friend.
Bah!" retorted Luca angrily. "She will
give me another. You never had a rose
fat nosel''
She walked from church with me on
Sunday, ba1dy legs" screamed Vanni.
Che! Because l was with Assunta
Biffi. 1t is well to make them jealous
sometimes. But you son of pauper!'
They had risen and were facing each
'ther across the table---Vanni white with |
age Luca sneering hastily.
was about to interfere when Vanni |
suddenly sat down.
We are forgetting our compact, LII
'hino milo, he said, drawing long breath
Luca nodded
Thou art right dear little one" +" And
hey shook hands.
IN signore will think lis mad" said
4uca politely to me-
raised my hands in depreciation.
Dio mio! l, too was once young, nv
answered, and when one is
n love-
Luca jerked the tassel of his cap over
lis ear and threw out his chest.
y vero, " he said, with self satisfied
ir, land we are amoroso tutt' due,
rent we, Vanni?"
sSAAAA3 WIZ NoS "a q luuCl ltSA GApHU-
i've nature, only grunted and nodded his
ead
4" You see, continued Luca rs the greasy
yaiter provided us with more sirup-''you
90, we arc both in loye-oh, very much
4 love with Giginai Sometimes we have
lmost hated each other on her account
lat we are migliori amici, and that would
Q a pity"
/ assented, and he resumed:
"Gigina, she ID very teasing, very gay.
he always says, One or the other. That
very well, but, after all, even best
lends can't share a wife. Can they Van
II So now we 60 to the war, and when
Q come back she viii take one or the 9th.
Of us. In the meantime we are always
wing friends.
Vanni held out his square brown paw
I'D the two men shook hands peacefully.
The signore will understand that Gi-
ma will marry the one who brings back
% most glory"
1t was the taoiturn vanni who volun.
cred this information.
rose. "Ebbenc good luck to you both,
I'd may the best man win"
shook hands with them and turned to
}.
II am bigger than vanni, observed
lca vaingloriously as I departed.
The next day but one they went. All the /
llage was at the station to ses the last Of