The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-05

Perhaps i had better say their ac-
quaintance. was staying with Del
Giglio at his place near Florence, and that
afternoon went on an exploratory walk
One OF the first things i saw was the
pair OF them arm In arm.
They were staggering up and down the
dirty little Via Vittorio Emanuele, their
red caps nicely adjusted over their ears and
their canvas trousers gracefully tucked in
TO their yellow CATERS.
''Is there a regiment here'" asked of
the blind bcggar.
''Nossignore Those two are home on
leave They are off to Africa next week.
Holy Virgin bless you, signorep'
had nothing to do that afternoon, so /
made friends with the two soldiers.
IL was easy. An admiring glance n
question or two and ii was done, and we
were soon seated i'm front of the cafe drink
ing red sirup out of eight sided glasses
The taller of the two was the talker.
YES" he explained. "Wo go to serve
la patria.
HAS the signore been to Africa? No?
One Of our lieutenants was once there ard
II is said that he shot lion--or was it an
elephant, Vannig"
Tiger" answered the little brown one
briefly.
Very interesting, j said, lighting my
pipe. Waiter, some cigars And when
do you goS'
1--WE go back to Florence Monday and
we embark from Naples on Thursday"
1t was always Luca who did the talk
ing, Vanni sitting silently, stirring his
sirup.
II sec you are great friends, Z" 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, VanniY"
Vanni grinned, scrcwing UP his little
black eyes. "Eh, altro, +" he answered
'Ngiorno, Gigina!" suddenly ezclaim-
cd my two warriors together, jumping up
and bowling with much imprcsscment
Gigina a stoutiy built, black eyed girl,
whom knew ~ be the daughter Of the
innkceper, nodded gayly:
'Ngiorno," she returned with kill
ing glance. which included both of them.
Then she passed on.
There was an awkward silence.
"Bcllina, began automatically. Luca
srinned and gave conqucring twist TO
his littlo mustache.
Vanni shufiled his feet and swallowed a
great draft Of sirup.
"Gigina is very beautiful" observed
Luca I've dance together"
"You must make very fine couple,
answered.
"Mmm! Non c'e malc-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 tho red
rose she wore in her hair Mt the fair
And you lost it."
Vanni leanod his elbows squarely on tho
little table and grinned at his dearest
friend
bah" retorted Luca angrily "She will
give me another. You never had rose,
hat nosel'
"She walked from church with me on
Sunday, handy legs, I" screamed Vanni
"Chel Because / was with Assunta
Diff It is well TO make them jealous
sometimes. But you, son of a pauper"
They had risen and were facing each
other across the table--Vanni white with
rage, Luca snccring nastily.
1 was about TO interfere when Vanni
suddenly sat down.
"Wo are forgetting our compact, Lu-
chino mio, he said, drawing long breath.
Luca nodded.
"Thou art right, dear little one" And
they shook hands.
III signore will think US mad" said
Luca politely to me-
raised my hands in depreciation.
"Dio miol l, too was once young, my
children, answered, 'and when one is
in love. -
Luca ierked the tassel OF his cap over
his car and threw out his chest.
"E vcro, he said, with self satisfied
air, and we are amoroso tutt' G due,
aren't We Vanni?"
Vanni, who was OF much less expan-
siye nature. only gruntcd and nodded his
head.
You see, continued Luca as the greasy
waiter provided us with more sirup--"you
sec, we arc both in love-oh, very much
in love with Giginal Sometimes we have
almost hated each other on her account
But we arc migliori amici and that would
be n pity"
assentcd. and he resumed:
"Gigina, she Is very teasing, very gay,
She always says, One or the other That
is very well. but. after ali, even beet
friends can't share wife. Can they Van
NIP SO now we go to the war, and when
we come back she will take one or the 9TH
er of us. In tho meantime We are always
loving friends.
Vanni held out his square brown paw
and the two mon shook hands peacefully
THE signore will understand that Gil.
gina will marry the one who brings back
the most glory"
1t Nas the taciturn Vanni who volun.
tecrcd this Information
rose "Ebbenc, good luck 10 you both.
and may the best Innn win. q"
shook hands with them and turned TO
&c.
II am bigger than Vnnni." observed
Luca vaingloriously as departed
The next day but one they went, All the
village was at the station To sec tho last Of
.nem. Vanni cried Ike baby Ia MS
poor old mother clung 90 him. Luca strut
ted about, tossing his cock fcathcrcd head,
and telling Of all the things he meant to
a n Il.