The evening Republican., 1902-07-22
AMOR VInCIT
0MnIA.

"~sA~ Assso s"S paw W. oo"1S .
seldom fit. 1t lay at the extreme
edge OF the city, and stretched for
about three squares, over rubbish
heaped yots, into a tiu.can covered
district where the river drew an
uuclean streak that brought the
settlement to an end.
Shanties Of miX.d architecture
rose at uneven intervals above the
debris. and goats and dirty child
rem browsed rapturouslv where
the filth was thicksst. 1t was in
the most forlorn 0! these shanties
that Pierre NicoiDi lived. He was
an Italion aud had been a rag pick
er bv trade, and now in his old age
he piled his profession as rear
home as possible. aud made a
meager income off the dots With
tongs and shovel he pottered forth
daily-an old bag sluug over his
back and spent hours poking and
sitting among the rubbish heaps.
Often he returned home with his
bag empty and surly snarls for the
lucklessness Of his fate. He had
had a long spell Of bad luck and
WAS bitterly muublng to himself
about It one day. when something
bright caught his eve as he sjfted
ashes.
He bounced upon the glittcring
thing, and after rubbing it off on
his coat sleeve and intently studying
both sides pronounced it valuable.
lie took 1t home and washed it AMI
gave himself up to considering its
worth. 1t was small gold coin with
a head family stamped Gu one side.
BY the characters which surroul ded
this Nicolini made out that it was a
Roman piece Of very early date
probably L. G. On the ether side
the original letters had been eras.
ed and ina space encircled by wreat.,
the words "Amor Vincit Omnia'
were engraved.
"a love taken' Nicolini thought.
"Whocver lost it will be glad to get
it back aud willing to pay. First |
will have to lind the owner 7 l will
advertise--and then" he shrugged
his shoulders III will sell for the
most | can. So he put an adver.
tlseDent in the Lost and Found
columns of the morning papers. lie
described the coin minutelv and quot
ed the motto that was on it, and did
not forget to mention that a reward
would Ue expected. Then while he
waited the result Of this step he
s pcculated as to the intrinsic value
Of the coin, and wondered if the in.
scrlptiun on tie lack would diminish
its worth from Il collectors point of
view
Nico.ini had not long to wonder,
for during. the very morning that the
notice appeared in the papers 4 rare
thing happened in thuldumps. A
carriage drove up over the rumb'ing
road that was worn by dump carts,
and stopped near.y opposite the
Italian shantv. A lady stepped
from 1t and after being directed by
sumo ragged, starving children made
her way towards Nlcolini's hut.
lie received her with all the cour-
tesy he had at his Command.
"You are Mr. Nicollni?' she ask
ed, as she stepped Inside his tiny
dwe'l'ns "AnL OIL put this In the
paper today" She drew from her
pockelUooh a slip OF paper on which
the advertisements was printed.
"lf you have still the coin may
see it,! lost one some weeks ago
which answer, to this description. 1t
must be the same, think, for l
know only CT the existence of one
other like it, Both bear the same
motto"
AS she spoke Nicolini regarded her.
lie bad never il voice SO beautiful
before. 1t recalled some soft. low
tones Of the organ and had the ca
dence Of Il song.
Size was tall and graceful, clothed
in black, with u veil partly
hiding her features. But from what
Nicoini could sec OF her face he
knew it to be beautiful. She was not
Il girl hut u woman full.blown, Tut
far from decline. Ths Italian. With a
heart always in touch with romance
her as she took the coin Ia
hand. She pulled aside her veil and.
liaclosed the full glory OF her face.
Like Il stalned-glass angel in
Saint Dominie's Church, the old
man thought.
She luokcd intcntiy ut the little
token. The hand that held 1t trcm.
J.ed, and as she turned it over and
read the inscription mist gathered
in her eyes. Pressing both hands
|ogclher she held the coin tight,
and a sob shook her frame.
"Yes." she said, turning to Nico-
ini, "thls is mine. ! am very thank.
ful to YOU for advertising it. 1t Is
very dear to me. l am 80 glad that
you found It, and that have it back
again" She pressed a bill into his
land. IF lean ever do anything for
you you must lat n know. will be
glad to bel p you. AS she spoke she
l:ew a chain from her neck and fas-
jened the coin to it.
Goodbye and thank you" She
smiled at the old man as he went
o open the door for her--a smile
hat was like a golden gleam of
brightness. As he laid his hand on
The latch it was pulled from him by |
,ome one on the other side.
The door swung inward AMI a
nan stood in the opening He open
III his lips to speak, but mis- eyes
net those of the woman and with q
ny he started forward then stop
led. Nicolini stood between them
md looked from one to the other.
The woman had grown very Dale.