The Washington times., 1903-11-22
THE LADY IN
THE GRAY FURS
By TEST DALTON.

IT. ITO was frightened and hel,
Checko closer to him, b.
Checko. being a monkey VIII
had Travelled in many lands be
fore coming into the hands OF tbs
Italian boy. only grinned and showed
TO sympathy
1t had been a great and wonderful
trip from Genoa TO America, and a
Tito thought Of the little village in tbs
hills hanging over the blue bay a sol
almost escaped from him. but 1t was
only for moment. He passed through
the gate whica gave approach to the
park and saw. surely, more people than
the whole of his village contained, -anc
he heard on al sides many Italian
dialects. Then suddenly his uncle
rushed out from the crowd and en-
braced him. When they started down
the walk a crowd Of boys followed
shouting and jeering. but Tito was sc
surprised at the great mountains Of
shops that he was oblivious to all else.
His uncle seemed TO like the notoriety
of his nephew. and Checl1o took on a
serious look at the new and strange
sights.
1t was al very wonderful and inter
esting as they walked up the great
avenue. then east underneath the stone
bridge which spanned the street and
showed the green space in the distance.
Then Tito made Checko don a little
red cap. and III a few moments they
found themselves quite at home in
second park. The next day the boy
went out with his organ and came back
at night with the money. but it all
went 70 Tito's uncle. for the boy was
a relative and therefore a luxury. In
time he picked up bits OF English and
several American habits. and his great
est delight was looking at the beautiful
ladies on the avenue
One cold night a beautiful lady in
gray furs gave him a dollar, and Tito
never forgot her face or the perfume
OF violets. which reminded him of the
little town near Genoa Tito in time
became attached to his new country.
and ambition deepened within him. He
determined that some day he. too. would
be an American citizen and perhaps
own a fruit stand, and then little Bia-
centa, who lived next door, would
marry him; but this was all visionary
lie awOke TO realization when four
newsboys STEPPED in front OF him.
Let's take the monk from the Dago, -
said one.
Tito was frightened. and Rugged
Checko closer. but Checko. being a
monkey. only grinned. Then Tito backed
against wall. but the boys closed in
on him and tore Checko from his arms.
In an instant Tito was all afame and
gave a hoarse shout OF anger. In the
meantime poor Checko had been fight
ing for his liberty, and had bitten one
OF his tOrmentOrs. The boy screamed
and dropped the monkey: then they al
stamped him to death, and Tito heard
the last cry of his lii5le friend.
They had loved each other for years.
and Tito stood alone and cold. Tears
-
calm IN an instant he whipped out a
knife and stabbed one OF the boys The
other three would have killed him had
not a policeman interfered at that mo
they were all four locked up. and
the next day the story appeared in the
papers. The u dye was Tor sending
Tito to the reform school. as the stab
proved TO be only a slight scratch.
Tito would probably have been. deprived
Of his liberty had not the lady in the
gray furs read the story and, hezarding
that this M ght be the little italian boy
whom she had befriended, come down 70
the court and seen TO IL that Tito was
released and that punishment was
meted TO the other boys.
She was a go,,d friend &c the Italian
boy and started him out in life again,
and he always thought Of her when he
dreamed that Checlzo was still alive,
and that was very often In time his
grief PASSED away, for Biacenta was
taking up MIST Of his time. and one
fine day he old own fruit stand. then
a store, and finally Biacenta helped him
10 serve his customers In time he
owned a bank and became a power in
the quarter But in his life there was
something lacking, and people wondered
why he went down 10 the barge Office
each week.
he looked IN vain for what he sought
for Tito never forgot. Each evening
he returned home, and Biacenta was
sorry that he was disappointed. After
several years he one day saw a little
boy come through the gate with a
monkey IN his arms. Surely It was Tito
and Checlzoi
He stepped up 10 the boy and sai5,
Follow me, I wilI take care OF you ard
the monkey. and you viii some day be
rich"
And the new Tito looked UP into his
face and ne held Che kO closer to him,
hut Checko. being q monkey, only grin
ned. Then they followed their new
master.