Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26
j, .x:z<S;Z6zeliqhtning
Ff2'.1Ix~C00nducfor
By
c'N'& A.M'WlIllAMSON

the car as it came out into exposed places.
Far below we heard the thunder Of mighty
waves dashing on the rock. Then we be-
gan to descend steep and twisting road
that led up presently to low ground, not
much above the sea, where the wind
shrieked down the funnel of river bed.
Then up again along another face of clin
under cyclopean walls of masonry, and
down a sudden shoot between houses into
the Old old town of Ventimfglia; across
river and plain, to be pulled up presently
by a very dangerous obstacle-a huge beam
of wood, unlighted, and swung across the
road 70 guard a level crossing. Our great
acetylene eye, glaring ahead. gave Brown
ample warning. and we slowed down, then
stopped. while train Numbered past. Very
deliberately a sgnalman presently came 10
push the barrier aside, and we darted On
through a long, struggling village turned
away from the sea, found large IRON ea.e
with a lamp over it, standing Hospitality
open, and twisting through a 1alry-Lke
garden studded with gigantic palms, drew
up in a flood of light that poured from tne
door of a large white hotel. TO walk illeo
the big bright hail. to hear pleasant Eng
lish voices to see nice men and pretty sIis
dressed for dinner and waiting ior
stroke of the gong. was an eXlrao u. a..
contrast to the roaring blackness VI s
nigbt outside-- Every one turned to stare
at us "a we came in masked and gossleo
like divers. ,,,a OFF
This morning 1 walked up and looked gu.
of nv window little before T. IL. was
inst sunrise and the wind had died Onoer
INV eyes lay the garden, lovely as ~. .eas
garlands Of roses 1ooped from olanse
to palms; banks OF hellotrope anu or
ness unutterabe Then, waving sea y.
Mains. with here, and there the glow Oh u. d
scarlet roof. and beyond the sea. ne , lie
ing sun shone on and on the curNeo -te
of coast with Monte CARO- anu o., the
eIeaming like pearl. Floating up on ll1
borizon saw shadowy blue shape y.
an island lowering like ghos,. aiu o.
I looked it vanished suddenly hIsnk
hroken bubble. leaving the Sc bit
: thoueht it must have been mirage; pus
hv-and.by soft-speaking. faWn-eyea niala
cs,lad Apollonia told me 1t was Colsica,
,,,hich only shows itself sometimes carry
in the morning when the sun Is storm
tain height and usually after a storm
We breakfasted in our sitting room win
delicious honey for our crisp rolls, anu ~
afterwards when | went do"nstaii9 -, ~
send your cable | found the nan si,Iei dan,
like a forest of balsam frs. IL WAS oec
Grated for Christmas. and the Wnole lo.e.
seemed full of sort of joyous. CnriStHias
stir, so that it was more IKE Joii4' oie
country house than a hotel.
Then l found out that this hotel Is IA
nous for it's Christmas celebration. EV-
eryone stopping there was supposed 10 pe
the landlords guest at wonderfui dinner
a regular feast with dozens OF courses emu
ing up with crackers, which we all puilea
Last of all the dining room was darkeneo'
and a long procession of walters Shded IN
bearing Illuminated ices-green, crimson
gold and rose. we claDpeu our aho
laughed Just like children, and the landlord
had to make little speech. Altogether eV-
erytbing was so friendly and Christmasy
that the most gloomy misanthrope could not
have felt homesck. | supposed when din
ner was over that the special festivities
were at an end. But no. quite the con-
trary. Everyone trooped into a huge pic
ure-paneled recreation room. which had
been the scene of secret preparation all
day. and there was a giant Christmas
tree, sparkling with pretty decorations and
heavy with presents for each person in the
hotel, all provided by the landlord. We
drew them with numbers, and l got
charming inlaid box with secret opening;
Aunt Mary had a little silver vase. There
was music, too; harps and violins. l was
sorry that poor Brown was cut off from all
the fun. But 1 did give him a present
You know he refuses tips, SO I couldn't
offer him money; but the other day at
Cannes he was looking rather worried.
and 1t turned out that something's didn't
understand exactly what, for he was rath-
er vague in his answers-had happened to
his watch. I didn't say much then, but in
Monte Carlo 1 bought him quite decent
one for $50 Che really does deserve IT., and
gave 1t to him this morning with merry
Christmas" You've no idea how pleased
he was. He seemed quite touched.
There! a bell somewhere is striking mid
night. Goodbye, dearest. My thoughts
have been full of you all day.
Your MOLLY.
(TO be continued tomOrrow)