The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-31
GIOVANNI AND THE PRINCESS.

Giovanni del Prato, grandson of old
Marie, stood at the crossing and waved
the little red flag which warned travel
ers and chauffeurs that an excavation
lay just beyond. The excavation had
been source Of annoyance to the great
city for many months, but Giovanni
h had PRAYED that it might Eyer be fi IL
waved the little red flag he would draw
81 day-and, then, had come the
princess.
To be sure, back in sunny Italy he
had dreamed of different things. He
had no conception of the noisy shrek
ing city whose streets were filthy by
comparison with the hard, white roads
of his Neapolitan home. He had dream
ed of cities paved in gold, and of a
people who paid big prices to laos with
good voices, but he had found the OPP
era season closed and his grandmother
fresh unframed voices. She had been
in America five years, and of the little
red flag and the dollar a day she was
sure.
Even of the princess he at times felt
bit uncertain, for he thought 1t odd
that a princess should walk by his cor
ner every morning with portfolio I'M
der her arm. There were other young
men, better versed in American ways,
who also thought the princess Should
not walk and carry portfolio, but the
princess would not ride in their car
riages nor allow them to carry her
portfolio. She had gone in for art, and
the young men interfered with the re-
alization of her ambition.
In Giovannis mind, however, there
was no question about her royal blood.
1t showed in her carriage, in her patri-
clan features and her proudly carried
little head; in the fit of the wonderful
gray gown she always wore, and in the
violets at her belt. In time the young
Italian was glad that she did not ride
in a carriage, else it had not been given
To 70 hot "a n falv
the street on his side of the tracks,
and to turn her over to the more stall
wart policeman on the other side.
Spring came an: and the academy &C len y
Cameron, otherwise the princess. She
was Just becoming interested in paint
ing from life, so she persuaded her
father to fit up a little studio in the
knew full well that in less than a
month the whole family would fit to
their country place.
The very next morning she stopped
at Giovanni's crossing. He had not
seen her for nearly a week. and he
was glad that broken dray barred
the passage of both vehicles and Pc
destrians.
The princess carried no portfolio
this morning, but nttle sl1Verz
with the addresses of models. When
she saw Giovanni she lost interest in
the memorandum book.
Being a young woman of impulse,
she then and there asked him to pose
for her Giovanni said sure. one OF
the few American by-words he hao
picked UP, and said it so softly that 1t
became almost a verbal c2ress' Ills
voice was the last touch. Miss cam
eron was sure now that no other model
would do.
The young lady desired the services
of Giovanni at her home the FOLLOWING
dav. Giovanni regarded it as royal
command, but alas! there were ms
grandmother and the lneXordple
Then suddenly his face Frightened.
Two days more and there "ouia oe a
fete day (what you call it-Memoriai
there would be no work
on the streets nor anywhere IN the
Great CITY. Would that suit her ex-
calIencv as we'll? The princess gra-
ciously assented and the interview
was over. ,,.
The great day dawned, and Giovanni,
in the velvet suit he had brought from
his Neapolitan home arrived at the
beautiful mansion on the avenue. Inc
nrincess had laid out a wealth OF drap-
cries gathered during her last trip
A broad but when she saw the BOY IN ms
simple costume she forgot STUDIED Ell
fects and could hardly wait until she
nosed him on the little platform. 1t
Vas for Giovanni, indeed, a -fete day,
for the two young people managed TO
understand each other, and Giovanni
melIowed and glowed under the glrIs
charm of manner as he had never done
since he came to America.
Then long before he was tired came
a. servant with cooling drink, ices and