Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1904-12-13

0iONdHHi uei 4 idtos SAdAu>OA VI Oiu
Marie, stood at the crossing and waved
The little red flag which warned tray
e,ers and chauffeurs that an excava-
ton lay just beyond. This excavation
had been a source of annoyance to the
great city for many months, but Clio
vanni had prayed that it might never
be filed in, first, because SO long as he
waved the little red dag he would draw
81 day. and then had come the prin-
cess.
10 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 with gold and of a
people who paid big prices to lads with
good voices, but he had found the OPP
era season closed and his grandmother
skeptical of the commercial value of
fresh. unframed voices. She had been
in America five years, and of the little
red flag and the dollar day she was
sure
Even of the princess he at times felt
bit uncertain, for he thought it 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 4 portfolio, but
the princess would not ride in their
carriages 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 Giovanni's mind. however, there
was nc question about her royal blood
1t showed in her carriage, in her pa
trician features and her proudly car
ried little head, in the fit of the Won
derful gray gown she always wore and
in the yiolets at her belt. In time the
young italian was glad that she did
not ride in 4 carriage, else it had not
been given to him to see that she got
safely across the street on his side Of
the tracks and to turn her over to the
more stalwart policeman on the other
side.
Giovanni did not tell his grandmoth-
er about the princess. Old Marie ran Il
boarding house for Italian workmen.
and constant intercourse with these
men and the struggle TO get her board
money each week had rather killed SEN
timent. but under her vehement fault
finding her love for Giovanni burned
clearly ana steadily.
Spring came. and the academy closed.
much TO the regret of Kate Cameron,
otherwise the princess. She was just
becoming interested in painting from
life. 50 she persuaded her father to fit
up a studio in the attic of their town
house, though she knew full fell that
In less than n month the whole fam
lily would fit TO their country place.
One of the professors at the academy
agreed to call occasionally and criti-
else her work. and there remained only
the question of models. A half dozen
young men who heard her talk about
1t at a fashionable tea Immediately Of.
fered to act in this capacity. but she
laughed aside their suggestions. They
We're sadly lacking in the artistic tenn
permanent, she. said.
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 pedestri-
ans. The princess carried no portfolio
this morning, but little silver mount
ed memorandum book filed with the
addresses Of models. When she saw
Giovanni she lost interest in the memo
randum book. She had noticed him
before as 4 graceful. 1.-THE lad despite
his rough garments. and now his eyes
glowing with delight at sight of her
his beautiful white teeth showing as
he smiled, and the graceful gestures
with which he continued to wave the
| flag, despite the fact that vehicles
could neither come nor 90, caught and
held her interest.
| Being a young woman of impulse
she then and there asked him to pose
for her Giovanni said. Sure one Of
| the few American bywords he had
picked up, and lie said it SO softly thai
! it became almost a verbal caress. Hi.
voice was the last touch. Miss Cam
eron was sure now that no other mod
| ell would do. but unfortunately Giovan
| nj had not understood a word she hat
| said. He would have said "sure" tt
! any request the princess made Of him
/ and this much he had gathered from
her vords-the princess had need o
him and his services. The girl looked
puzzled, and d fellow workman, VIII,
understood both Italian and English
stepped forward and offered to act a
interpreter. The young lady desires
the services of Giovanni at her hon
the following day. Giovanni regards
it as royal command, but, alas, Their
| were his grandmother and the inexo
rable JOB"
Then suddenly his face frightened
Two days more and there would be
fete day-what you call it. Decoration
day ?-and there would be no work o.
the streets or anywhere in the grea
city. Would that suit her excelIenc
as well: The princess graciously as
sentet The interpreter took the &C
dress, and the interview was over.
After the girl had gone the inter
prefer in fluent Italian informed Git
vanni that tie was a lucky dog. Th
young lady had agreed to pay him fo
the days work, FIVE times as much a
be earned waving the flag. "A goo
days work" said the italian as /
turned away. But Giovanni looked at
er him scornfully TIE fete day was