The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-16
Giovanni and
The Princess
........By ANNA CASE
CopyIsh. 1904. by Anna Case

Giovanni del Prato, grandson of old
Marie, stood at the crossing and waved
the little rcd flag which warned tray-
slers and chauffeurs that an excava-
fion iay just beyond This excavation
mad been source Of annoyance to the
great city for many months, but Clio.
vanm had prayed that it might never
be filled in, first, because so long as he
waved the little red flag he would draw
u 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
or his Neapolitan home. He had dream
ed Of cities paved with gold and of n
people who paid big prices to lads with
good voices. but he had found the op-
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 nag and the dollar a day she was
sure.
Even of the princess he at times felt
a bit uncertain, for he thought it odd
that n princess should walk by his cor
ner every morning with n portfolio TN
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
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 GfovannfS mind, however, there
was no question about her royal blood
1t showed in her carriage, in her pa
trician features and her proudly car
f1ed little head, in the fit Of the won
derful gray gown she always wore and
IN the violets ut her belt. In time the
young italian was glad that she did
not ride In n carriage, else 1t 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 q
boarding house for Italian workmen,
ana constant intercourse with these
men and the struggle to get her board
money each week had rather killed SEN
unient, but under her vehement fault
nnding her love for Giovanni burned
clearly and steadily.
Spring came, and tile academy closed.
much to the regret of Kate Cameron.
otherwise the princess. She was Just
becoming interested in painting from
life, so she persuaded her father to fit
up studio in the attic of their town
house, though she knew full fell that
IN less than month the whole fam
~ 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 fashionable tea Immediately Of.
Tered to act in this capacity, but she
laughed aside their suggestions. They
were sadly lacking In the artistic tenn.
perament, she said.
The very next morning she stopped
at Giovannis crossing. He had not
seen her for nearly a week, and he was
glad that q broken dray barred the
passage of both vehicles and pedestri
ans. The princess carried no portfolio
this morning, but q little silver mount
ed memorandum book filled 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 Mt sight Of her
his beautiful white teeth showing as
he smiled. and the graceful gestures
with which lie continued to wave the
nag despite the fact that vehicles
could neither come nor GO caught and
held her interest
Being young woman OF impulse
she then and there asked him TO pose
for her. Giovanni said Sure" one OF
the few American byWOrdS he haG
picked up, and he said it 50 softly that
1t became almost a verbal CarcSs. His
voice was tic last touch. Miss Cam
eron was sure now that 10 other mod
el would do. but unfortunately Giovan
nj had not understood IL word she haG
snid. lie would have said sure" tC
any request the princess made of him
and this much he had gathered from
her words-the princess had need OF
him and his services. The girl looked
puzzled, and n fellow workman, who
understood both Italian and English
stepped forward and offered to act us
Interpreter. The young lady desired
the services OF Giovanni at her homo
the following day Giovanni regarded
It as royal command, but, alas, there
were his grandmother and the inexo-