The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09

Chello ch fatto, fatto .un no par lammo echieul
 l-l PIANO-ORGAN was pouring
 A the metallic music through
 A our open windows, while a
 voice of brass prayed the words, which have since obtained, an. print above for
 Identification by such as
 Ill know their Italy better than
 I. They will not thank me for reminding them Of tune so lately epidemic in that land of aloes and blue skies, but at least 1t Is unlikely to run in their heads as the rbaid accompani- ment to a tragedy and 1t does in mine.
 It was in the early heat of August and the hour that of the lawful and neoes- sary siesta for such as turn night into day. was therefore shutting my window in rage and wondering whether should do the same for Rallies, when he appear ed in the silk pajarnas to which the chronic solicitude of Dr. Theobald con- fined him from morning to night.
 Don't do that Bunny" said he. T rather like that thing and want to listen. What sort of fellows. are they to look at, by the way?"
 I put my head out to see, 1t being a primary rule of our quaint establishment that Rallies must never show himself at any of the windows. l remember now how hot the sill was to my elbows, as leaned upon it and looked down in or der to satisfy curiosity Tn when couio sec no point.
 ''Dirty-looking beggars," said I over my shoulder: dark as dark; blue chine, oleaginous curls ard earrings; ragged as they make them, but nothing picturesque In their rags"
 .Neapolitans all over,' murmured Raf- fes behind me, "and that's g. charac- teristic touch, the one fellow singing while the other grinds; they always have that out there"
 He's rather a fine chap. the singer said I as the song ended. My hat. what teeth He's looking up here and grin ming all round his head. Shall l chuck them anythingT
 Well I have no reason to love the Neapolitans, but it takes me back-it takes me back Yes, here you are, one each"
 It we5 a couple of half-crowns that Rallies put into my hand, but had thrown them into the street for pennies before I saw what they were. Therenp- on I left the Italians lowing to the mud, as well they might, and turned to pro test against such wanton waste. But Raf- fes was walking up and down. ms mead Hent, ms eyes lTOuDith' oh' ''+-7 O--~ - cuse disarmed remonstrance
 .'Thev took me back" he repeated. My God, how they took me back Suddenly he stopped in his stride
 f.You don't understand, Bunny. old chap. hut if you like you shall. always meant to tell you some day. but never felt worked up to 1t before and its not , the kind of thing one talks about fer talking's sake It isn't a nursery story Funny. and there isn't a laugh in 1t from start to finish On the contrary. you have often asked me what turned my hair gray, and now you are going 10 hear"
 This was promising, but Rallies manner was something more. It was unique in my memory of the man. His line race softened and set hard by turns. l never knew if so hard. l never knew 1t so soft. And the same might be said of his voice, now tender as any woman g., now flying to the other extreme Of equally unwonted ferocity. But this was toward the end of this tale: the beginning he treated characteristically enough, though could have wished for less cavalier account of the island of Elba, where, upon his own showing, he had met With much humanity
 "Deadlv. my dear Bunny, is not the word for that glorihed snag or for the mollusks it's inhabitants. But they start ed by wounding my vanity, so perhars I am prejudiced after cT | sprung my sel fupon them as shipwrecked sailor -a sole survivor-stripped in the sea and landed without stitch; yet they took no more interest in me than you do in Italian orsan-grinders They were decent enough. didn't have to pick and steal for a square meal and pair of trousers; It would have been more exciting If I had. But what place! Napoleon couldn't stand it. you remember, but he held on longer than I did. put in few weeks in their internal mines, simply to pick LID a smattering of Italian: then got across to the mainland in little wooden timber tramp, and ungratefully glad l was to leave Elba blazing in just such another sunset as the one you won't for get.
 sThe tramp was bound for Paples, but first touched at Baiae, where I carefully