Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-03-29
CHAPTER xxxlv.

little apartment near TTajan's Forum
In spite of his rheumatism the old
gentleman had remained longer in
Berlin than he intended. first, in or
der To be with his deeply-tried sister
in-law at the time of her daughters
marriage, and then-he would not &c
without Lora, nothing would induce
him to. Every afternoon he got into
the horse-car and rode out TO the
Augusta Hospital, where his little
girl met him with cheeks growing
paler day by day. And every day she
said, Leave me here, uncle, / am
really quite WELL" in fainter tones.
1t was not until he took to his bed
with an attack OF rheumatism
brought on by the damp autumn
weather, that she wavered in her res
olution; and when he went to Helen's
wedding, and Lora, who accompanied
him, saw with her own eyes that he
really could not go alone, she yielded
and agreed to accompany MIN 10 his
beloved Rome.
Whether the cd gentleman had
made himself out worse than was
really the case, she could not deter
mine. At all events. as soon as the
train had passed the st. Gothard and
was rushing toward Lago Maggiore,
he had seemed quite another being,
and had become entirely the erect old
soldier, the attentive cavalier ut is
the change of air, child he said seri-
ously as she looked at him in amaze.
ment.
They had stayed in Naples until
Christmas, spending the day itself at
Capri. in Pagano's comfortable hotel
with its garden of palms; New Years
Day they went to Pompeii, and had
looked back with curious feelings on
all that the last year had brought to
them. Three hundred and sixty-five
days-what were they in comparison
with these ruins. which were a
thousand years old, and yet what had
they not brought to them of joy
and woe.
She had sat on the steps of the
Forum and written telegram to her
mother and aunt. and sent 1t off from
the station at Pompeii: "A greeting
for the present from remote an
iiquity!" II was curious thought,
and yet so soothing. Time rolls on
and we pass away with 1t. and with
us all our poor little joys and sorrows,
that seem so important to us In our
blind arrogance" SO thought Lora
TO herself, while her uncle remarked.
How an old Roman. who used to
come here for his summer vacation
would open his eyes at the railroad
and telegraph"
They returned to Rome toward the
end of January, satiated with beauty
of form and color, refreshed and
strengthened by their sojourn among
the wonderful scenery. ready to take
up their quiet and yet busy life in old
and new Rome, the charm of which
is never exhausted.
Down in the court below the silver
stream of water was still FLASHING out
OF the o.1 lions mouth. Comma
looked as unattractive as ever, and
the carpets and curtains had, per.
haps, few holes more Otherwise
everything was the same And after
breakfast the eccellenza and the
beautiful signora went to walk, as
they used to do, armed with maps and
guide-books; and at dusk they came
back, ate Their dinner, and sat by the
open fire, at which the signora
warmed her feet, after she had care
fully spread an afghan over the old
gentlemaa's knees, for Roman
room, even salotto. is cold in Feb
ruary, even though the stone floor is
covered with carpet,
Today they were preparing to visit
several churches. Lora wanted to
see RAJ saeis "Sibyls," in Santa
Maria della Pace.
The streets were bright and sunny.
with the blue sky above. and a mild,
spring-like air,
The fountains were playing In the
Piazza Navona. The general and
Lora walked on through the groups of
children at play, and of leisurely
tourists, and turned into the dark,
narrow street that leads to the
church. The great door was closed.
and an eager but miserably crippled
boy led them round the chiesa into q
narrow cloister, and there began TO
knock furlously at side door. At
last 1t was opened; the little cripple
received his fee. and Lora went with
her uncle into the church. in which n
dim light penetrated through the
painted windows.
A faint odor OF incense filled the
lofty space and fioated away in little
clouds under the octagonal dome.
No one was in the old church, which
was crowded with pictures and beauti.
full carvings, except q gentleman, who
was standing before a sidechapel
looking up at picture.
Silently the sacristan beckoned the
young girl across to where the strang-
er stood. "Ecco,' he said. pointing
to the "Sibyls."
She stood there. with the look of