The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-08
old WOrId
And NezV.
BY ". s. ODLIN.
Copyright, 1901. bv Homer sprdNis.

picture OF the old Italy and the new
rolled Into one" unused Penelope Gar. I
diner HE IL really more than life
size-slx feet four II he is an inch"
Her aunt, Mrs. HammelI, swung
around sharply.
"WhoY Oh, that guard1 II is his hel |
met, my dear child, and his high heeled
boots Wouldn't you think he'd be
ashamed to pose like that at the head
Of the grand staircase? Did you ever
see 10 much gilt braid and shiny leath
or ON one human beingT
Mrs. Hammell's voice had executed
gradual erescendo, and Penelope
reached forth protesting hand.
Don't speak so loud, auntle, dear.
He might understand"
But the great. square shouldered fg-
urc in giltterlng uniform stood as i'm
passive as the knight in the old Gobe-
lin tapestry before which Mrs. Ham
nell stood enraptured, though she con
tinued to criticiae the kings guard.
That's Just the difference between
our soldiery and what we see abroad.
Every one OF our lads holds possible
ties Of doing big things. Foreign sol.
dlers are mere puppets"
Penelope replied with conviction:
II don't agree with you. That man
has the face, the bearing. OF one who
will SOM day do things thrt are worth
whIle. He makes me think OF that tap.
estry knight. setting out to ight for his
true love"
Mrs. Hammeli Rasped and closed her
Baedekcr with snap.
"My dear Penelope. am amazedl II
you behave this way over the FIRST
handsome man you see in uniform.
how will you feel by the time we have
attended few receptions and met the
real nobility, rising young diplomats
and all that sort Of thlngT
thoroughly diagusted, presume"
said Penelope coldly. "and ] hope we
shall not go TO any receptions where
tiny men, with waxed mustachea and
mincing steps, viii look through my
backbone to daddy's newly acquired
Asnk account. II Is because that man
IL 80 big. so strong and looks as II he
could move heaven and earth to
achieve for the woman he loved that I
was studying him. Ii Is 80 seldom that
/ meet a man whom / could look up
TO-" ended Penelope. with Sigh for
her ave feet eleven inches OF graceful
alenderneas. II was considering him
only as an abstract quantity, hypo-
thetlcal man. 80 10 speak"
II should hope so" was her aunts
Indignant reply, "Why, these special
guards Of tho king are gathered In the
north OF Italy solely for their height,
tho guidebook says and no doubt he
was found grubhing Ia some wretched
farm or vineyard In New York he
would be working In the subway"
Penelope turned and started to cross
the great throne room where through
an OlRn window the soft Italian sun.
light beckoned to her. Tho martial
figure at the entrance 50 close to the
Gobelln tapestry had not moved the
hals Of an inch, but above the gold
braid on his collar and rising up the
peak Of his helmet was an unmlstaka
BILE flush.
Penelope paused. frozen In her tracks
but the man looked straight ahead
She crossed 10 the window, resting hel
head YEARLY ON her gloyed hand Hel
glance travelled over the great court
yard OF tho palace. while Mrs. Ham
mell completed her tour OF the tapestry
hung walls.
"He understood Engllsh--every wore
we said. How intolerahly stupid of us
Ana auntie said he probably grubbet
on farmi No wonder these foreign
ers think We Americans are rude. w,
are 30 secure aud snug IN our igno
rance OF their language that we canno
believe they understand ours"
The sunlight waned. and Penelop,
knew that out on the Appian way ten
der amethyst shadows were settling
Why could not her aunt be satisfies
with Rome's beautiful outdoor life. Ii
drives aud walksg Why must sh,
spend days and days In musty churches
aud hideonsly gariah palaces5 Sht
looked back into the room. Iovel,
shadows softened the silt frames AM
furniture, red and blues blended Int
purple. and tho uniformed figure RICH
faced abruptly, He had dared 4
watch her as she stood thus az th
window Well. Il served her right 70
talking about human beings as II the,
were statues or curioa,
That night she wrote IN her diary:
spent entire afternoon In the rOya
palace. Tapestries remaTkabla. bu
rather boring. Bedrooms reserved 10
various royal guests reminded me o
Waldorf-ABtOria. Were not permltte,
10 enter royal suit. Of course. bu
heard laughter OF royal childrel
through folding doors. and a hurd
gurdy playing IN what must have heel
thu nursery. Italy Is a place Of disillu
alons. Tho natives are learning Ems
tsh. the better TO do you. my dearl@
Penelope Gardiner held OF the plat
card at arms length aud studied
critically.
ssIfsa lavaiw Han = Won onyht 4