The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29

costumes habits and deeds foreign To our
are lend II a charm that makes II without
doubt the great popular work OF this writer
whatever the Judgment of literary profes-
sionaiisnl may be. Not that even the most
technical anii analytical Judgment can or
does decry the merit of 'Eomola. " IL is
one OF the great novels OF the world. Its
literary style liz high Its depletion of char
no,er is mastasrly, Like most historical
novelists, the author takes liberties with
history; but ;fhay the liberties OF one
who knows history--in which she differs
somewhat striktngly from the mass of the
historical novel school.
on a morning in the midspring of
1892 the shop OF Nelio. the learned bar
Der. of Florence. WAS filled as usual
with the notnbilities who gathered
there. partly to enjoy the clever minis
trations of the owner and mostly to
gossip with each other, when strang-
er was brought in by Nello and intro
duced as young Greek who had been
shipwrecked ON his way from the far
Orient.
This Young man has unlimited
Greek. Latin or Italian at your SER
vice" said the barber. and. has lost
a. store of precious manuscript that
might have contributed some correct
ness even to your correct editions,
pomenico Cennini He will interest
II,
gems of great value and have told
him that YOU would advance money on
them
pomenico Cennini. son of the Ber-
nardo Cennint who had introduced the
new German printing process into
Florence some years before looked
with slow. grave eyes en- the young
stranger.
Tito Melema is my name" said the
Creek slipping off great onyx ring
and presenting 1t. II would pray you
to hold the ring till ] can redeem II,
which / Will do as soon as can sell
s other gems that have about me.
He took a case from his tnnic. These
are curious and valuable intaglos
{, young man." said Cennini. Ihey are
= worth mans ransom.
Tito gave a start at the words and
Cooked sharply at the printer, but re-
covered himself Immediately. realiz-
ing that the words We're used merely
in the commonplace meaning OF the
phrase.
e. Meantime Piero di Cosima, the FAM
& nus and eccentric painter, had kept
: his eyes fixed on the young Creek. Now
: he said abruptly:
Young man. am painting picture
of Simon deceiving old Friam, and |
should he 21a1 OF your jhtt bpi NY
Simon IL YOU would give me sitting
Tito Melema started again and looked
around with pale establishment His
answer If he intended to make any,
was anticipated by Nello. who burst
into a half-angry. half humorous TRADE
+ against the artist.
"Nello.'' said Piero "if thy tongue
could leave off its everlasting chirpina
thou couldst see that the face of Mes
ser will suit my traitor, because per-
feet traitor should have a face which
vice can write no marks on--lips that
will lie with dinpled smile-eyes OF
ruce agate like brightness and depth
that no infany can dull them
cheeks that Will not look haggard az
ter a murder. l say not this young
man is a traitor i mean he has the
face that would make him most per
feet traitor if he had the heart OF
one"
Here Cennini interrupted and asked
Tito TO follow him, much TO the
Greeks relief pomenico's brother
Pietro was no less impressed with the
value of the gems and aztec showing
them to some of the great patrons Of
art they We're able to pay Tito .h'
sum. immense for those days, OF firt
hundred golden fiorns.
When he was alone with his wealth
the Greek. looked at the shining pile o
gold with tha.rsmile slowly dying on
of his face. "a mans ransom" The
three words came again and again t
his ears. II now. under this midda.
sun, on some hot coast far away.
man stricken In years-a man witt
high thoughts and a most passionat
heart--a man VINO had rescued littl
boy from beCSary. filth and wrons
many years ago and reared him ten
derby and been to him a father-i
that man were now, under this sum
rer sun and toiling as slave. hewlnl
wood and drawing water, perhaps be
ing smitten and buffeted because Ii
was not young and active: II h
were saying to himself: Tito will fin
me. He had but to carry my manu-
scripts and gems to Venice to raise N
ransom, and he will never rest till IL
rescues me-
"Of course thought Tito, II woul
risk myself for his sake If It wer
certain that he is in captivity" W
nothing could be further from Gel
tainty. All that was known was thu
his galley had been taken by Turl
ish vessel bound for Delos. What kin
of search would this not be? +
would most probably find himse
seized or spend all the tlorins witho,
result and be destitute wander
again--with no more gents TO sell
Surely. thought he. 1t woul be an ii
Justice that one should turn his BAT
on wealth and promised distinction
his ripe youth. And still" said he
himself, ST ! We're certain that BIZ
dassarre Calvo We're alive would fr
him, whatever might he the exertio
and the perilsn
The next day Tito invested /
frorins, BY that step he chose /
color In the game. He made it il
possible that he should not thencefor
desire that It were true that his foste
father were dead. All the little ri
OF selfishness that had hitherto mea
dered harmiessly enough through
sunny, laughing nature were uni,
by that one act and made one err
stream that cut an abiding cham
The joyous handsome clever Gre
had fallen into a pleasant place, Ell
ence, proud OF her learning, proud
her reputation as a patron city of
arts and sciences, did not wait TO
rourted by the learned but sour
them. A city in which even The str
peddlers quoted the classical poets
discoursed in the technical terms Of
was quick To hold ont hospita
hands 10 such an Interesting person;
t8 as young master of the class