Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-10-28
CHAPTER L
THE Happisst Man in NSoles."


narrow, so they were quickly got
over lt.-Pilgrim's Progress.
Presto! off with the paper! let us
see how they look exclaimed a
fresh, mellow voice.
Permit me. sigonr," interpOsed the
Neapolitan stationer who presided be-
hind the counter of shop in the To
ledo; and taking the little white
packet from the hands Of the speaker,
he slipped the blade Of his penknife
through the wrapper, drew forth with
a flourish one of the cards within.
and bowling and smiling. handed IL 10
his customer There, signor, and &C
cept it with my sincere congratula-
tons
The young man glanced eagerly at
the card. upon which was engraved in
eopper-plate the name, Advocate
Carlo Poerio Donati"
II was to him the sign and symbol
o. manhood. OF freedom; II meant
that he turned his back upon examina-
tfons and tutelage; It meant that he
was at length free TO declare the love
which for many years had been the
great guiding influence Of his life.
"Ah. Signor Pietro." he replied,
turning TO the friendly cid shopkeeper
with a smile which illumined his
whole face, Il am the happiest man In
Naples today Come, Enrico, you
are not half enough excited" and
turning to his friend who stood be-
side him watching the scene with
good-humored Indifference. he caught
a similar little packet from his hand.
and tearing it open, produced o card
bearing the name Advocate Enricd
Ritter
Enrico was of German parentage,
but the Ritters had lived for half a
century in Naples aLa were natura-
lied; nevertheless. spite on his Italian
education, Enrico remained German
to the backbone and presented In ev-
cry way most curious contrast to
bis friend and companion
WAY devil take the cards. they're
not so much TO me as to you, he ex.
claimed. with a laugh "Signor Pistro
does not expect to see me wild with
excitement over a trumpery piece of
pasteboard"
Most matterof.fact, Enrico!
Where is your imagination? cried
carlo, laughing. Can the magic
word Advocate call up TO your Ger.
man brain no visions of the future?"
"visions!7 grumbled Enrico, with
assumed dependency; "ay visions OF
hot courts. long cases, rusty gowns.
aad scant fees
Both Carlo and the stationer
laughed heartily at the dolorous face
Of the speaker
We'll, Signor Pietro, II was ever the
same story, was It not? He Is prosaic
now as when We came to you years
ago for notebooks and pens on or
way from the Ginnasio. But come, II
is getting late: must be of, EDrico
Gooddhy to you. Signor Pietro and
wany thanks for your consratula-
a1ns
The two friends left the shop and
walked on through the busy, crowded
streets TO the Piazza del Plebiscito
More than one passer-by turned to
glance at Carlos beautiful face: for.
truth TO tell good looks are the excep.
ton, not the rule. In Naples and
among the swarthy or sallow Neapoi.
tans his rich. ruddy.brown colorlng
could not fail 10 win notice The
face was singularly attractive not
only from the beauty OF It's well-cut
features, but from the unaffected mod
esty Of the expression and the sweet.
ness OF the dark, liquid eyes He
looked what he had termed himself
the happiest man IN Naples. II in ap.
pearance he lacked anything Il was
height. but We cannot all be heroes OF
six feet, and Carlo, e. ough small and
slight, was SO wen proportioned, so
1.-THE and active. SO imDued with the
grace common 10 most ltallau0. that
Il was impossible to wish for any
change in him. He might that day
have stood as a true impersonatiou of
Optimism. while Enrico Ritter. on the
either hand. might we'll have posed as
Tho ideal Pessimist
Enrlco was of the Germans. Ger.
man. there was no installing that
fair, straight hair and mustache. that
light coloring and broad face, those
small lightgray eyes. honest. hard,
yet with some good,humor in their ex.
preston which contradicted the cyni-
cal mouth. What had first drawn two
such euriously contrasted men to
gether Il was impossible 70 say; sci.
enlists might have argued that Il was
the very fact that they were polar op
posites But whatever the cause Of
their friendship. friends they we're Ia
the best sense OF the word. and their
friendship had stood the wear and
tear of ten years,
By this time they had reached the
Piazza. the afternoon sun was shin.
Ing ON the red walls OF the Palaxzo
Reale, lighting up fire heavy arcades
Of the San Carlo. clarifying the dome
and stately front Of the Church of S
Francesca di Paolo Il seemed a
strange medley of ancient and modern.
haunted by memories Of King BON
ba's haunted by visions Of
Garibaldi and Carlo Poerio while
hither and thither piled the busy
tram-caTs Gad amid a CAV thronw Of