Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-26
From LuciIe's Diary.


shall never have to open deeper book
than "'rhe Dolly Dialogues" or look at
any pictures except those on the comic
page.
Coming from Florence to Venice my
spirit rebelled when Ruskin and Hare
We're taken out of the suitcase and /
went into the next compartment, which
fortunately was empty. | determined
to keep it to myself if could. so l wet
my handkerchief in some camphor l
had in my bag and tied it over one
eye. /Then 7 lay down with my head
near the door and quite enjoyed the
Explanations OF the travellers who star
ted to come i'm at each station and then
hastily withdrew.
At last l went to sleep and did not
waken until we were crossing the lonA
bridge into Venice Then I discovered
that 1 was not alone after all, for two
Young American men were sitting OPP
posite me. / removed my bandage with
Il little sigh and smocthed my hair with
pat or two as hest | could. Then
Mary called me. Making the slight
bow which is customary in Europe and
which l think quite fetching, l left
well, then, We'll go to the Grand"
one of the men was saying to the other
as l stepped into the corridor.
Did you say we We're going to the
when We were putting on our wraps.
| mo, the International"
WHY don't we go to the Grand? I'm
sure we'd all like it,
| We've settled on the International
1 g.. H. H..
answered
| DO just as you think best, of course,
dear Mrs. Townsend. l suppose it is
| foolish of me to set my neart on any
special hotel. l had thought I should
like SO much to try the Grand, but you
know l am always more than willing to
give up any little preferences of my
own"
| Why, you dear child, if you want SO
much to go to the Grand, we certainly
shall" said Mrs. Townsend.
| so it was decided and the gondola we
! took went down the canal by the side
of another containing the two good
looking young men. 1t happened that
| they went into the Office of the hotel
at the same time we did and they lifted
their hats to me quite pleasantly. AS
we went to our rooms Mary said sar-
castically, Il wonder why Lucille chose
| this hotel?"
| However, she and Althea both ap-
peared pleased with the addition to our
party when we found the American
men had been given seats at the din
ing table with us. We all introduced
ourselves and Mr.. Darrell and Mr. Col
son proved so agreeable and entertain
ing that 1 suggested we all take an
evening gondola ride together.
WELL you must all be willing to
come in early" said Mrs. Townsend
for you know we have had a tiresomc
| journey and ] for one wish to be in
| bed long before midnight
| None of us speaks Italian aid ]
don't see how We can tell our Condo
liers where to 60" remarked Althea.
| "Why, we can have the hall porter
instruct +hem,' l said.
AS 1 passed through the office | told
the Porter to engage two gondolas and
to tell the gCndoliers to take us all
along the Grand cuna: and on any 9TH
ers that We're especially interesting.
| Mr.. Darrell went with Althea and me
in one gondola, which Mr.. Corson es-
corted Mar aud her mother 1t was
so delightful gliding by the dimly ligh-
ted old palaces that / felt 1 could go
on forever. But my dream-like enjoy
ment was interrupted at length by calls
from the gondola behind us. 1t was
Mary asking rather frantically why we
Didn't go in.
| AS [ do not like tn strain my voice
by shrieking in the night air, / asked
| Nv. Darrell to tell her than no doubt
we should be going in soon. Then We
urIfted on. enchanted with the beauty
of the night. Mr.. Darrell and l amused
| ourselves by playing that we were a
duke and princess of the middle ages
Don't you think it's getting awfully
cold and late?" asked Althea, who took
no part in our little drama.
| "How unromantic you are! How can
YOU be cold in the midst of this love-
~ scene"' I asked.
Perhaps because l haven't on a fur
lined coat and two steamer rugs over
me- If ] had bought a trunk full of
| clothes instead of coming with hand
luggage as Mrs. Townsend requested,
| suppose I, too could keep warm, -
she said rather querously.
| FLOW ufOll you are! L answered.
Then turning to Mr.. Darrell, | said:
Miss Bartlett is constantly laughing
| about my voIuminous wraps. She is so
witty ard full OF fun 1 always enjoy
her chatting"
Althea was Just about to speak when
more shouts came from the gondola
behind us.
Tell your man the Grand hotel"
called Mr.. Colson. MRS. Townsend
wants to go in
OF course VIC had to obey and though
our gopdolier grumbled he took us to
our quay.
| Didn't we have a lovely time?" !
said as we were all landing
| "Do you know what time it is now ?''
asked Mrs. Townsend Its nearly 2
O'Clock. What in the world did you
| have the hall porter tell these menu
! l did not choose to hear her-ques-
| ton, as | do not like to have an argu-
| ment with Mrs. Townsend. She has
a nervous aud eXcitable nature that
| calm discussion with her is next to i'm
possible. / think. too, ii was very in
| cOnSiderate of her tn sneak To mo so