Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-20
CHAPTER II.
Object, Matrimony.

unite so intolerable as their counter
parts in London; and while their ire
uuencv is a matter of complaint, their
duration is seldom of any length: SO,
NV the morrow a strong wind from
the west had winnowed the skies and
cleared the sun. There was an eX-
hilarating tingle of frost in the air
and visible rime on the windows.
Hillard, having breakfasted lightly,
WAS standing with it's back to the
crate in the coy breakfast room. He
was in boots and breeches and other
wise warmly clad, and freshly shaver.
He rocked on his heels and toes, and
ran his palm over his blue-white chin
In search of a possible slip OF the
razor.
Giovanni came in to announce that
he had telephoned, and that the sig
nore's brown mare would be at the
park entrance precisely at half after
eight. Giovanni still marveled over
this wonderful voice which came out
OF nowhere, but he was no longer
afraid of 1t. The curiosity which is
innate and childlike in all Latins
soon overcame his dark superstitions
He was an ardent Catholic and be-
lieved that few miracles should be
left in the hands Of God. The tele'
phone had now become kind of play
thing, and Hillard often found him
In front Of it, patiently waiting for
the bell to ring
The facility with which Giovanni
had mastered English amazed his
teacher and master, but now he need
ed no more lessons, the two when
alone together spoke Giovanni's
kongue; Hillard, because he loved It.,
and Giovanni because the cook spoke
1t badly and the English butler not at
all
you have made up your mind to
go, then, amico?' said Hillard.
Eyes. signore."
I well, l shall miss you. To whom
shall talk the tongue l love so well,
when Giovanni is gomez" with a light
ness which he did not feel. Hiliard
had grown very fond Of the old Roman
In these seven years.
Whenever the signore goes to
italia, he shall find me. 1t needs but
\ word to bring me to him. The sig
more will pardon me, but he is like
like son.
Thanks, Giovanni. By the way,
did you hear woman singing in the
street last night?"
eyes. At first" Giovanni Aesi-
tated.
"Ah, but that could not be, Giovan-
nj; that could not be-"
mo, it could not be. But she sang
well!' the old servant ventured.
$50 thought l. I even ran ont into
the street to find out who she vas;
but she vanished like the lady in the
that, while she sang in Italian, she
herself was not wholly Of that race"
"Buonissima!" Giovanni struck a
noiseless bravo with his hands. Have
| not always said that the signores
ears are as sharp as my own? No,
The voice was very beautiful, but it
was not truly Roman. 1t was more
like they talk in Venice. And yet the
sound Of the voice decided me. The
hills have always been calling to me;
and l must answer
'sAnd the unforgetting carabinieri?"
"Oh, / must take my chance" with
The air of fatalist.
What shall you do?"
81 have my two hands, signore. Be
sides, the signore has said it; l am
rich" Giovanni permitted smile to
stir his thin lips Eyes, I must go
back. Your people have been good to
me and have legally made me one of
them, but my heart is never here. 1t
Is always so cold and every one moves
30 quickly. You can not lie down in
the Gun. Your police, bah! They
beat you on the feet. You remember
when ! fell asleep on the steps of the
cathedral? They thought I was drunl;
and would have arrested mel"
everybody must keep moving here
1t is the penalty of being rich.'
"And am lonesome for my kind
have nothing in common with these
herds Of Sicilians and Neapolitans
who pour into the streets from the
wharyes." Giovanni spoke scornfully
"Yet in war time the Neapolitans
sheltered your pope.S
Vanity! They wished to make al
impression on the rest of the world. I
Is dull here, besides. There is no 10!
In the shops I am lost in these grea
palaces The fiesta is lacking. No
body bargains; nobody sees the PRO
protector; you find your way to thu
streets alone. The butcher says tina
his meat is so-and-so, and you pay
the grocer marks his tins such-aud
such, and you do not question; ant
The baker says that and you pay, pay
pay. What? I need collar; it j
uuattordici-ffteen you say! offe
uuattardici. I would give interest =
The sale. But no! The collar goe
back into the box. pay quindici, or
70 without. 1t is the same every
where; very dull. dead, lifeless."
Hillard was moved to laughter. II
very well understood the old mans ls
ment. In Italy, il there is one thin
more than another that pleases III
native 1t is to make believe to hin
self that he has got the better of
bargain. A shrewd purchase enliven
the whole day; it is talked abcu
laughed over, and becomes the histor
of the day that Tomas, or Piet1o, {
Paoli, or whatever his name may b.
has bested the merchant out of SON
twenty centesimi.
"And the cook and the butler" COZ
Guided Giovanni; I'VE do not get c