Arizona republican., 1909-05-26
CHAPTER XI.
The City BY the Sea.

enveloped the ancient church and the
lines of the caves and the turns of
the corners were er-bright. How
still at night was this fairy city in
the sea! Save for the occasional
booming of bells-and. in Italy they
are for ever and ever booming-and
the low warning cry of the gon-
doliers, there was nothing which
spoke of life, certainly not here in
the Campo Santa Maria Formosa.
There were no horses Gathering over
the stone pavements, no trans, no
omnibuses; the stiffness which was
of peace lay over all things And
some of this had entered Kitty's heart
She was not deeply read, but never
theless she had her share of poetical
feeling. And to her everything in
the venerable city teemed with un-
expressed lyric. What if the Bridge
of Signs was not true, or the fair
Desdemona had not dwelt in a palace
on the Grand Canal, or the Mer-
chant had neither bought nor sold
in the shadow of the Rialto bridge?
Historians are not infallible. and it
is sometimes easier and pleasanter
to believe poets.
have been perfect. Kitty, ordinarily
brave and cheerful, was very lone
some and homesick Tears sparkled
in her eyes and threatened to fall at
any moment 1t was all very well
to dream of old Venice; but when
home and friends kept intruding con-
stantIyi The little bank-aceount was
s. small that five hundred would
she would be out of employment till
the coming autumn. The dismal fail
ure of it ALL She had danced, sung.
spoken her lines the very best she
knew how; and none had noticed or
encouraged her. 1t was a bitter cup,
after all the success at home. If
only she could take it philosophicaily,
like La Signorina! She shut her
eyes. How readily she could see the
brilliant, noisy, friendly Broadway,
the electric signs before the theaters,
the gay crowds in the restaurants 1t
was all very fine to see Europe on
comfortable letter of credit but to
see it under such circumstances as
these, that was a different matter.
To live in this eyil-smelling old tene-
merlt, with seldom any delicacy to
eat, a strange jabber- jabber ringing
in ones ears from morning till night.
and to wait day after day for that
letter from home. was not situa-
ton such as would hearten ones love
of romance. The men had it much
easier; they always do. There was
eyer some place for man to go;
and there We're three of them, and
they could talk to one another. But
here, unless La Signorina was about
and she had an odd way of disap-
pearing-she, Kitty, had to twiddie
her thumbs or talk to herself, for
she could understand nothing these
people kindly enough in their way,
said to her.
She opened her eyes again, and this
time the tears flowed unheeded. OF
what use is pride, unless it be OBJ
served by others? She missed some
one, a frank, merry kind hearted
some one; and it was balm to her
heart to admit it at last. Had he
appeared at that moment she must
have fallen gratefully into his arms.
And there were so many things
she could not understand. Why should
La Signorina always go yelled? Why
S0Ouiu Hlllt llCl oElNlldld
Where did she disappear so mys
teriously in the daytime? And those
sapphires, and diamonds and emer-
aids? Why live here, with such a
fortune hanging round her neck?
Kitty forgot that, for the sake of
sentiment, one will sometimes eat a
crust when one might dine like
prince.
.Kitty?" The voice came from the
doorway Kitty was startled for
moment, but it was only La Sig
norma. Kitty furtively wiped her
eyes.
4 am over here by the window.
The moon was so bright 1 did not
light the lamp"
La Signorina moved with light step
to the window, bent and caught
Kitty's face between her hands and
turned it firmly toward the moon.
You have been crying, cara!"
81 am very lonely" said Kitty.
You poor little homeless bird." La
Signorina seized Kitty impulsively in
her arms. IF l were not" She
hesitated.
IF you were not?"
"If were NOT poor, but rich in
stead, I'd take you to one of the
fashionable hotels. You are out of
place here, in this rambling old ruin"
Not half so much as you are"
replied Kitty.
Il am never out of place. 1 can
live comfortably in the fields with |
the peasants, in cities, in extrava
CANT hotels 1t is the mind, my dear |
not the body My mind is always at
one height; where the body is does
not matter much"
There was a subtle hauteur in the |
voice; it subdued Kittys inquisitive-
ness. And no other woman had, TIL
recently accomplished this feat. Kitty |
was proud. but there was something |
in her companion that she recognized |
but could not express in words
"Comei" said the older woman. 81
myself am lonely and desperate to-
night. i am going to throw away a |
precious bit of silver on a gOndolier
We haven't been out. three times |
together since we arrived. Perhaps |
it would have been better had we all |
in Rome: but there / could /
not have helped you. The band plays |
in the Piazza tonight. They are go
ing to play light opera. and it viii