The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-02
A VISIBLE PORTION
OF A ROMANCE
BY r. a. mitchell.

II Is q pretty sight 70 see steamer
leave her anchorage IN the bay Of
Naples and speed westward to the
new continent The chameleon water
Is the hue Of the sky. whatever that
may be; perhaps azure, perhaps green,
perhaps silver From the cutwater a
pair Of white pIumes shoot backward,
reminding one OF those decorating a
lady's hat Even the volume Of smoke
pouring from her great funnel has its
4 tlnts. An American standing on the
sea wall, perhaps bit homesick. looks
upon her as connecting link with
loved ones on the far shore, Then,
too, II given 10 dreaming. be remem-
bers that within the distant ship are
/ being enacted romances
Here Is one / saw with my own
eyes.
We left Naples at IN the after
noon. stood on the afterdeck look
ing back at the city and her gigantic
sentinel, Vesuvius. tri1e Of smoke
emerging from the.crater, as If he were
ready to pour forth redhot missiles IN
It's defense. Looking down on to a
deck where the steerage passengers
were lounging, noticed a young girl
gazing up at the deck where | stood.
She was evidently Italian and above
the usual grade OF Storage passen-
gers. There was something In those
black eyes OF hers that indicated that
she was powerfully moved within.
When she saw that she had attracted
my attention she withdrew 20 a place
where could no longer see her.
The next morning was smoking
on the upper deck, where an old salt,
whose business it was to provide i'm
plements for games, was putting
chalk lines for SWITCHBOARD ON the
planks. Two young men and two
young girls came and played One OF
the girls attracted my attention. A
small felt hat secured by a ven.
sweater and skirt only reaching to
the tops Of her boots made up her
visible attire
She laughed most Of the time, and
her laughter was delicious 10 short.
she was one OF those fresh hearted
girls, at that attractive age when they
have just reached womanhood. whom
mature men love to gaze upon and
boys either do not appreciate or are
ready 10 commit suicide for. I saw her
at dinner Ia evening dress and was al
most ready TO commit suicide for her
myself Above the table line was the
round bust white shoulders sloping
into lovely neck. lips parted IN per-
petual smile. eyes laughing, too, and
a mass Of black hair parted on the side
Of the head. Beside her was the young
man who had played Switchboard as
her partner. and Il was plain that he
was enthFalled.
Every day and every evening my
eyes were at some time or times on
the couple. Other passengers passed
the days reading stories IN print. Why
should ! read stories when | had the
real thing before met Is not beau
tiful view superior to its picturez And
Is not love in nesh and blood more at.
tractive than In cold printf At any
rate, / was interested In the morning
the sunlight smiled upon them while
they romped. In the afternoon she sat
IN steamer chair. her eyes laughing
at him as he continually tucked her
rug about her ankles or folded It about
her shoulders. In the evening they sat
together IN some cozy corner OF the
deck.
At Gibralter ] saw the lovers side by
side IN the little steamer used to take
visitors ashore. The girl. as usual. was
laughing. At Madeira | went ashore
with them In the same boat. In the
public garden there, redolent with
tropical plants and perfumes. heard
a laugh and. turning curve. came face
to face with them. verify believe
they did not even recognize me for ene
Of the ships passengers. SO engrossed
were they with each other The same
evening as we steamed westward
along the island coast they stood to-
gether. viewing the vineyards on the
hillsides through binoculars
Several times during the voyage
while on the afterdeck saw the ltai-
ian steerage passenger and always
with her eyes turned upward and for
ward as though looking for some one.
She was always alone, and never saw
her speaking TO any one. There was
mingled melancholy and savage look
on her face, as though she was brood.
ing over some wrong The day before
we reached the American coast saw
her looking, as usual, up at the deck
on which stood Presently the lovers
came up. the sunshine lighting the
girls smile. Suddenly ! saw the ItaI-
ian below tear a knife from her waist
and throw 1t at them The y"ung man
must have seen the act, for he put
himself between his companion and
the danger and received the knife in
his right breast | saw the red blood
moistening bis white flannel coat and
thought for moment be was killed.
Drawing the girl along with him. be
rushed to the steps leading to the deck
below. She seemed hardly TO have
realized what had happened
! was the only one who had seen the
hurting Of the missile. and ! kept the
secret. saw the ships doctor hurry
ing to the young mans sta1eroom, and
when he came out ! asked him II bis
patient was fatally hurt. He had EVIL
IDENTIFY been pledged not to talk, for
he pretended not to know Of any In
jury.