Arizona republican., 1909-06-05
CHAPTER XIX. Two Gentlemen From Verona.


 It was May in the Tuscany hills;
 blue distances: a rolling horizon; a ] sky trimmed like a broken cup; shallow, winding river, gleaming fit fully in the sun; c compact city in valley, a city of red-tiled roofs, of domes and towers and palaces, of ruined ivy grown walls and battle ments; shades of Michelangelo and Dante and Machiavelli, the Borgias and the Medicis: Florence, the city of flowers.
 Upon hill, perhaps three miles northeast of the city, stood the ancient Etruscan town of Fiesole. The flat white road which passes through the heart of the village leads into the mountains beyond. Here one sees an occasional villa, sur rounded by high walls of stone, plas- tered in white or pink, half hidden in roses, great, bloomy, sweet-scented roses. which of their quality and abundance rule the Kingdom of flow CTS, as Florence once ruled the king dem of art and learning.
 The Villa Ariadne rested upon small knoll half a mile or more north of and above Florence. from which the panoramic beauty of Florence was to be seen at all times, glisten- ing in the sun, glowing in the rain. sparkling in the night A ter race reached to the very frontal walls. which wee twelve feet above the road. On the other side of the road swept down abruptly pre- cipitous ravine, dangerous to careless riders. A small stream dashed north, twisted. and joined the Mugnone, which in turn emptied into the drab waters of the Arno.
 The villa was white and cool in the shade of dark expresses and beeches and pInk-blossomed horse chestnuts There were beds and gardens of flowers, and behind the villa a forest spread out and upward to the very top of the overshadow- ing mountain. The gates and the porter's lodge were at that end of the confines near Fiesole. The old gardener and his wife lived in the lodge. earning an extra lire nov and then by escorting tOurists through the Della Robias, the Hadrian mo- saic. the fountain ivy DOnatello, and some antique marbles, supposed % have been restored by Michelangelo. He never permitted any one to touch these glories. Periodically the agents of the government paid a visit to ascertain that none of these treasures had been sold or removed. The old gardener spoke some English.
 Life ran smoothly enough at the Villa Ariadne. La Signorina, at the very last moment, surrendered tc the entreaties of Kitty. She agreed not to pass herself off as tie princess. So they occupied the villa pleasurably and in safety. The po- lice as prescribed by law, made two visits and had gone away satisfied that. however odd they might be, the temporary tenants were proper persons Among themselves eacli played the role originally assigned. H~ was innocent fun now, and La Signorina seemed to enjoy the farce as much as any one. It was a great temptation not to prOwl round the forbidden rooms, not to steal look into the marvellous chests and side boards, bulging as they knew with priceless glass md silver and linen and laces. But La Signorina each day inspected the seals and uttered solemn warnings.
 There was 1n;.' one in this 3trang-' medley of persons who was not con tented with his i2t who cared not if the letter from home never came at all, and this person was Worth. To set down Ehe trouble briefly, he was desperately in love with La Sig norfna: and the knowledge of how homeless this passion was, together with the frequent efforts he had put forth to repress the ardent decl1- ration, were making him taciturn and