Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-23
Conti.ued.

HktlAnE a sLAOuE AALllBdtAOl " lduEu
Well, he is so deceptive; he gives
sou the impression of being so good
and thinking so much of other people,
and vet ! can't make out that he has
done one single stroke of good, use
full work in his life He seems to me
exactly like the fg-tree witch had
nothing but leaves. How can he bear
to waste his life on the stage?"
you must no. malign my old
friend" said Francesca, flushing Grim
son. yet still feeling more amused than
angry, because Kate was so ludi
crously mistaken. and so perfectly
convinced that she must infallibly be
right.
Well, since you are his friend. do
just candidly tell me-Is he so good
as Clare makes out? Is he really so
delightful as my father seems TO
think?
The skeptical stress on the rs he"
made the question all the more embar-
RAISING. To be coolly asked her un-
biased opinion of the man she loved
was a new experience to francesca;
for moment she lost her presence Of
mind What in the world could she
say? How was she 10 gain the com
posed tone needful for a reply?
"Oh, yes. indeed he ist'' she said at
length, in a tolerable natural tone
have known him for years and years,
you know"
And then, because the answer
seemed o her so absurdly inadequate
and because she was vexed with Kate
for having asked such a question, she
felt ready to cry
But, luckily. Kate was not observ-
ant She went on serenely:
Well for my part. | don't under
stand Italians at ALL
Al that moment Carlo entered, over
bearing the last words. He at once
guessed that Kate had been attacking
Francesca AS to his character. and
knowing that they would feel uncom.
Portable. said, in his easy way;
M. even ttter all our 7 nte read.
lngs Miss Brittun? Has NJ our great
poet raised your opinion of his coun.
trymen? / am afraid sou are very
hard on the South"
Well, frankly said Kate Il don't
unders' and southern natures; and why
you ar so wrapped up In your coun-
try | emit imagine
You see. 10 you Italy is mercy a
eeogral lical expression, as Prince
Mettern ch used to say. To me II Is
the lan0 for which my father, and his
father before him. fought and died"
He broke off rather abruptly, afraid
of repelling her English nature by
70 much warmth Of utterance lie had
not lived so much among English peo-
pie without learning 10 restrain his
speech. and bring 1t round Pretty
nearly to the conventional terseness
Of true RritOn Francesca knew
that. had they been alone torrent 81
italian would have escaped his lips,
and the full force of his eager patriot
ism would have been revealed.
You viii think me very blunt, said
Kate, but ! really don't see what you
Italians have 10 be so prou1 Of
don't see that YOU have any great
men L. boast of-except, of course,
painters and musicians
CARLO laughed, You viii at least al.
Cow rs Dante?'
Dante belongs TO the world" said
Kate
True. that might be said also OF
Shakespeare: vet Shakespeare is Eng
'ish and Dante Is Italian
"pante counts among the artists 4"
said Kate. in her decided tone You
have no other great men"
Francesca sat watching the dis
putants, intensely amused at Rates
calm, argumentative manner, as to
Carlo he seemed gradually losing his
English sobriety, and the more Kate
attacked his nation the more Italian
Ne became
What" he exclaimed DO you
then wish Tor greater men than Ca
hleu, than Savonarola, than Columbus
W naniele Mauin. than Mazgini
,tau Garibaldle is IT nothing To have
A.. mced q man of science Ike Gal.
varia. a sain like Francesca Of Assist.
etriots like Pe'ieo and PoeroH'
Now Silvio Pe,lico was nc hero TO
Kate. she smiled at the mention Of
his name. He only meant so her a
luug. duh Italian book. which she had
struggled half through. until, 10 her
delight she had been promoted 80 l
From esai Sposi She had not lived
with Pellico in his sitting cell under
'he piombi at Venice, OF wearied with
him through hts long years in the
Aus an fortress, as Carlo had done
IN mis- childhood
You care so much FOR your coun.
ty." she remarked. but. after all,
patriotism Seems to me a very narrow
timing We ought instead 20 love the
whole human race
He started 20 his feet with a gesture
that surprised her
Relieve me" he exclaimcd. YOU
ttc mistaken There Is no true love
q race till you ,oye your ov@ land.
tus' ss there is no charity. in the
v3dc ser~e az he word, nm YOU have
genuine owe Tor those Of your own
family Fer " hat else are We set 10
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