Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-08
went up the piazetta leisurely toward

went UP the Piazetta leisurely toward
the Piazza.
The Piazza San Marco, or Saint
Mark, is the Mecca of those in search
of beauty; here they may lay the sa-
cred carpet, kneel and Worship. There
is none other to compare with this
mighty square, with it's enchanting
splendor, its haunting romance, its
brilliant If pathetic history. Light,
! everywhere light; scintillating, dane
ing. swing light; Spars and lances Of
| light upon the shivering waters, red
and yellow and white! Light, the re-
Elective radiance of jewels and happy
eyes! Light. breaking against the
pink and white marbles, the columns
of porphyry, malachite, basalt and
golden mosaics! Let the would-be
traveller dream of it never so well;
he will come to find his dreams van
pushed. Nothing changes in the Piaz-
"a San Marco nothing save the tour
lists and the contents of the bewilder-
ing shops; all else remains the same,
little more furnished by the sea-
winds and the march of the decades,
perhaps. but still the same Read your
poets and study your romances, but
delve into no disillusioning guide
books. Let us put our faith in the gon-
dolier; for his lies are far more pic
turesque than world of facts.
There were several thousand people
in the square tonight, mostly travel
ers. The band was playing selections
from Audran's whimsical La Mas
cote. The tables Of the many cafes
were filled, and hundreds walked to
and fro under the bright arcades, or
stopped to gaze into the shop win
dows. Here the merchant seldom
closes his shop till the band goes
home. Music arouses the romantic,
and the romantic temperament is al
ways easy to swindle, and the mer-
chant of Venice will swindle you If he
can
The two women saw no vacant Ia
bles at Florian's, but presently they
espiedl the other derelicts- O'Mally,
Smith and Worth-who managed to
find two extra chairs. They learned
that O'Mally had had two BEERS vast
niece of recl1lessness. He was ripe
for anything. and gaily welcomed his
fellow unfortunates. He laughed. told
funny stories. and made himself gen.
orally amusing. Smith made weak at.
temps to assist him On the other
hand, Worth seldom smiled and rarely
spoke
Through her veil their former
prima donna studied them carefully, |
with a purpose in mind. The only one
she doubted was Worth. Somehow he
amazed her; she could not explain
vet still the sense of annoyance was
always there. 1t might have been that
she had seen that look in other eyes, |
and that it usually led to the same
end She could not criticise his ac-
lions: he was always the perfection of
courtesy to her, never overstepped,
never intruded.
Gentlemen" she said, during a !
lull. II have plan to propose to you
ALL
eff it will get us back to old Broad
way before we are locked up for debt,
let us have it at once, by all means"
said O'Mally.
Well, then, propose to wait no
longer for letters from home. The last
boat brought nothing 1T will be four
teen days before the next arrives,
since you all tell me that you wrote
to have your mail sent by the Medit
erranean. Ny plan is simple. They say
that gambler always wins the first
time he plays. Taking this as a golden
text, I propose that each of you will
spare me what money you can, and
Kitty and ! will go to Monte Carlo
and take one plunge at the tables"
ITO he COntinued)