Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-12-18


| carried bright red lap robe and blab.
ket. spoke little English aud was
very proud OF the Accomplishment
| He was rather disappointed. however.
when Hillard bargalned with him i'm
his own tongue Tomass shook his
/ fingers under Hiilard's nose, and Hi
lard returned the compliment. Finally
Tomass compromised on Ira so cen
tesimi go cents per hour. with 20
centisimi 90 centsl as a pourboire
(tir). Crack. crack Down the hill
they went. as II q thousand devils
were after them.
by George" gasped Merrihew.
clutching his seat. "the fool will break
our necksr'
Tomass grinned and cracked his
whip. he did not understand the
word slowly in his own tongue or IN
any other. nj least not TIN he reached
| the shops. dozen times on the VIA
Roma Merrlhew yelled that they
would lose a wheel. But Tomass
knew the game
Merrihew had never seen such
shops. Coral coral wherever the eye
roamed-where did they get il all.
and to whom did they sell Il? Neck
laces. tiaras. rings, brooches. carved and
| uncarved-were there women enough
in the world to buy these things?
''If had a wife, he began.
"Weug"
I'D feel devilish sorry for her hus-
band at this moment"
But isn't the color CREATE" said Hill
lard 1t was good 10 be in Naples
again.
Il never saw SO many kids" Merri-
hew finally observed. $50 many dirty
ones" he added. "Herod would have
had bis work cut out for him here.
Now where can we get some newspa-
pers? I must know where she is"
At the bookshop I'm the piazza they
found the Rome and Florence papers.
Hillard went through them thorough
~. but nowhere did he see anything
relative to the doings OF the American
Comic Opera company.
mot line Dan"
But there must be something I'm
the Florence paper. They should be
playing there yet"
Nothing These papers are two
weeks old"
Merrihew stared blankly at the
sheet. Il should like 90 know what IT
means"
we Will write 20 the consulate IN
Rome. II there has been any trouble
ne viii certainly notify us. I'll write
tonight. Now. here's Cooks next door.
Wei ask II there is any mail for Kitty
Kiiligrew"
But there wasn't nor had there
been. and the name was not on the
forwarding books.
Looks as il your Kitty were the
needle I'm the haystack"
cut iti" savagely. Pictures and
churches and museums were al well
enough. but Mcrrihew wanted Kitty
Hilligrew above all the treasures OF
earth
When they turned down 20 the Via
CaracCiolo. with the fun sweep OF the
magnificent bay az their feet, Merri-
hew's disappointment softened some
what II was the fashionable hour.
The band was playing near by In the
villa Rationale. Americans were ev-
crywherc. Occasionally a stray prin-
cess or countess flashed by inert and
hStless against the cushions and inva-
riably overdreSsed. And when men &C
companied them the men df they were
husbands lolled back. even more list
less. And beggars OF all sorts and de-
Scriptions beSicged the very great
grand rich Americans"
They were nearly week ia Naples
They saw the galleries, the museums
and churches; they saw underground
Naples; they made the weary and use
ful ascent Of Vesuvius, and Merrihew
added a new smell 10 his collection
every hour. Pompeii by moonlight.
however, was worth a thosand ordi-
nary dreams. and Merrihew. who had
abundant Imagination. bat no art with
which 10 express H. happily or unhap-
PLY. saw Lytton's story unfold In all
its romantic splendor.
They fingered at Amalh three days
and dreamed away the hours under
the white pergola. Merrihew was
loath to leave. but IIillard was for go
ing on TO Sorrento. for which his heart
was always longing.
a spring rain fell as they took the
incline. and IL followed them over the
mountains and down into Sorrento
They tnaily drew up in the courtyard
or the Hotel de la Sirena and the
long ride was at an end. The little gar
den was white and pink with roses
and camellias. and the tubbed manda
rims were heavy with fruit.
"And this is March" said Merrihew.
his thought travelling back TO his own
bleak country. where winter is so long
and summer is so short.
Their rooms were on the northeast
corner. on the first floor, and from the
windows they could look down upon
the marina piccOla and the tideless
sea. a sheer $50 feet below. Every
body welcomed the Signor Hillard.
The hotel was his and everything and
everybody In it.
Later. when they were alone. Hnlard
began 10 explain.
They remember my father. He used
10 live like a prince In Sorrento. Ev-
cry time | come here / do the best I