Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-05-20
u TEMPE DEPARTMENT ~

We'll, supposing your tourists are
tired, after having walked all day
through the churches and galleries?
They may want to go to bed early
But you never can tell till you try
You may become the race on the con-
tinent. Yet, you go into the enemys
country. 1t isn't the same as going
to London among tolerant cousins. In
Italy and Germany there is always
so much red tape, laundering, con-
fusing red tapes, custom duties, excess
sive charges. But your manager must
know what he is doing"
He has everything in black and
white, l believe. But your advice is
sensible"
DO you know anything about Italy
or Germany"
only what I learned in my geog-
raphies," laughing. Rome, Flor
ence, Genoa, Venice. Nice, Milan,
Strasburg, Cologne. and on to Ber-
lin! 1t is like a fairy story come
true"
Who is your prima donna?" he
asked.
Ali" Kitty's face became eager
with excitement. Now you have put
bOthering us all. Not one of us has
seen her or knows her name She
has not rehearsed with us and will
not till We reach Naples. where we
rest a week. When we speak of her
the manager smiles and says moth
ing; and as none of us has seen the
hacker, Mr.. Worth thinks that she
herself is the prima donna and
hacker in one. We think that she
is some rich young woman who wishes
to exploit her voice. There's a lot OF
them in the world. l wish l knew
her. l am dying of curiosity The
manager is not a man to fool away
his time. She doubtless can act and
sing. Little has been said about the
ventue in the papers, and I'm glad.
We may prove perfect fizZle, and
the less said the better. AS we can't
walk back, l must learn to swim
Lunch is ready, every One!"
The mummers and the outsiders
flocked into the small dining room.
There was plenty to eat-beer soda,
whisky, and two magnums of cham
payne, Merrihew's contribution to the
feast. Hillard listened with increas-
ing amusement to the shop talk.
Such and such a person (absenD
never could act; such and such
composer (absenD was always giving
the high note to the wrong singer;
such and such a manager (absenO
never staged the opera right II was
after one when they returned to the
sitting room, where the piano stood.
The wine was now opened and toasts
were drunk. O'Mally told inimitable
stories. There was something exceed
ingly droll in that expressive Irish
face of his and the way he fingered
over his wine.
There is nothing so good as a
glass of champagne" he observed,
unless it is another"
Worth did not drink, but Hillard
did not like his handsome face any
the more for this virtue. He sang
remarkably well, however, and with
a willingness Hillard had not believed
he possessed. He wondered vaguely
why he disliked the man. He had
never met him before, and knew
nothing at all about him. II was one
of those inexplicable things which can
not be answered. Otherwise Hillard
enjoyed himself vastly. He found
these people fun of hope, light heart
ed, generous, intelligent, and generally
improvident.
Mr.. Merrihew has been telling me
all about you" said Kitty
You mean, of course, my good
qualities" replied Hillard.
ITO hear him talk, one would think
that you possessed nothing else. But
am sure that .you have giaring
far f1bt
and a woman go round"
Il believed that Merrihew had a
serious fault till tonight" he said
the admiration in his eyes.
She looked at him quickly and COL
ored. 1t was a good sign.
Has the foolish boy been telling
you that I refused to marry him? II
gravely: but / shall never marry any
man till l have ceased TO love the
stage. Just now l can not wisely
love anything else"
Il understand" he said.
Il am not a whit less extravagant
than he is. How could the two of us
live on an income which he himself
admits that he cannot live within?
But that isn't il; a million would not
make any difference. l am like a
young colt; l have no desire to be
harnessed yet. a month after l am
gone he will forget all about me; or,
at least, he will only recollect me
with a sigh of relief. There will be
others; only l hope they will treat
him as frankly as l have done"
"Merrihew is the most loyal man
know" Hillard declared, bound to
defend his comrade against this
shrewd insight to his character.
"Of course he is loyal! And he is
always in earnest-for the moment"
She laughed. But if he marries any
one while l am gone, 1 shall hate
him"
And then they both laughed.
"Tll wager another magnum," cried
Merrihew from across the room, that
I'm the subject under discussion"
Another m agnum! !" murmured
O'Mally repturously
mo more magnums.' said Kitty
resolutely.
ION abstract principles, them" in
sisted Merrihew.
You win" Kitty replied merrily.
I'VE have been saying only nice
things about you"
1t was outrageously late, nearly |
four when the jewellers took leave of