Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-08

the Grand Canal, or the Merchant
had neither bought nor sold in the
shadow of the Rialto bridge? Histor-
| ians are not infallible, and 1t is some
times easier and pleasanter to believe
the poets.
But for one thing the hour would
have been perfect. Kitty, ordinarily
brave and cheerful was very lone
some and nomesick. Tears sparkled in
her eyes and threatened to fall at any
| moment. It was all very we'll to dream
of old Venice; but when home and
friends kept intruding constantly!
The little bank account was SO small
that five hundred would wipe it out
of existence. And now she would be
out of employment till the coming au-
tumn. The dismal failure of it all!
She had danced, sung, spoken her
lines the very best she knew how;
and none had noticed or encouraged
her. It was bitter cup, after all the
success at home. If she could only
take it philosophically like La Signor-
ina! She shut her eyes. How readily
she could see the brilliant, noisy,
friendly Broadway, the electric signs
before the theaters, the gay crowds in
the restaurants! It was all very fine to
see Europe on comfortable letter of
credit, but to see it under such cir
cumstances as these, that was a diff
ferent mattes To live in this evil
smelling old tenement, with seldom
any delicacy to eat; strange jabber-
jabber ringing in ones ears from
morning till night, and to wait day aft
er day for that letter from home, was
not situation such as would hearten
ones love of romance. The men had
it much easier; they always do. There
was ever some place for a man to go;
and there were three of them, and
they could talk to one another But
here, unless La Signorina was about
and she had an odd way of disappear
ing--she, Kitty, had to twiddle her
thumbs or talk to herself for she
could understand nothing these peo-
pie, kindly enough in their way, said
to her.
She opened her eyes again, and this
time the tears flowed unheeded. Of
what use is pride, unless it be observ-
ed by others? She missed some one
a frank, merry-hearted some one; and
it was balm to her heart to admit it at
last. Had he appeared to her at that
moment she must have fallen CRATE
fully into his arms.
And there were so many things she
could not understand Why should La
Sisnorina always go yelled? Why
should she hide her splendid beauty?
Why did she disappear SO mysterious
lily in the daytime? And those sap
phires, and diamonds, and emeralds?
| Why live here, with such a fortune
hanging round her neck? Kitty forgot
that, for the sake of sentiment, one
will sometimes eat a crust when one
might dine like prince
Kitty The voice came from the
doorway. Kitty was startled for mo-
ment, but it was only La Signorina.
Kitty furtively wiped her eyes.
Il am over here by the window. The
moon was so bright did not light the
lamp"
La Signorina moved with light step
to the window, caught Kitty's face be-
tween her hands and turned it firmly
toward the moon
You have been crying, cara!"
81 am very lonely said Kitty.
you poor little homeless bird.'' La
Signorina seized Kitty impulsively in
her arms. If l were not" She hest.
tated.
IF you were not?"
IF l were not poor, but rich instead,
Id take you to one of the fashionable
hotels. You are out of place here, in
| this rambling old ruin
Not half as much as you are Kit.
ty replied.
81 am never out of place. can live
comfortably in the fields with the
peasants, in cities, in extravagent ho-
tells. 1t is the mind, my dear, not the
body My mind is always at one
height; where the body is does not
matter much"
There was subtle hauteur in the
voice; it subdued Kitty's inquisitive-
ness. And no other woman had until
recently, accomplished this feat. Kitty
was proud, but there was something in
her companion that she recognized
] but could not express in words.
"Come!" said the older woman. 81
myself am lonely and desperate to-
night. am going to throw away a
precious bit of silver on gondolier.
! we maven been out three times to-
| gether since we arrived Perhaps it
would have been better had we all re.
NAMED in Rome; but there I could not
have helped you. The band plays in
the Piazza tonight. They are going to
play light opera, and it will tone us
both up a bit. More than that. well
have coffee at Florian's, if we can find
a table. Tomorrow we may have to dc
without breakfast But there's the old
saving that he who sleeps dimes. AVIAN
til"
Sometimes said Kitty, drying the
final tear. sometimes l am afraid Of
you"
And wisely. am often afraid OF
myself l always do the first thins
that enters my head and generally il
} is the wrong thing. Never mind The
old woman here will trust us for some
weeks yet She leaned from the win
dow and called. "Pomp-e-o.'
From the canal the gondolier an
swered.
> Now them" said the woman to tht
: girl.
4 Kitty threw heavy shawl over he