Evening journal., 1910-11-01
A LONG TIME
PURCHASE
BY ARNOLD HATHAWAY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

The Piazza del Venetzia is my IA
vorite abiding place when am in
Rome. The reason Of this is that it is
the most stirring part Of the Eternal
City. Above the piazza is the CapI-
toline hill. on which a state building is
being erected and from which extends
the Corso Umberto. the main shopping
street OF Rome. When there make 1t
point every afternoon to go down
the Corso to one Of the sidewalk res
taurants and drink Frnscatti wine.
was sitting one afternoon on the
sidewalk in the Piazza Colonna. just
or the Corso. when a young officer
and a young girl took a seat at table
near by. | speak and understand the
Italian language tolerably well. and 1t
was not long before caught the word
Americana. The man was talking
about the Americans who frequent
Rome IN such large numbers. inveigh-
ing against the manner in which they
demoralize the tradespeople and serv-
ants by their lavish expenditure of
money. Officers of the Italian army
are from the upper classes, and this
young man was OF a refined type. The
girl he was with was OF the same
class. tastefully dressed and pretty.
My admiration was especially excited
by her splendid hair, which was coled
up in great rolls worthy Of an empress
of ancient Rome.
rVh, loHv tuar Iarnopffno fhof har
family must remove from the home
they had long occupied. owing TO the
rise in rents She was also telling her
companion. who. l judged. was her
fiance that she needed Il sum of mon
ey. without which some trouble or in
convenience would accrue. The young
man was lamenting his inability TO
furnish the amount having nothing
but his pay in the army. which is small
enough indeed. could not but feel
the injustice OF my having several
times the income | could spend. while
these poor young people were lp des-
perate straits for few hundred
francs, and what disturbed me more
was that conventional barrier which
prevented my giving them the amount
they needed. matter which would
have conferred upon me as much
pleasure as on them.
They arose and went away without
knowing that their structures on Amer
leans had been overheard by an Amer
lean and that they had not modulated
their voices sufficiently to prevent my
getting a vague idea Of their necessi-
ties. AS they departed the officer said
pleadingly. "lf you do it will break my
heart" to which the girl responded.
If | do not | fear my mother viii
die"
The very next day met the same
young lady on the Corso. On her face
was a sad but determined expression
Without any definite purpose | turned
and walked in the same direction as
she. Presently ! saw her turn into
shop. in whose windows were wom-
ems switches wigs and cosmetics.
could look through the glass and see
the girl In conversation with the pro-
prietor. she removed her hat and let
down her hair. II was the most mag
nidcent display l ever saw-very thick
and reaching to the floor The pro
prietor was inspecting it.
The meaning OF the words of the
officer who had been with her the day
before-"If you do It will break my
heart"-was now apparent TO me. She
was about TO raise the needed funds
by parting with her hair | sauntered
into the shop. The proprietor motion
ed me 10 a seat while he bargained
with the girl. Presently l heard him
say:
1T is too valuable for me TO buy
just now. when 1 am short OF funds.
Come in at another time"
Does the senorina wish to sell her
hairT asked. My wife is looking
for a switch"
Yes. senior; she would sell IT,"
81 would buy 1t. bur my wife is not
in Rome. and prefer not to own 1t
until her arrival. But II the senUrina
will make contract for it 1 will pur-
chase il now"
The lady was interested and said
that the goods could be delivered
the proprietor aside. asked him what
the hair was worth and told him to
offer on my behalf double the amount.
IL was accepted with delight and the
lady asked when and where would
have my purchase sent said that
she was to wear 1t till | called for it.
Then | paid the whole amount OF the
purchase money. The lady went away
much pleased.
left Rome the next day and did
not return for a year. One day on a
sidewalk restaurant on the Corso who
should see at another table but the
officer and the lady whose hair own
ed. They were staring at me Then
they arose and came toward me.
"Senor," said the lady. "A year ago
you bought my hair for your wife"
Il remember doing so. My wife has
not yet arrived"
when will she comeT"
Il don't know. have not yet pick
ed out a wife"
There must have been something in
my eye to give the lady a cue. for she
smiled.
Your accent indicates" said the Of
hcer. that you are foreigner"
American"
The two looked at each other. ther
at me. Then we all smiled together
81 leave my possession In your care
said. "till my wife wishes TO use it,"
/ raised my bat and left them. the,
evidently not knowing what 10 do.