The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-01-13


At the bookshop in the piazza they
found the Rome and Florence papers.
Hillard went through them thorough
ly, but nowhere did he see anything
relative to the doings Of the American
Comic Opera company.
Not line, Dan"
'But there must be something In
the Florence paper. They should be
playing there yet"
Nothing. These papers are two
weeks old"
Merrihew stared blankly at the
sheet. II should like to know what it
means"
1--WE will write to the consulate in
Rome. If there has been any trouble
he will certainly notify us. III write
tonight. Now, here's Cooks next door.
Well ask if there is any mail for Kitty
Killigrew."
But there wasn't, nor had there
been. and the name was not on the
forwarding books.
Looks as if your Kitty were the
needle in the haystack."
"Cut it." savagely. Pictures and
churches and museums were all well
enough, but Merrihew wanted Kitty
Kiligrew above all the treasures of
earth.
When they turned down to the Via
Caracciolo. with the full sweep Of the
magnificent bay at their feet, Mcrri-
hew's disappointment softened some
what. 1t was the fashionable hour
The band was playing near by In the
Villa NaZionale. Americans were ev-
erywhere Occasionally stray prin-
cess or countess flashed by inert and
listless against the cushions and inva-
riably Overdressed. And when men ac-
companieH them the men df they were
husbands lolled back, even more list
less. And beggars Of all sorts and de-
scriptions besieged the very great
grand rich Americans"
They were nearly a week in Naples.
They saw the galleries, the museums
and churches; they saw underground
Naples; they made the weary and use
full ascent Of Vesuvius, and Merrihew
added a new smell to his collection
every hour. Pompeii by moonlight.
however, was worth a thosand ordi
nary dreams, and Merrihew, who had
abundant Imagination, but no art with
which to express it, happily or unhap-
PLY, saw Lytton's story unfold in all
its romantic splendor.
They fingered at Amalfi three days
and dreamed away the hours under
the white pergola. Merrihew was
loath to leave. but Hillard was for GO
ing on to Sorrento, for which his heart
was always longing.
A spring rain fell as they took the
incline, and it followed them over the
mountains and down into Sorrento.
They finally drew up in the courtyard
Of 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, 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. Hillard
began to explain.
'They remember my father. He used
to live like a prince In Sorrento. Ev-
cry time | come here | do the best
can to keep the luster to his name.
Tomorrow | shall point out to you the
villa in which / was born. A Russian
princess owns it now"
"A real live princessv said Merri-
hew. "Is she beautiful"
"Once upon time" returned Hill.
lard, laughing.
Giovanni did not return till late that
night, and on the morrow Hillard
questioned him.
81 have been to see q cousin" said
Giovanni, ''who lives on the way to Ell
Deserta."
AL. % you nave COUSIN mere
"Yes, signor"
How old he looked, poor devil. Hill
lard had not taken particular notice
Of him during the past weeks cXcur-
sions. Giovanni had aged ten years
since they landed.
"And was this cousin glad to see
you? And is he to be trusted"
Both, signor He had some news
She-jhe girls dancer in a Paris
cafe"
would you like me to give you the
necessary money to go to Paris. and
bring her back to the Sabine hillsw
Hillard asked softly.
II shall go to Paris, signor-after."
what is his name?" Billiard had
never till this moment asked this ques-
ton.
81 know It, That Is sufficient. He
Is high, signOr, very high, yet i shall
reach him. If told you his name