The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-03-17
CHAPTER II.
OBJECT, MATRIMONY.

wv their counterparts In Lon
don. and while their fire.
Quency IS a matter Of complaint. their
duration is seldom Of any length. So
by the morrow strong wind from
the west had winnowed the skies and
cleared the sun. There were an ex'
hilaratiDg Jingle of frost In the air and
q visible rime ON the windows. Hill
lard. having breakfasted lightly. was
standing with his back to the CRATE in
the coy breakfast room. He was in
boots aud breeches and otherwise
warmly clad and freshly shaven. He
rocked on his heels and toes and ran
his palm over his blue white chin in
search Of a possible slip Of the razor
Giovanni came In to announce that
he had telephoned and that the 81.
gnor's brown mare would be at the
park entrance precisely at half after
8 Giovanni still marveled. over this
wonderful voice which came out Of
nowhere. but he was no longer afraid
Of it. The curiosity which is innate
and childlike in all Latins soon over
came his dark superstitions. He was
an ardent Catholic and believed that
a few miracles should be left in the
hands Of God. The telephone had now
become kind Of plaything. and Hill
lard often found him in front of 1t pa
tiently waiting for the bell to ring.
The facility with which Giovanni
had mastered English amazed his
teacher and master But now he need
ed no more lessons. The two when
alone together spoke Giovanni's
tongue. Hillard because he loved 1t
and Giovanni because the cook spoke
1t badly and the English butler not at
air
"You have made up your mind to go.
then, amico?' said Hillard.
Eyes. signor."
"Well, shall miss you. To whom
shall I talk the. tongue l love so well
when Giovanni is goneT with a light
ness which he did not feel Hillard
had grown very fond Of the old Ro-
man in these seven years.
"Whenever the signor goes to Italia
he shall find me. 1t needs but word
|
pardon me. but he is like-like son."
Thanks. Giovanni BY the way. did
you hear woman singing In the
street last night?'
"Yes. At first Giovanni hesitated
"Ah. but that could not he, Giovan
nj: that could not be-
mo; it could not be-. But she sang
WE'LL" the old servant ventured.
$50 thought |. even ran out into
the street to find out who she was. but
she vanished like the lady in the con
jurer's trick. But It seemed to me
that. while she sang in Italian she her
self was not wholly of that race"
"Buonissima. Giovanni struck {:
noiseless bravo with his hands. "Have
J not always said that the signor's
ears are as sharp as my own? No: the
voice was very beautiful. but 1t was
not truly Roman. 1t was more like
they talk in Venice. And vet the sound
Of the voice decided me. The hills have
always been calling to me. and I must
answer"
i "And the unforgetting carabinieri!
/ "Oh. | must take my chance" with
the air of fatalist.
what shall you dot"
Il have my two hands. signor. BE
sides. the signor has said it, an
rich" Giovanni permitted a smile to
stir his thin lips. "Yes. must &c
back. Your people have been good tc
me and have legally made me one OF
them. bnt my heart is never here 1t IS
always so cold. and every one moves
SO quickly. You cannot lie down In
the sun Your police bah! They beat
you on the feet You remember when
! fell asleep on the steps Of the cathe
dral? They thought was drunk an:
would have arrested me!''
"Everybody must keep moving here
1t is the penalty Of being rich"
And J am lonesome for my kind.
have nothing in common with these
herds Of Sicilians and Neapolitans wht
pour into the streets from the
wharfs." Giovanni spoke scornfully.
"fet in wartime the Neapoiitan
sheltered your pope"
vanity! They wished to make ar
impression on the rest Of the world
1t is dull here besides. There is n,
Joy In the shops. am lost in thes,
great palaces The fiesta Is lacking
Nobody bargains: nobody sees the pro
prietor You find your way to the
streets alone. The butcher says thai
his meat la so aud so. and you pay
The grocer marks his tins such and
| such and Won do not ureStion and
the baker says that. and you pay. pay
pay! What? need collar; it i.
quindici-fifteen you say! offer quat
tordi"i ! would give interest to tn,
sale But. no. The collar goes bach
into the box pay quindici or | z,
without, II IS the same every where
very dull, dead. lifelcss"
! Hillard vas moved to laughter He
very we'll understood the old man.