Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

SUNDAY MAGAZINE
him the first time, anyhow. Where are we
driving?"
ITO Menaggio and then up the Porlezza
road. l first saw Como from there more
wears ago than l want to count"
THEY reached the desired turn of the oft
bending road at an hour when the view,
which every tourist knows and legion of
artists have sketched, was at its loveliest.
foothills VINEYARDS, forests, rugged crags,
lake, mountain, sky, all melted into one an
other in a haze of ineffable deEcacy suffused
with golden light from the lower west. Then,
as the sun dipped below the hills, the scene
took on its supreme, prismatic witchery.
pearl, opal, emerald, turquoise, sap
phire-how many more?" said Ann, break
ing the silence. "You must rob jewel
casket to match those colors."
"Or a garden" said her aunt. Lilac, law
ender, wistaria, violet-yes, and rose, she
added, as sudden pink flushed the higher
SUBMITS to east and north.
A S they turned away at last and signaled
= their driver they became spectators of a
fantastic accident. Round the curve of the
road descended an ancient earrosza of such
frail appearance, drawn by such mummy
of horse and piloted by such ragamuffin
of youth, that the wonder was the trio had
ever gained this lofty eminence in one an
others company. Outraged probability now
took its revenge. A too sharp negotiation
of the bend gave the crazy alliance its death
blow. A rear wheel abruptly collapsed and
showered it's spokes into the highway, where
upon the sagging vehicle threw such an un-
reasonable burden upon the shafts as
stripped the parody of a harness from the
burlesque of horse, and then, with an un-
dulation that was almost curtsy, reduced
it's remaining wheels to ruin and nestled
quietly in the dust. The animal, being of
mature age, betrayed no excitement and
stood motionless in its place. The driver,
finding himself still in possession of his seat
and cigarette, held to both with philosophic
calm and emitted leisured cloud of smoke.
Indeed, the one Earring note in a scene other
wise expressive of perfect resignation to the
blow of Fate was an eruption of violent and
obviously profane Italian from the unseen
passenger.
The onlookers burst into peals of laughter.
"But some one may be hurt!" said Mrs.
Blair, checking herself.
"Some one is at least conscious" answered
Ann.
Their laughter had only stimulated the
outflow; but the sound of their voices
damned the flood at once and head craned
round the drivers seat to reconnoiter. Be-
meath panama hat were disclosed pair of
piercing black eyes overhung by tufted eye
brows, an aquiline beak of a nose, and mus
tache with the spread and poise of white
bird. Then hand, with gallant gesture,
swept away the panama and bald head was
added to the now complete portrait of cele
brated man.
"Baron Saccarello!" exclaimed the audi
ence in chorus.
With unimpaired dignity the great man
stepped from the wreck and bowed over
their hands. at was the Germans" he ex-
planned with recovered good hunor. l tele-
graphed to Menaggio for a carriage, and
this is what received. They could send no
other. An invasion of personally conducted
Berliners had snapped up everything. It's
the old story. From the days of the Caesars
the Teutonic hordes have poured over the
passes into poor Italy"
Mrs. Blair rendered a seat in her own car
rage, which he promptly accepted. The
philosophic driver issued from his calm, dis
played an aptitude for finance, was pacified,
and shifted the luggage.
"If you will drop me near the pier in
Menaggio," said Saccarello as they drove
on, al shall find some way of getting on to