The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-07

ill the middle of the Coliseum, looking up at the shadows which the waving shrubs upon the southern wall cast upon the ruined areades within and listening to the chipping sparrows that lived upon the wreck, when he suddenly said to me: Paul, you love that Italian girl" "She Is very beautiful" I replied q think she
 is beginning to love you,' said she sober
 y. "She has a warm heart" said l. but her feelings are those of a girl-she is only 16." 'Her feelings are not those of a girl" he replied. q have seen more of this southern nature than you have. The Italian girl of 16 is woman. You are loving-if you love-a full-grown heart; she is loving, if she loves, as ripe heart should. Try if you love-if she loves. I have three weeks on my hands. Go with me for trip into the Appenines; leave your home on the Corso and see if you can forget the Roman girl. It is bet ter so. Love as you might, that south ern nature, with all it's passion, is not the material upon which to build up domes- tic happiness, nor make your northern you iiletS tliiHh ct " time of life-the one to cherish always those passionate sympathies which are bred by this atmosphere and these scenes"
 q will go with you" I said Enrica's father shrugged his shoulders when I told him that I was going to the mountains and wanted a guide. The mother said ala l.o ~oyl ., 4I,sl fa,. ( winter was not ended. Enrica said that it would be warm in the valleys, for the spring was coming. As I passed out that evening on my way to the Piazzo near the Monte Citorio, where my car riage was waiting to take me to Tivoli and the beginning of my journey, Enrica glided up to me and whispered: "Ah me, return soon, signor-soon.' f
 Day after day we stretched over the mountains, leaving the Campagna far be- hind us. Sometimes we loiter in valley above which the goats are browsing on pipes of the Appenines. We see the shep- herds in their rough, goat-siin coats, high up over our heads. At night, in some little, meagre mountain town, we stroll about the narrow passage ways or wan der, under the heavy arches of the noun tain churches.
 When the time passed and once more we came near Rome and went by the temple-tomb of Metella my friend said And will you go back now to your home or will you set out with me tomorrow for Ancona?'' "At least. I must say adieu," I replied. God speed you" said he, and we parted He for his last mass in St. Peters and for the tall old house on the Corso. -''-.--.'--
 I heard her glancing feet the minute tinkled the bell, and there she was with her brown hair gathered into braids and her eyes full of joy and greeting. And as walk with her mother to the window to look at some pageant which is passing she steals up behind me and passes her arm through mine with a quick, electric motion and a gentle pressure of welcome that tell more than a thousand words It is a pageant of death that is passing below. Far down the street we see heads thrust out of the windows and standing in relief against the red torchlight of the moving train. Below dim figures are gath cred in the narrow sideways to look at the solemn spectacle. A hoarse chant rises louder and louder and half dies in the night air, to break out, again with new and deep bitterness. The bier comes by and on it the body of a man. "Histl" says nx, Ia udIadv Tine hody is inst lindar us. A thousand eyes were gazing at him,