Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-01-21
BY F. A. mitchell

In Rome, smoking cigarettes and
drinking the wine of the country
They were both descended from fami.
lies that had been prominent several
centuries ago. the one from Barbarini,
the other from the Sforza. Count Leo
Barbarini was speaking to Prince Bru-
nelli Sforza.
$50 the fair American has refused
you toop
"she has," snapped the prince.
"You do not seem well pleased with
your failure"
"Were you pleased with yoursT
"Oh, there are more of these Amer
lean fish as good as any that were
ever caught In the sea. shall try
again elsewhere"
IT would like" replied Prince Sfor-
za, "to palm Off upon her some low
born man as a prince with fortune"
ut would require at least thousand
lira even to dress him."
II can borrow that much"
"And / can raise thousand more.
We can place his estates In some in
accessible country"
"Goodr' laughed the prince. "Your
suggestions are admirable. Shall we
really try it7"
"By all means"
Soon after this interview 1t was in
timated to Miss Evaline Henderson of
Idaho, U. s. A., that Prince Gregorio
Colonnn desired to be presented to
her. The Colonna family was al
ready known to Miss Henderson as
one Of the two great factions-the
Colonna and the Orsini-that dominat-
ed Rome during the middle ages. She
had not come to the Eternal City with
out preparing herself by historical
reading to enjoy It's antiquities and
was curious to see lineal descendant
Of family that had taken so great a
part in past struggles between the
holy Roman empire and the papacy
She therefore received Prince Colonna
graciously.
Prince Gregorlo had been selected to
play his part more from his personal
appearance than his intellect or edu-
cation, though he was really above his
business, which was that of waiter at
a hotel at Frascatti He was tall, mas
ing in the piazza named for his Sup
poseO ancestors beside the Corso in
Rome. His hair was combed straight
up from his forehead, and his mus
tache was elevated from the line
of his lips at an angle of forty-five
degrees. His estates had been near
Perugia; but, they having passed
away, he had invested money in ST.
berian mines that had made him rich.
The only means he had of palming
himself Off as a real Colonna was the
1000 Ira furnished by Count Barba-
RIM and Prince Sforza, the reading of
brief history of his ancestors and
these Siberian mines, which were not
likely to be hunted up by Miss Hen
derson. But his chief attraction was
his personnel. No American can visit
Italy without being impressed with
the solemn grandeur of some of their
knights OF the napkin whose battle
ground is the restaurant and whose
fortunes consist of American tips.
Prince Colonna was one of the most
magnificent of these.
Now, the American girl is regarded
all over Europe as wonder Euro
peans are used to their own girls, who
are guarded till after their marriage
and must then endeavor to throw of
that want Of familiarity with the
world to which they had been there
tofore doomed. The American girl be-
gins to use her wings almost from the
crib. Miss Henderson was as well
able to take care of herself as a corps
~ 10.
taken care Of her.
The day after the presentation Hen
~ Blackwelder, a young man from
South Dakota, who raised wheat
enough In one season to I'LL half a
dozen elevators, came to Rome for the
purpose of getting from Miss Hender-
SON a reply TO suit of several years'
standing. He came at very inoppor-
tune time. Prince Calonna had just
appeared on the scene and had evil
IDENTIFY been very much struck with
Miss Henderson. Mr.. Blackwelder
could not make out whether Miss Hen
derson was bent upon assuming Prince
Gregorio's historical name or whether
she was laughing at him. The prince
had the good taste never to mention
his family glory unless compelled to
do so. When Blackwelder and Colon
ma and Miss Henderson were together
the latter expatiated to the American
on the marvellous deeds Of the Colon
mas Of old, showing remarkable ia
miliarity with them-indeed, a familiar |
ity which at times would startle the |
prince himself, especially when she
gave the names of FIVE Colonnas he |
had not met with in his historical stud |
ses, who had been hanged before the |
castle of st. Angelo.
Nothing will so fret man, especially |
man In love, as uncertainty. If Miss |
Henderson had announced her inten
ton to buy her way In among the Co |
lonnas or II she had openly made fun
Of the prince Blackwelder would have
settled down to his fate, whatever II
was. Unfortunately she seemed to be
wavering between the two The only