The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-12-28

from. the hotel porter that they were
going, and whittier he had already
purposed driving in his coach. which
shad lately won honors in the coaching
meet at Naples.
These desperate reflections drove
the hitherto loquacious coachman
into an distracted silence. He an
swered vaguely the questions with
which Lesley did not cease to ply the
perfectly lovely coachman with the
bronze profile" He was actually re-
lieved when he stopped his horses at
the foot of the long flight of steps
that wound up the cliff to the Hotel
Cappuccini.
His mind was in tumult. He, too
was due at the Cappuccini, where his
room was engaged; but now be hest
tated to go and claim it and to APP
pear in his own person before the
American ladies' The craven thought
came into his mind that he should
run away; then he half resolved to
declare himself at once. He had been
unable to decide upon a course of ac-
ton when the ladies prepared to de-
scend from the coach. Then he over
heard Lesley whisper to her mother:
Hes been so nice and intelligent,
don't you think we might give him a
couple of francs for HIMSELF" Be-
fore he could speak, the girl had
placed IL francs in his hand, wishing
him smiling goodby.
Believer hesitated. To speak, or not
% speak-which was wiser in the
mind of man.? But he found himself
maintaining his part by uttering a
deferential "Molte grazie, signorina."
Believer turned his smoking team,
and walked them back to their stable
in the town, where he left coach and
horses in the hands of his groom.
Strolling slowly back to the Cappuc-
cini steps, his courage suddenly re-
turned to him. He would face the
music, brave out the situation and
trust to his own tact and the ladies'
seEse of humor to save the position.
One thing only was impossible-to
give up the adventure and see the
girl no more. He mounted the many
steps. received a warm welcome
from the handsome and ELUSIVE Ital-
ian landlord, and in the visitors book
set firm, clear Believer, England"
Immediately under the clever, charac-
teristic writing in which Lesley had
inscribed the names of Mrs. and Miss
Fleetwood, New York, U. S. A."
Until the gong clashed out the hour
of dinner Believer kept his room, writ
ing letters, slowly changing into his
evening clothes, stopping every now
and then to lean upon his window
ledge and gaze out upon the incom-
parable beauty Of Amalfi. He was
among the earliest persons in the
long, vaulted dining-room, once the
refectory of the Capuchins, and a
! word in the ear, and coin in the
hand of the head-waiter, procured him
a. place next to Miss Fleetwood. This
arranged, he. retired little and
mingled with the throng Of Germans,
English, French and Americans who
were trooping in to dinner. In a mo-
ment or two he saw Mrs. Fleetwood
and her daughter coming in from the
reading-room, Lesley in simple but
charming white evening dress, shin
ing, in MS eyes, among the other wo-
men. like a flower among weeds.
| when the two ladies were seated
believer grasped his courage in both
hands and, with q humping heart.
took the 1acant j place. by Lesley's
eide. The gifEs looked up. Her eyes
SfdenedswitRs H N epder r. as she gave him