Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-05-24
An Insistent
Insult
(copyrisht)
BY FIELD DoUGAL


Ine out.
"lrontl" yelled the littlc-lcgged
conductor. aud the engine began its
pcnny.whisilr tnot
There was no time To hunt for com
parimcnt reserved for women only.
Barbara dashed for the nearest door
and climbed III just rs the wheels
crcnkrd starting She waved II hand
30 the 1'ariridseS, the friends whom
She left behind.
There was u question ycnturrd from
them relative to women travelling
alone
IL guess an American girl can take
care Of herself" Barbara answered
.huulily But you ina! telegraph the
Bcn4nns Ia meet the train In Florence.
forgot that"
Then distance reduced her 10 by
by" and another wave OF the hand
The compartment was empty, any
way. except that In the farther corner
was nm Italian come from Pisa, doubt
less. But he was asleep and didn't
matter.
She slapped open the Ru~kin that
had been the cause Of the lartriiseS
discontinue.
Mornings in Florence" II was. and
she read Before the Soldnn' in antici-
patton Of new visit t. Santa Crprr.
oh. dear. there was So much TO So"
She hoped She would remember most
of it when She got back to Detroit.
Her woman's club wanted her To- talk
on the history Of Italian art She talked
very we'll for II girl of twenty four, II
she did think II herself
At Pistniu II man climbed In AZ the
door opposite. without inlting the Ital-
ian. Barbara slapped open her book
again. and read The Golden Gate"
She must remember that Ghlrlnniajo
wasn't great after MI: ltuskin said -.
Sh" didn't drign to notice the intruder
VII" SAT down opposite III" sleeper.
But the Intruder apparently d"ignrd
to notice her. She could catch "A hin'
~ sight of him ont of the corner OF
her eye. enough 10 know. Well. ha
admitted to herself She admitted II.
Now. however. the newcomer actual
Is dared To- move over and sit Opposite
her She wa, too deep In Kuskn 10
care Of course. but II waS queer. And.
WE'LL never! Was h. speaking 10
her,
Lei para Inglrsr sIgnorinaf"
Barbara looked up blankly. She
SKINNED details; brown hair and eyes.
good eyebrows, clcan.cut face; thirty
five. she thought perhaps = littl" more.
suppose l dof" barbara answered
pcrtly.
We'll thcu--IrrhapS you Will al
low me to talk to ynu?" the man re-
piled. In the intonution of the British
Isle.
"Why should II" said Barbara.
"Wr'rr both English"
I'm not and YOU know II. sup
pose you think that you can talk to
me- because I'm IN American. You
English always think Us unconveur!on.
al So We are, but" Barbara pauS-
ed brcathless. She was taking care
OF herself
II didn't mean TO offend you-really.
beg your pardon"
He said It like a gentleman. Bar
bara felt she had been rude.
I'm not Offended" She said amIc-
ably. ITS just my way"
"Amcricanf" quizzically Seeing hIs
eyes. she liked him for the slap.
"Perhaps; but I'm too patriotic 10
admit It."
He looked nj her
"You must forgive me for speaking
10 you. have reason"
Barbara did not blurt the "Well.
never" but It thumpcd inside Of her.
Then she fell 10 glnnclng ut the only
reason conceivable, and was pleased.
"You may talk IL you wish. What
do you want 10 Talk ahout?"
lie east half-glunce nj the RuSkin
In her lap.
"lou are interested In pnintlngr
he suggested.
ayes. I'm looking It mp. Been 10
Luc,a TO see the Fra Bartolomm"os
increasing influence on Raphael"
She poured the phrases hcadlong. The
stranger smiled
"Y1u Americans are very energetic"
he sud.
"IAn't YOU care about pictures?"
"oh. yes" he answered I'm a la2y
way have few NJ home fam
lly NandykeS. you know and some por-
traits Of the eighteenth century. I'm
looking bit about me here, Been 10
PistnIa for few days. looking for
Lorenzo al Crcdl; staying now NJ
prntn for few days--the elder Lippi
nj his best, you know. al over the
choir"
ayes. know. haven't seen the
Prato frcscos yet; but I'm going to run
out 10 them from Florence"
"Why don't you stop on now nj
Pratp? Wen soon he There. III like
to show the pictures To you. There's
another train Tor Florence In two