Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-20
An Insistent
Insult
T.
(Copyright.)
By FIELD DouaAL


In Lucca the train was almost clank
Ing out.
! "Prontiw yelled the little-legget
conductor, and the engine began 1T
penny-whistle toot.
There was no time to hunt for com
partment reserved for women only
Barbara dashed for the nearest dool
and climbed in just as the wheels
creaked starting. She waved hand
to the Partridges, the friends whom
she left behind.
There was a question ventured from
them relative to women travelling
alone.
II guess an American girl can take
care Of herself" Barbara answered
jauntily. "But you may telegraph the
Bensons to meet the train In Florence
forgot that"
Then distance reduced her to by
by" and another wave Of the hand.
The compartment was empty, any
way, except that IN the farther corner
was an Italian, come from Pisa, doubt.
less. But he was asleep and didn't
matter.
She slapped open the Ruskin that
had been the cause of the Partridges
discontinue.
mornings in Florence" it was, and
she read Before the SOldan" in antici-
patton of new visit to Santa Croce.
Oh, dear, there was so much to see
She hoped she would remember most
Of 1t 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 girl Of twenty-four, II
she did think 1t herself.
At Pistoja man climbed In at the
door opposite, without jolting the 1tal-
ian. Barbara slapped open her book
again, and read "The Golden Gate"
She must remember that Ghirlandajo
wasn't great, after all Ruskin said so.
She didn't deign to notice the intruder
who sat down opposite the sleeper.
But the intruder apparently deigned
to notice her. She could catch a hint
Of q sight of him out Of the corner OF
her eye, enough to know. Well, he
had reason; though Barbara only half
admitted to herself she admitted 1t.
Now, however, the newcomer actual
ly dared to move over and sit opposite
her. She was too deep In Ruskin to
care, of course, but it was queer. And,
well-I never! Was he speaking to
her!
Lei parla inglese, signorina1"
Barbara looked up blankly. She
SKINNED details; brown hair and eyes,
good eyebrows, clean-cut face; thirty
five, she thought, perhaps little more
Suppose l do?" Barbara answered
pertly.
"Well, then-perhaps-you will al,
low me to talk to your" the man re-
piled, in the intonation Of the British
Isle.
"Why should II" said Barbara.
"We're both English"
"Tm not, and you know it. I sup,
pose you think that you can talk to
me because I'm an American. You
English always think us unconvention-
al. So we are, but" Barbara paus-
ed, breathless. She was taking care
| Of herself.
IT didn't mean to offend you-really.
beg your pardon"
He said 1t like q gentleman. Bar
bara felt she had been rude.
"Tm not offended" she said amic-
ably. "Its just my way"
American" quizzically. Seeing his
eyes, she liked him for the slap.
Perhaps; but I'm too patriotic to
admit IT,.
He looked at her.
"You must forgive me for speaking
| to you. I have q reason"
Barbara did not blurt the swell, !
| never! but it thumped inside Of her.
Then she fell to glancing at the only
reason conceivable, and was pleased.
"You may talk If you wish. What
| do you want to talk about"
He cast half-glance at the Ruskin
in her lap.
"You are interested in painting?"
he suggested.
"Yes. I'm looking 1t up. Been to
Lucca to see the Fra Bartolommeos
| Interesting influence on Raphael"
| She poured the phrases headlOng. The
stranger smiled.
"You Americans are very energetic" "
he said.
Don't you care about pictures?"
"Oh, yes" he answered, "in lazy
way. have q few at home-Old fam
lily vandykes, you know, and some por-
traits of the eighteenth century. I'm
looking q bit about me here. Been to
Pistoja for few days, looking for a
Lorenzo di Credi; staying now at
Prato for few days-the elder Lippi
at his best, you know, all over the
| choir"
Eyes, I know. l haven't seen the
Prato frescos yet; but I'm going to run
out to them from Florence"
"Why don't you stop off now at
| Prato? Wen soon be there. I'd like
| to show the pictures to you. There's
another train for Florence in two
hours"
This time Barbara did blurt out:
"Well, I never!'
Then she added, with pert. offended
| dignity:
any friends will meet me In Flor
ence station"
She italicized the sentence as she
spoke 1t, to show the man that she
was well protected.
II shall read my Ruskin till ! get
there, she added saucily, ripping the
book open upside down.
T want you not to tSnsider ms
rude" he answered.
"pms not considering Sou at all,
Barbara snapped, her eyes riveted on
the topsyturvy volume. you can wake
i mn that Italian and talk to him II you
still feel in need of conversation"
/ She noticed with evaporation what
was wrong with Ruskin, and turned
the book about.
~ should not continue to bother you
II l didn't have a reason. 1t Is really
necessary that j should talk to you.'
Il Barbara studied Ruskin.
i ~What my reason is / cannot ex
III 20 uoYv aorfNna."