The Lamar register., 1919-07-30
DI,ef parla Inglese, sIgnorina !"


skinned details; brown hair and eyes,
good eyebrows, clean-cut face; thirty
five, she thought, perhaps little more
Suppose / dof" Barbara answered
pertly.
swell then-perhaps- Will al
low me to talk to your" the man re
piled, in the intonation of the British
Isle.
"Why should II" said Barbara.
Were both English"
"Fm not, and you know 1t. l 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.
l beg your pardon"
He said II like a gentleman. Bar
bara felt she had been rude.
"rm 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. ] have reason"
Barbara did not blurt the well. l
never" hut 1t 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?"
lie cast half-glance ut the Ruskin
in her lap.
"You are Interested in palntingT'
he suggested.
ayes. I'm looking II up. Been to
Lucca 10 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 cnre about picturesf"
"Oh. yes" he answered. "in a lazy
way. have Il few at home-old fam
lily vandykes, you know. and some por-
traits OF the eighteenth century. I'm
looking bit about me here. Been to
Pistoja for few days. looking for a
Lorenzo dl Credl; staying now ut
Prnto for a few days-the elder Lippi
at his best, you know. all over the
choir"
yes. know. haven't seen the
Prato frescos yet; but I'm going to run
out to them from Florence"
"why don't you stop OF now at
Prato? Wen soon he 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. neveri"
Then she added. with pert. offended
dignity:
My friends Will meet me In Flor
ence station"
She italicized the sentence as she
spoke IL, to show the man that she
was well protected.
Il shall read my Ruskin Till I get
there" she added sauclly. ripping the
book open upside down.
Il want you not TO consider me
rude" he answered.
I'm not considering you Mt ALL"
Barbara snapped. her eyes riveted on
The topsyturyy volume. "You can wake
mp that Italian and talk to him II you
still feel Ia need Of conversation
She noticed with exasperntion what
was wrong with Ruskln. and turned
the book about.
Il should not continue to bother you
II | didn't have reason. 1t is really
necessary that should talk to you"
Hprbnra sfuflfad Rusliu
what my reason is | cannot ex-
plain; but It Is very serious"
Stiil she studied
Il must Insist that you listen to
me-
She raised her hand toward a little
hrs ring above her head. Then she
daried at him:
DO you want me to yank that dan
ger signal and stop the trainf"
No Stop| he shouted, starting
nervouSly.
Barbara reveled In that nervous
start OF his.
you're afraid. are your Well, be
quiet. or III do IT,"
Then she ground her teeth. deter
mined
lie wHs silent for some minutes
Then he tried her on another tack.
we may have mutual acquaint-
nnces," he vcntured. Il haven't told
you my name. II Is Crosby" He