Evening star., 1928-03-18

He did not answer her for a moment
You arc very American, aren't you?"
he said then, his eyes seeking hers.
And that" protested Sally, lis an
awful thing to be, I'm told-but I'm
afraid I am. I don't mean that think
it's perfect, but-well, / can't imagine
wanting to live anywhere else. Mother
doesn't feel that way-or Victoria. But
father and T.
Il think" he broke in. that that is
why admire your father-and you so
much. You are SO American. You do
not seem to think you must excuse 1t.
as so many people do. They seem
ashamed and tell me must forgive
America its faults When I see so few
Of them"
"Oh, We have them-lots of them. "
"Of course. They tell me there is
i,nverty. even here. But one can hard
" believe it, And your great cities
So many. all in one country. New
York; think of it as even greater
than imperial Rome-T wish might
become American enough SO that you
would approve of me- he added.
What makes you think l dont?'
asked Sally.
Because" he explained II know that
to you I am but an alien who has
come here from another land and will
return there. and who is, therefore
what is 1t you say?-nothing in your
young life!" y
TT was true But that he should have
Il guessed 1t surprised her. They had
seen a great deal of each other these
last two weeks, much more than her
mother dreamed or even her father
realized. He had a boyish enthusiasm
for the same things that she liked, he
had proved himself gay and charm
ing fellow experimenter. But ne
wasn't American.
The most she could say for him was
that had he been an outstanding young
six-footer named Tommy Jones, or
something like that, She-well, she'd
like him better. A lot, even.
But you are going back to Italy,
was what she said TO him now.
Il muSt-Some time" he admitted.
"But-my heart will stay here"
"You-loye America that much?" she
murmured.
II love YOU that much" he replied.
She had not expected this Or, at
least. not so soon Yet she wasn't sur
prised. And All exquisite little thrill
ran through her.
"But--but you hardly know me-" she
reminded him. in a voice that sounded
strange 10 her. IF YOU did
II should love you that much more, "
he assured her firmly. But why need
We argue it? It is hopeless, I know"
She riSked a glance at him, and their
eyes met and held. Then he smiled.
"Oh-Mark!" she cried impulS'Vely.
III you only we're American. Or any
thing but marcheSe, simply couldn't
be q marcheSa. should have 70 be-
come somebody else, become digniHed.
and"
II would not have you bscome any,
thing else" he protested swiftly.
And live III a palace. she all nat
walled.
What you live In now is a palace,
really" he reminded her, 1T Is only IN
America that anybody but the king
himself lives In palaces. In Italy,
And your people would think me a
savage" she plunged on. "AS l am"
II am the head of my own house,
he assured her. with swift dignity. II
make my own choice-~I am not 20 be
questioned, There he stopped short,
remembering that II was not for MIN to
choose. after all. My heart" he
amended, land not my people vould
have had what you Americans call the
Say~So For me there is but one al
wayS-~~She whose hand ! kiss now and
in memory. always" And. taking her
hand, he placed his lips 10 IL.
"Youll-~youN set over II" Sally said
impctuousiy. ereathieSSE, We both
will"
"Botht" he echoed, "'You~~you don't
mean that-~~that~-~~~"
II don't mean anything Of the sort"
she lied swiftly. desperately, lust
means that"
She did not finiSh. could not. Some
thing had happened 10 her. And what
she might have said would not have
because she VAS all IN a Sec
ond. In his arms, lie had reached out
aud gathered her III, Just as any man
must have AT such a moment.
And 1t Was not her hand that he
kissed this time,
"Will--~wtl we have to live In Italy
all the tiMeH" asked sally piteoNSly~,
niteously. because she knew now. igrev-
,eahly, that where he led she must
follow,
I'm Italy," he echoed, S,in holding
her tight, why, must SO there Some.
times. and hope you will go there with
the when do Ii not, my stay viii be
very hriet there"
nut but your home Is there and
your family and Your haSiuesS,"
III was only Of my business that |
even thought" he confessed "At tunes
must visit my factory, where my cars
arc made, aut IL Is here that they are !
sold. YOU know, In Italy, Ut anywhere (
abroad, there arc few people 10 pay the 7.
price | ask, America Is my best mar /
let and~r~s"
"Hou~~you mean YOU viii he lere !
most oi the thncF' SHE paeaned
OF course may even have an |
Amerlean factory soon like"
"fou dear, da,ned goopl" she breath, ,
ii Why didn't YOU tell me that IN !
he titat place."
Because | Vas afraid that. eVea II, /
America, yOu might ttnd me impossible, /
he replied humhlS Vet his eMbgar, |
became more maSterhll aud his adatinq I
'olre even dared tease her, a. he add
d II viii Atill he \ mareheSe IN Amer. |
es Your people Will not lei me lorge
hat, II would"
on, | can atanu that SALLY assttre
lin, IT'S 4 defect, at course. ent
SHE stamped up at him, under Aeg