ged into the
war a month after, shouldering a gun and marching. Fifteen battles in
eighteen months; and Death a lady at a balcony we kiss hands to on the
march below. Not a bit more terrible! Ah, but your pardon, sir,' he
hastened to say, observing rigidity on the features of the English
gentleman; 'would I boast? Not I. Accept it as my preface for why I am
moved to speak the English wherever I meet them:--Uruguay, Buenos Ayres,
La Plata, or Europe. I cannot resist it. At least, he bent gracefully,
'I do not. We come to the grounds of my misbehaviour. I have shown at
every call I fear nothing, kiss hand of welcome or adieu to Death.
And I, a boy of the age of this youngster--he 's not like me, I can
declare!--I was a sneak and a coward. It follows, I was a liar and
a traitor. Who cured me of that vileness, that scandal? I will tell
you--an Englishman and an Englishwoman: my schoolmaster and his wife. My
schoolmaster--my friend! He is the comrade of his boys: English, French,
Germans, Italians, a Spaniard in my time--a South American I have sent
him--two from Boston, Massachusetts--and clever!--all emulous to excel,
none boasting. But, to myself; I was that mean fellow. I did--I could
let you know: before this young lady--she would wither me with her
scorn, Enough, I sneaked, I lied. I let the blame fall on a schoolfellow
and a housemaid. Oh! a small thing, but I coveted it--a scarf. It
reminded me of Rome. Enough, there at the bottom of that pit, behold me.
It was not discovered, but my schoolfellow was unpunished, the housemaid
remained in service; I thought, I thought, and I thought until I could
not look in my dear friend Matthew's face. He said to me one day: "Have
you nothing to tell me, Giulio?" as if to ask the road to right or left.
Out it all came. And no sermon, no! He set me the hardest task I could
have. That was a penance!--to go to his wife, and tell it all to her.
Then I did think it an easier thing to go and face death--and death had
been my nightmare. I went, she listened, she took my hand she said: "You
will never do this again, I know, Giulio." She told me no English girl
would ever look on a man who was a coward and lied. From that day I have
made Truth my bride. And what the consequence? I know not fear! I could
laugh, knowing I was to lie down in my six-foot measure to-morrow. If I
have done my duty and look in the face of my dear Matthew and his wife!
Ah, those two! They are loved. They will be love