HONORED MADAM: My brother and your advertisement, by chance, and beg leave to room you offer twenty-four and twins Italians by birth, but have lived long various countries of Europe, and several years United States Our names are Luigi and Angelo Capello but one guest; but, dear madam, allow us for two, incommode you down Thursday

"Italians ! How romantic ! Just think, Ma--there's never been one town, and everybody dying them, 're all OURS ! Think ! "

"Yes, I reckon they'll make grand stir "

"Oh, indeed The whole town on its head ! Think--they've been in Europe and everywhere ! There's never been traveler town before, Ma, I shouldn't wonder 've seen kings ! "

"Well, body can't tell, but they'll make stir enough, without that "

"Yes, that's Luigi--Angelo They're lovely names; and so grand and foreign--not like Jones and Robinson and such Thursday coming, and only Tuesday; it's cruel to wait Here comes Judge Driscoll in gate He's heard I'll go and open the door "

The judge was full of congratulations and curiosity The letter was read and discussed Soon Justice Robinson arrived with more congratulations, and new reading and new discussion the beginning Neighbor after neighbor, of both sexes, followed, procession drifted in and out all day and evening and all Wednesday and Thursday The letter was read and reread until nearly worn out; everybody admired its courtly and gracious tone, and smooth and practiced style, everybody was sympathetic and excited, Coopers were steeped in happiness all the while

The boats were very uncertain in low water primitive times the Thursday boat arrived at ten at night-- so the people had waited landing all day for nothing; they were driven homes by heavy storm without having had view illustrious foreigners

Eleven o'clock came; Cooper house town that still had lights burning The rain and thunder were booming yet, anxious family were still waiting, still hoping At last knock door, family jumped to open it Two Negro men entered, each carrying trunk, and proceeded upstairs toward the guest room Then entered the twins--the handsomest, the best dressed, the most distinguished-looking pair of young fellows the West had ever seen One was little fairer other, but otherwise they were exact duplicates

CHAPTER 6

Swimming in Glory

endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker sorry

--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

Habit is habit, and not flung window by any man, but coaxed downstairs at step

--Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

At breakfast morning, the twins' charm of manner and easy and polished bearing made speedy conquest family's good graces All constraint and formality quickly disappeared, friendliest feeling succeeded Aunt Patsy called them by their Christian names almost beginning She was full keenest curiosity , and showed it; they responded by talking about themselves, which pleased her greatly It presently appeared that in their early youth they had known poverty and hardship talk wandered along, the old lady watched right place to drop in question or two concerning that matter, and when she found it, she said blond twin, who was now doing the biographies turn while the brunette one rested:

" ain't asking what I ought not to ask, Mr Angelo, how did you come so friendless and trouble were little ? mind telling ? But don't, "

"Oh, we don't mind it at all, madam; case merely misfortune, and nobody's fault Our parents were well , there in Italy, and we were their only child We were old Florentine nobility"-- Rowena's heart gave great bound, her nostrils expanded, and fine light played in her eyes--"and war broke out, my father was losing side and had to fly life His estates were confiscated, his personal property seized, and there we were, in Germany, strangers, friendless, and paupers My brother and I were ten years old, and well educated age, very studious, very fond books, and well grounded German, French, Spanish, and English languages Also, we were marvelous musical prodigies-- allow me it, it being only the truth

"Our father survived his misfortunes only month, our mother soon followed him, and we were alone Our parents made themselves comfortable by exhibiting us as show, had many and large offers; but the thought revolted their pride, said starve and die first But what they wouldn't consent , we had without the formality of consent We were seized debts occasioned by their illness and their funerals, and placed attractions of cheap museum in Berlin to earn the liquidation money It took us two years out slavery We traveled all about Germany, receiving no wages, and not even our keep We had exhibited for nothing, and beg our bread

"Well, madam, the rest of much consequence When we escaped slavery at twelve , we were in some respects men Experience had taught us some valuable things; among others, how care of ourselves, how to avoid and defeat sharks and sharpers, and how to conduct our own business own profit and without other people's help We traveled everywhere--years and years-- picking up smatterings of strange tongues, familiarizing ourselves with strange sights and strange customs, accumulating an education of wide and varied and curious sort pleasant life We went to Venice--to London, Paris, Russia, India, China, Japan--"

point Nancy, the slave woman, thrust her head in door and exclaimed:

"Ole Missus, de house of plum' jam full o' people, en dey's jes a-spi'lin' de gen'lemen ! " She indicated the twins with nod of her head, and tucked it back out of sight again

proud occasion widow, and she promised herself high satisfaction in showing off her fine foreign birds before her neighbors and friends--simple folk who had hardly ever seen foreigner of any kind, and never one of any distinction or style Yet her feeling was moderate indeed when contrasted with Rowena's Rowena was clouds, she walked on air; the greatest day, the most romantic episode colorless history dull country town She was familiarly near the source glory and feel the full flood of it pour over her and about her; the other girls could only gaze and envy, not partake

The widow was ready, Rowena was ready, so also were the foreigners

The party moved along the hall, the twins in advance, and entered the open parlor door, whence issued low hum of conversation The twins took position near the door, the widow stood at Luigi's side, Rowena stood beside Angelo, march-past introductions began The widow was all smiles and contentment She received the procession and passed it on to Rowena

"Good mornin', Sister Cooper"--handshake

"Good morning, Brother Higgins--Count Luigi Capello, Mr Higgins"-- handshake, followed by devouring stare and "I'm ye," of Higgins, and courteous inclination head and pleasant "Most happy ! " of Count Luigi

"Good mornin', Roweny"--handshake

"Good morning, Mr Higgins--present you to Count Angelo Capello " Handshake, admiring stare, " ye"--courteous nod, smily "Most happy ! " and Higgins passes on

None visitors was at ease, but, being honest people, they didn't pretend had ever seen person bearing title of nobility before, and none expecting one now, consequently the title came upon them as kind of pile-driving surprise and caught them unprepared few tried to rise emergency, and got out an awkward "My lord," or "Your lordship," or something sort, but the great majority were overwhelmed unaccustomed word and its dim and awful associations with gilded courts and stately ceremony and anointed kingship, so they only fumbled handshake and passed on, speechless , as happens at all receptions everywhere, more than ordinary friendly soul blocked the procession and kept it waiting while he inquired how the brothers liked the village, and how long they were going to stay, and if their family was well, and dragged weather, and hoped it would get cooler soon, and all that sort of thing, so be , when he got home, "I had quite long talk "; but nobody did or said anything of regrettable kind, and so the great affair went through end in creditable and satisfactory fashion

General conversation followed, twins drifted about from group to group, talking easily and fluently and winning approval, compelling admiration and achieving favor from all The widow followed their conquering march with proud eye, and every Rowena said to herself with deep satisfaction, "And ours--all ours ! "

There were no idle moments for mother or daughter Eager inquiries concerning the twins were pouring into their enchanted ears all the time; each constant center of group of breathless listeners; each recognized that she knew now first time the real meaning great word Glory, and perceived the stupendous value of it, and understand why men in all ages willing to throw away meaner happiness, treasure, life itself, taste sublime and supreme joy Napoleon and all his kind stood accounted for-- and justified

When Rowena had at last done all her duty people parlor, she went upstairs to satisfy the longings of an overflow meeting there, parlor was not big enough to hold all the comers Again she was besieged by eager questioners, and again she swam in sunset seas of glory forenoon was nearly gone, she recognized with pang most splendid episode of her life was almost over, that nothing could prolong it, that nothing quite its equal could ever fall to her fortune again But never mind, sufficient unto itself, the grand occasion had moved on an ascending scale start, and was noble and memorable success twins could but do some crowning act now to climax it, something usual, something startling, something to concentrate upon themselves the company's loftiest admiration, something nature of an electric surprise--

Here prodigious slam-banging broke out below, and everybody rushed down It twins, knocking out classic four-handed piece piano in great style Rowena was satisfied--satisfied down bottom of her heart