Each day, as I stood at Cleopatra’s feet, greeting visitors and handing out my pamphlet, How Edmonia Lewis Became an Artist, I scanned the crowds as I had every day for a month, hoping to find John Langston. I had not received a reply to my letter, but perhaps it had arrived after I had left Rome. 

           Samuel would not be there. He had responded to my letter apologetically, explaining that his various businesses and large family had marked the end to his traveling days, and I had an idea that these preoccupations signaled an end to our meetings. I would send checks to repay his loan, but I had said goodbye to Samuel so ofte...

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