The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-10-16
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A iadys IN giving "reminiscences of ''Flrst
! Winter in Rome," relates in late English
Magazine, the following curious martial scene
Besides our own servitu, there is mixed
heterogeneous crowd always lettering about.
| First and foremost, Maria, a stalwart eonta-
dina, with the fresh, rudy look Of n rustic
ilebe. She carries all the water used in the
house in great brass vessel on her head,
and carries it noblv, with the air and step
Of water-nymph,) from some unknown
depths where the stream oozes from the rock,
up those long, long flights Of stairs. Maria
haunts about in red handkerchief floating
from her head her hair pierced by a silver
arrow-long and sharp, and dangerous
weapon she can use, too, if occasion requires,
for dark devil turks in Maria's flashing eyes.
Round her neck are long strings of coral,
giving her, as connected with the brass yes
sci and the water generally, mermaid char
acter. On Sunday and festal DAYS Maria puts
on smart red petticoat, with green ribbons
aud gorgeous pair of purple stays, trimmed
with Il profusion Of white lace draped about
She has gold rings and a cross, which may
be taken off, but the coral, believe she sleeps
IN. There are dark stories about Maria, 9TH
crwise, a kind, genial soul, ever ready with
her sparkling smile and hearty ''Stia bene,
j mora" She is married to brute, Il spe-
cies Of cacciatere, who divides his time be-
tween wandering in the forest and drinking
IN the Spaccio di Vino, from whence it was
his custom always Of an afternoon, to return
home drunk. and TO beat Maria dreadfully.
Maria, who was comely girl, and might
have married better only for an unhappy
hankering after this unworthy Nlmfod, bore II
mcekly for some time. She bore his blows
il silence, shedding sad and bitter tears over
her blighted loye--her true and honest love.
Butshe was an Italian. Hot fever blood flow
ed 10 her veins, and desire Tor the ''yendetta"
lurked like a gloomy spirit at her heart
strings. Continued Insult and i'll usage wore
our, little by little, her love. That brilliant
orb, which irradates and gllds a woman
life, set to rise no more, and the dark shad-
ows of pitchv night--sombre, gloomy night,
sole over her spirit. She would have ven
eeance-yenCeance on the man who had 50
basriy ill-used her.
The opportunity was not long wanting
Ferdinaudo soon staggered into their wretch
ca hoyel royalty drunk, and flung himself up
on the nuptial couch, 1nglice, the only bed
they possessed.) Maria, in ominous silence,
had waited his return. She rose, and taking
her working mplements-needle and scls
sors. the weapons of our sex, begueathcd to
Us by the wise Minerya--she sat down beside
the bed on which lay wrapped IN bestial sleep
her debased husband, and began TO sew
! e., 20 sew stitching the two sheets firmly
and securely together. Her hand did not
tremble. but there was d deadly look III her
black eyes all the while, pregnant OF evil
She sewcd until Fcrdlnando was entirely en-
closed ms if in "A net; then she rose-thc eyes
flashing still darker iircand proceeded 10
certain corner where he kept his guns and
sticks and knives.
Her hand fell intutively on a big stilletto
or knife, bat it trcmbled Il little, and was
Withdrawn. She paused, then firmly clutched
the largest and heaviest bludgeon there, with
which she strobe off to the bed, where her
husband lay bound firm and fast. \ satanic
smile came over her face and she raised the
heavy stick and dealt him a portentous blow.
Another and another fell from that indignant
woman, dealt with the might of love. and
rage, and vengeance, and a heavy sense Of
wrong until the drunken man, suddenly So
bered by the pain, wrlthed and swayed III ar
onv, as he lay welterIng in his blood. His
plte0us cries and groans aroused the neigh
bors, who came bursting in. They sprang
back APPALLED, at the CHASTITY sight, for Maria,
wild with evil passions, stood like m ayeng-
lng Fury over her husband, remorseless. I'M
sexed. maddened. he was seized from be-
hind. and the weapon forced from her grasp.
Recalled to herself, she swooned away. Her
husband, when extricated from the sheets,
was all but dead. Months passed ere lie re-
covered, cowed and humbled man, who
shrank away from Maria ike beaten cur
Poverty forced them still to live under the
Same roof. But they never spoke. When
Sc came year had passed, and Maria look
ed ioyial and happy. She had conquered !;
and, but for a certain dark flashing Of her
eve, should not have believed so dire a tale.