Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-22

You lost your jacket, too, through my
means, and know the price Of the oranges
In 1t. L thought Of this only on my way
home; and I cannot exactly make il up to
you, for We have no money, and IL we had, it
would belong to my mother. But here is the
, slver cross the painter put on my table the
last time he was with us. have not Looked
at it since then, and do not wish il 10 remain
Ia my oox any longer. If you cell tit is
at ieaSt worth couple Of ri iasters, NV mother
salG at the time-your loss will be almost
replaced, and what remains / will trv 10
earn oy spinning at night after my mother is
81 will take nothing" answered he, shortly.
and pushing away the bright cross which he
had drawn from her pocket
"You must take it," said She Who t,oxs
how long it may be before you can earn any-
thing with that hand. There il lies, and II
will never look at IL again"
" Then throw Ii into the sea 30
"Why. it is no gift / make you ; il ia moth
ing more than your right, and what you ought
in justice to receive"
Right L have no right over anything Of
yours: If, in future, you should meet me
anywhere, do me the favor not to look At me.
that ! may not think you remember how
wrongly acted towards you And now GOOD
night, and let the subjec. DROP"
He laid her handkerchief in the basket, and
the cross by its side; and then closed the lid,
When he looked up, he started. Large,
heavy drops were rolling down Laurelia's
"Holy Madonna 20 he cried. ARE vou uI,
You are trembling from head to foot .S'
7" 1t is nothing" she said. CT will 90
home" and she turned towards the door
but her emotion overpowered her, and lsan.
ing her head against the door-post, she sobbed
aloud. He hastened towards her, but before
he could take her hand, she threw herself
into his arms
II cannot bear it ?" she cried, clingins to
him like dying creature to life "I cannot
bear your speaking so kindly. and bidding
me leave you, when am conscious of having
done you so much injury. Strike me! tread
me under your feet curse me eveni or If it
be true that you love me still, after all I
have done, here, take me, keep me, do with
me what you will only do not send me away
from you thus?'
SObs again interrupted her. He held her
Tor time IN his arms in silence.
|" If still love you :" cried he, at length.
Holy Mother do you imagine all my heart
blood has run out Of that little wound? Do
you not feel it there beating in my breast, as
though il would burst? If you only saw this
to try me, or out of pity for me, 90 away, and
L will try to forget this also. You shall not
think yourself guilty, because you know what
"No!" she replied firmly; and looking ND
eagerly from his shoulder through her swim
ming tears. al love you and, lest should
let you see it, l have struggled strongly
ayaingst it. But now L will behave differ
emily, for could not help looking at you if L
met you in the street. And now, added she,
sOlemnly. receive this kiss, that you NAV
say to yourself if you doubt again " She
kissed me, ard Laurella kisses none bat him
she intends for her husband And now" con-
cluded she, disengaging herself, you must
60 to bed, and get your hand we'll. Good.
night. Do not go with me, for I fear no one
but you"
She then tripped out of the door, and dis.
appeared in the shadow of the walls. Antos
nino continued to gaze for some time longer
through the window over the glorious sea, in
which thousand stars seemed to twinkle
The next time the little priest came out Of
the confessional, in which Laurella had been
kneeling, he smiled quietly to himself.
Who would have thought" said he men
tally, that Heaven would so soon have
shown mercy to this strange heart? And
there was l anticipating hard struggle with
that besetting sin of hers, pride. But how
short-sighted are We mortals, where Heaven
Is so wise! Well, may the blessing of all the
saints be upon her; /; and may live to see the
day when Laurella's eldest son can take his
fathers place in rowing me across the water.
Ia, eli, Ell. La RGbbista!"