Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-21
"0h, just take them to her with greeting

Why, she does not know you ="
Then you might tell her who am"
do not know you either"
IL was not the first time she had 90 disowu.
% 90 ms acq uaintance. A year before, when
the painter first came to Sorrento, il happeu-
cd on Sunday that Antonino, with other
young men Of the town, were engaged In an
open space near the principal street. pIaving
a. ooee'd' 1t was there the painter frst saw
Laureia, who, with a pitcher on her head,
walked ny without observing him. The Nea.
PUa.s9 struck win her appearance stood ga.
midst of the game, and three stems MGR,
have placed him in safety. bard SsIi
against his ancle must have reminded -,
this was not place where he might lose him
self in thought He looked around, as tboneh
awaiting an apology, but the young sailor
who had thrown the ball, stood silently and
scornfully in the midst of his friends, and the
stranger, thinking it advisable to avoid I.
dispute, quietly took his departure But the
matter was talked about, and was again
brought up when the painter openly proposed
to Laurella
Il know nothing Of him." she said indir
nantly, when the painter inquired if she re-
fused him for the sake Of that unciyil youth.
But the Circumstance had come to her ears.
ana when she met Antonino she always re-
cognised him.
Aud there they sat in the boat like the bit.
terest enemies, while the hearts of both beat
high Antonino's usually good tempered face
was very red; he lashed the waves till the
foam besprinkled him; and his lips trembled
occasionally, as though giving vent to evil
words She pretended to observe nothing.
put on her most nonchalant air, and, leaning
over the side Of the boat, let the water trickle
through her fingers. Then she took the hand.
kerchlef of again, and arranged her hair, as
though she was quite alone in the boat; but
her eyebrows still moved convulsively. and IL
was In vain she strove to cool her burning
checks by pressing her wet hands against
them.
They had now got about halfway across,
and no other boat was visible; the island had
been left behind, the coast before them lay
far distant in the sunlight, and not even a sea-
NEW disturbed the solitude. Antonino looked
around him thought seemed to ashacros.
his mind {; the color faded suddenly from his
face, and he let the oars fall. Involuntarily
Laurella turned towards him, collected and
fearless
"I must make an end of this 20 burst forth
the young man. cit has already lasted too
long, and L only wonder at my own patience.
You say ysu do not know mei Have YOU not
seen long enough that when with you my feel
ings are well-nigh ungoverrable, that my
heart has been full, and that have lonped 20
speak to you? And then you put on that
don't care face, and turn your back to me"
what had L to say to you ?" she inquired,
shortly. 81 have indeed remarked that you
wished to make my acquaintance but had
mouth, for no end. Yes, say for no end, for
should never take you for husband-nsithsr
you nor any one else"
Nor any one else? You will not always
speak thus. Because you sent off the painter;
bah you were only a child then. The day
will vet come when you will feel lonely, and
then. foolish as you now are. you will take the
first good offer"
"No one knows his future. 1t is Sossible
my mind may change; but what is that to
you ?''
"What is that to me1" he exclaimed, and
bounded from his seat. 80 that every plank
quiversd. What is that to me- and you
can still ask that when You know the state
am in Know, then, the miserable wretch
shall perish whom You dare to prefer before
me, :"
"Have L promised myself to you? Can
help it if your head is turned? What right
have you over me?
"Oh 10 he cried, ait is not written down
to be sure no lawyer has inscribed it In Latin,
and affixed his seal thereto; but this do
know, that have as much right over yeu as
L have to enter heaven if act uprightly. Do
you imagine / will look on when you 60 TO
with shrug of the shoulders? Will sub
NIT to that degradation ?"
"Do as you like. L shall not be intimida-
ted, threaten as you will. suppose, I also
may do as L please"
"You shall not say so long," he replied,
while every limb shook. "I am man enough
not to submit any longer to have my life made
by a frowsrd girl. Do you know
that you are here in my power, and must do
as L will %
She started slightly, and her eyes flashed.
Kill me, if you dare! 10 she said slowly.
"One must do nothing by halves" he said,
in a more subdued voice. 81 cannot help it.
my child," he continued almost sadly, and as
though in a dream; "but we must both 60
down-bOth together-and now !" he shouted
and clasped her suddenly in his arms.
But the next moment he drew back his right
hand, and the blood spurted out; she had
bitten him severely.
Must do as you will ?' she cried, push
ing him away with sudden movement. 1--WE
shall if / am in your poweri''
With these words, she sprang over the side
of the boat, and disappeared for q moment
beneath the water. She came up again i'm
mediately, her dress clinging tightly round
her, her hair, loosened by the water, hanging
heavily round her neck; and she threw out
her arms energetically, and swan on without
another syllable towards the distant shore.
The sudden alarm seemed to have bereft An
tonino of his senses. He stood bent forward
in the boat, with his eyes fixed rigidly on the
girl, as though a miracle were passing before
his sight. Then he shook himself, seized the
oars, and followed her, with every nerve dis
tended, whilst the bottom of the boat was
Redeemed with the stream of blood which con-
tinued to flow forth. In a moment he was by
her side, fast as she swan.