Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-19

my mother said he might bewitch me, and in
Jure my life, perhaps even hurt my soul -
Do not believe such sinful things" said
the priest earnestly. "Are you not sivays
in the hands Of God, without whose will not a
hair OF your head falls; and can a man like
that, with mere picture in his hand, be more
powerful than our Heavenly Father Be-
sides that, you might have known that he
wished you we'll, or would he have asked you
in MARRIAGE"
The girl was silent
81 And why did you refuse 10 marry ?" cen.
tinued the priest, after a pause He was
good and handsome man, and would have
supported your mother much better than you
can do with the tribe you earn by spinning
and silk.winding"
We are poor people," replied Laurella
vehemently f" and my mother, has been SO
to him Besides, am not ft 10 be signora
When his friends came to visit him, he would
have been ashamed of me.T
How you talk / tell you that be was an
excellent man; and, besides, he would have
come to live in Sorrento. You will not easily
hnd such another be seemed a. IL sent from
heaven to succor you"
!" do not want husband; L shall never
marry" she said disdainfully, and a. If
speaking to herself.
"Have you ever made a vow, or are Won
going into a convent?''
She shook her head.
People are right in calling You head
strong: Do you consider that you are not
alone In the world, and that you make the ILL.,
ness and poverty of your mother only more
bitter by your obstinacy? What good reason
could you have for refusing the honest man
Laurells." -
g. have a reason" said she, in q low and
hesitating voice, " but cannot tell it.p
" Not tell it not to me ITO your father
contessor? You know 1 always seek your
good-do you not, Laurella?"
She nodded.
=" Then unburden your heart, nv child. IL
you are right: will be the first to commend
you; but you are young, and know little of
the world, and may afterwards regret having
thrown away your happiness for some child
She cast a hasty glance towards the young
man, who, busy with his oar, sat in the bow
of the boat, his wooden cap drawn down over
his eyes. He was gazing on the sea, and
seemed occupied with his own thoughts.
The priest saw her look, aud bent down his
ear.
g You did not know my father" she whis-
pered, and her eyes were full Of gloom.
Your father why, he died when you
were scarcely ten years old, I think What
has your father, whose soul, trust, is in
Paradise, to do with your obstinscy?"
You did not know him, padre You do
not know that to him alone is my mothers
Hines Owingm
How sO?' inquired the priest with sur
prise.
Because be beat and in-treated her.
remember well the nights when he would
come home in perfect fury. She never spoke
word, and did all he wished; but he would
beat her till my heart nearly broke. used
to draw the covering over my head and pre-
tend to be asleep but in truth / cried all
night. And when he saw her lying on the
floor, his manner would suddenly change; he
would raise her, aud clasp her in his arms,
close to his heart, till she cried out half sufo-
Gated. Ny mother forbade me TO say a word
about it then; but it had such an effect upon
her, that, ever since his death. many years
ago, she has never regained her health and
II she dies-which heaven forbid II know
who will have killed her -
The little priest shook his head and seemed
uncertain how far he should acknowledge the
justice of the girls reasoning. At last he
said Forgive him, my child, as your mother
has forgiven him. Do not let your thoughts
dwell on such sad scenes, LaureIla; better
times are in store for you, and all this will be
forgotten"
Never L shall never forget it 90 she said
shuddering. 'And it is this which has deter
mined me to remain unmarried, padre. I will
u
moment and caress me the next. If any were
now to attempt TO DO either the one or the
other, should know how to defend myself,
but my mother would not do so, because she
loved him 1 will love no one well enough TO
endure such things from him.
What child you are to talk such non
sense !" replied the priest. Are all men
like your father, who gave way to every whim
and passion, and did, in truth, ill treat your
mother? Have you net seen numbers of ex-
cellent men in the neighborhood, and women,
who live in perfect unity and peace with their
husbands '''
"Ah they appear to do so but no one
knew my fathers conduct to my mother; she
would rather have died thousand deaths
than have uttered q word of complaint and
all because she loved him. If It be love,
which closes ones lips so that one dare not
cry out for help, and which makes one de-
fenceless against greater injuries than would
be endured from an enemy, then, as have
said before, will never give up my heart
and liberty to any man"
I" tell you, you are an ignorant child, and
do not understand what you are talking of.
Your heart will not ask You whether you will
love or not; when the time comes, all these
notions will then give way" After a pause
he again continued "And did you tell that
painter-did you tell him that you feared his
harshness. :"
"His eyes looked just like my fathers
when asking forgiveness of my mother, and
trying to make it up with her. 1 know those
eyes; they can be feigned even by a man
who beats the wife who has never done him
any harm; and shuddered when / saw them
again"
After this she remained silent, and the
priest followed her example. He was think
ing Of much good advice that he could give
to the girl; but the presence of the young
sailor, who, towards the end of the converse.
ton, had become apparently restless, closed
his mouth.
In about the space of two hours they ar
rived In the little harbOr of Capri. Antonino
carried the padre through the surf to the
shore; but Laurella would not wait till he
had waded back to fetch her; she lifted her
little skirt, took her wooden shoes in her right
hand, the bundle in her left, and splas6ed
Stu riilu fhrnI1n oh the