The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-18
! FIRST IODGER-
4caxc.rpsp. /

evening. could not ana ,u s' and said IL
when he asked me the next DAY, WV v,.sr af
was mother kept nue.. But sn and II went
forwards, he invited me agaih. a heard Al,
Yes, sas and lissened 70 no how beautiful and
49, ~ ,,.s and how he loved her; and l
s.s :, cue =. interest in her TOO. and forget
myself =. had mot with her and
49, as.,"in Gertrude in Germany and des-
cr,,ss them both. vittoria, with her grand,
great beauty and deruuae, soit ana gshse;
his plans for the future; how his improved
circumstances allowed OF his marriage; how he
haa written to flx Christmas, and waited an
answer. / asked with a sinking heart II he
would leave us then, but no said, ..No, Vito
ria would BE- quite satisfied" and felt happi-
err Only when he kept watching for the
morning post. sitting at the window, with ms
eve fixed on the post-oiiice. II was bitter and
hard to bear.
It was Monday morning, just after post
time, and there had been two letters for Signor
Angelo, with foreign post-inarks, winch BET
~ had taken up to his room. / was washing
in the back kitchen, with great IRE on, ana
mp TO my elbows in soapsuds, not aitogeiher
In \ good humor. when Betsy rushed into
the room, and declared that the foreigner
iron sheer had gone demented.
/ gave her a box on the ear rs an impudent
hussy, but, for all that, desired an explanation.
=" Mon sheer was rushing about his room, inter-
ing loud cries." she said, and she heard heavy
sound like the fall of furniture
wiped my arms in a great hurry, and rush.
cd out 10 ltsteH
There were strange sounds, as Betsy had re-
presented; but IL was in vain that knocked
at the door. or tried 10 enter--the bolt was
drawn and no one answered-only the sounds
Quoted and heard succession OF means.
Monsierf AnSelo-Monsieur Angelo!"
said, ''it's me--its Patty. Won't you say
what's the matter Are you i'll! Oh Mon
sieur.'
Al last came an answer. swhat do you
want. Go away--lon'; bother"
Later in the afternoon heard his bolt with
drawn, and low voice calling TO Betsy, and I
rushed out only Just caught sight of his
face, very white and careworn, as he drew
back and rebolted the door; but ON the landing
floor lay little note, that seized hastily. 1t
was directed 10 Miss Patty, and | popped it
into the bosom of my dress, and went up
stairs 10 read ii.
sDear Patty" il said. "would be sure to
sympathise with the extreme agony of a fell
very depths of desperation" Then came q
very incoherent bit tina: l could not under
stand, and it went on to tell how Fittoria's
father, having'always opposed his daughters
union with the signor, on the score Of his
want of means, had latteriy goaded her
with entreaties, commands, and arguments,
that in fit of despair, she had plunged into
an immense gulf. Those were the words of
the note ending with wild apps trophies, and
resolutions for speedy Reunion. / read and
re-read the note, in trembling eagerness One
thing was clear Vittoria was dead, and An
gelo, in consequence, was bent on self destruc-
ton; /, alone, aware of the catastrophe, and
with the power of preventing further mis-
chief. But how.
dropped a tear over Vittoria's untimely
fate, and took out my desk. 1t was in vain to
attempt to speak to him, but might write
And did write. / found sheet of paper
with the broad black edge l had used while
mourning for my father. and, for the first time
addressed Angelo by letter began by condo
lences, and went on to talk of sympathy and
resignation. 1t took me a long time to do and
think could never have managed at all, had
II not been for the packet of letters, labelled
eCoadotsnees," that my mother had received in
her great trouble. / took nice saying out OF
each Of these, and strung the bits together by
ands and bnfs. 1t was really a beautiful letter
when II was done, and the termination, Your
sincere sympathiser," looked so nice at the
bottom of the page-so very expressive, but
not too warm.
folded and sealed the note carried it down
stairs, slid it under the door, and gave low
tap to attract his attention. Then in brea tn
less anxiety, waited for further tidings
They came at last--a low-toned Miss Pat.
fy'-and / found myself admitted into the
little parlor where poor Angelo was sitting
over the fire, looking the picture of misery
He took my hand. Mrs. Patty he said
~ thank you for your sympathy. But find
was mistaken in some of the particulars with
which before acquainted you have been re.
reading the letters and see that l Jumped tC
hasty anu erroneous conclusions. Nittoria The
shuddered at her name,) Vittoria Is not dead
but she is lost 10 me- l received two letters
this morning: one from her, talking wildly OF
the roaring and foaming sea that she over.
looked from her windows limiting at despair
and self-destruction. The other was from
G ,rtrude, to tell me that her cousin,w was lost
10 me forever. Further than this did not al
'lrst read-everythi seemed evident, Vito.
ria's devotion unto death, and my necessary
des ,air. But now find there is very differ
cut Interpretation. Vittoria still lives but rs
dead to me. Over-persuaded by her father
she has agreed to bestow her hand on ano Their "
Angelo paused, overcome by his feelings
and, burying his face in his hands sobbed like
a child i did not try TO Oulat him | lott m
cry, and cried with him. 1t was the best re-
lief When he WAS quite Wearied l spoke TO
Z and comforted him. brought him some warm
tea. and insisted on his going to bed
Next morning l had removed the picture.
put 1t away In the chiffoner, and by tacit con .
sent, we both from that day avoided her name
He went back to his old habits and his teach
q ing did my best TO make hi1n forget the past
and enjoy the present.
So time passed. Winter came with its sleet
and snow and December 23d found a troop of
Joyous boys crowding the railway omnibus
and singing, "Domum, domum, dulce do.
mum y with heart, if not with harmony And
fly stood before our passage entrance, with a
portmanteau strapped to the top; while Sig
nor Angelo hurried down stairs, armed with q
carpet-bag and umbrella and, holding ont his
hand to me on the lowest step. said, ''Good-
by!" in hearty voice. | was holding nv
apron to my eyes, and l called him back and
babe him not TO forget the sandwiches in his
great-coat pocket, and the medicine bottle full
OF wine and water; and to mind and write TO
~.
he said, for the holidays--for though Italian by
parentage, he had been brought up in Germa
ny, and loved ii best; and even his late disap-
pointment had not sufficed to cool the feeling
Mother and i spent a dull Chris tnas togeth-
or; hardly reminded of the season save by the
yule-cake at tea and the church bells ringing
Mt day break. L put up the holly sprigs rs /
had ever done, for customs sake and even
carried a few branches into the vacant par,or
putting Some bits behind the china shepherd
esses, on the window-sill, and the very incest
sprigs over monsieur's portraits The room
looked very dull without its occupant: and 7
stood looking at the picture over the mantel-
piece till met its eye, and then l went away
with a tear in mine. What was that moor
fellow doing in a land of strangers Did amy
one mend his linen when it eamesin from the
wash, and see it was well aired! Oh dear
what would he do without mel
And now in my turn watched for the most in
vain. The weeks went over Mr. CIatterhack-.
academy was to Reopen on Tuesday tha
grammar school the next day and by the Mon
day post at last, came 4 letter for me pin
me! 10y
Monsieur Angelo returned home that ore,-
1ng-but not alone. With him came Madame
Angelo Pagliardini, the little fair-haired
Cousin Gertrude, who had written 10 taii |
about Fittoria's infidelity. 'e'i
From the parlor window I watched hin, |
neip ner out OF the fly with tender pride. and |
bring her into the house; and / ciasna3 INV
hands till my nails ran into INV fingers and |
told my sci! over and over again that mated |
tnem both. But was Obliged to go and meet
then-oblIged to make all sorts of con gratuIa-
IONS, ana give my hand when the signor in
FoouceQ' me as his good Miss Patty who
would, he hoped, be his wife's friend. 100.
ala NOT raise my eyes to madame's face but
saw her hand as II lay in mine; mine brown,
and hard, and harsh hers soft and white as a
lily, with pink palms like the blush OF q
conch-shell. 1t was o great contrast, and II
made me more bitter. thought that men never