The Red Cloud chief., 1876-05-18
TERESA.

"a a. ~ ~
of color; the poet for its classic traditions
and dreamy influences; the invalid for
its balmy breath and reviving warmth.
which stir the pulses that in Northern
lands would cease TO beat. Lionel Me
ton, half poet, half artist, and half In
valid, sought it for life both Of mind N
body; and his delicate frame-shattered
by the chill blasts of the North-woke
to a new being in the soft Ausonian
climate, whilst his artist eye glanced
with a pleased delight over ~luxuriant
plains and olive-planted slopes, with
here and there a glimpse Of the yellow
Tiber flowing majestically along.
He was just now standing in the door
way of the inn, gazing, not at the land
scape or the skies, but at a face that had
attracted his attention more than once
since his arrival tt. lie a seen
it first in the beautiful gardens of the
villa, not far from the inn, peerlng
through the parted branches Of a myrtle,
whosedark glossy leaves seemed to form
q fitting frame work for the living pic
lure behind them. But the branches
had closed hastily. as the girl met the
blue eyes of Lionel fixed steadily upon
her.
I'VE must go home. Tina" said she to
the child who was watching the doves
wash themselves in the basin of the
fountain, and she swung it up to her
shoulder, where it wound its tiny hands
in her dark hair, looSening some of the
coils that fell heavily down below her
waist. \ flush came over the pale olive
skin.
Thou art a bad child, Tina" she said,
as she hastily twisted up the longtresses
under the folds of her white head-gear.
The large lustrous eyes had but looked
at Lionel for a moment, and yet they
seemed to have told him a long story
that he had been in the past trying to
decipher.
Next he had seen her in church,
kneeling in fervent prayer, and had
silently watched the changes of coun-
tenance until again she perceived him,
and with a startled look rose and fled
away.
To-day Teresa stood leaning against a
stone pillar, playing with the pink bios
som of a catalpa that stood near her,
when suddenly she found herself once
more face TO face with the English
stranger.
He had discovered her name-Teresa
daughter of blind Thomas Cecchi and
his bed-ridden wife. She was a good
daughter, and worked hard to support
her parents. To-day she seemed to be
taking life easily-drinking in the splen-
dor of the purple mists and golden sheets
of sunlight with true Italian Incidence
Dolce far niente.!" thought Lionel,
as he looked at the statue-like figure, and
the head thrown back, partly with
WEAKNESS, partly with an intense appre,
citation of the beauty around her.
But Teresa's rest was not to be of lone
duration. The Mercdnti of the Cam.
pagna had sent for labOrers to gather in
the harvest, and men and women were
forming into bands to join in the work
Teresa was going. 80 gossip had told
Lionel, and to him it seemed a sacrilegt
that the beautiful maiden should tot
and slave with the common multitude
But what could he do? And in the
midst of his meditations the girl RAISED
her face, and again their eyes met.
Teresa" The name burst involun
tarily from his lips.
She started and blushed, but this tim,
did not flee away. She looked up a
Lionel.
Isl. signore," she answered.
THAT is a pretty flower" said Lionel
will you give it to me"
She made no reply, but put the bios
som into his hand. And SO the acquaint
ance was made and the two chartered
away,in the sunshine.
ii.
AAioilcl lLdu SouS " IoiildSo \cCCLl
lodging.
But your daughter is not strOn.
enough for such work. said he, in con
slusion to a long harangue.
The old man shrugged his shoulders
Poverty" said he, els a hard master, an.
Teresa is a good girl"
TOO good to endanger her life in tn
tolls of the Campagna. Think of tn
risk, the labor, the heat, the foul ever
ing mistSw
But TomaSO looked back beyond tn
discomfortS and remembered a tim
when the plains resounded with song
and laughter, and the wine was broache,
and hearts were light.
Il found my wife there" said he. IAN,
Teresa may find a husband"
Lionel instinctively drew back. 4
husband among those laboring peasants
impossible; for in his eyes Teresa wa
worthy to be the bride of a King.
Can you not find a substitute 70
your daughter? l." and then h
hesitated, for Teresa had come into tn
room.
~HOw much will it cost to get a sui
stitute, Teresa"
Teresa laughed. "GiOvanetta woul
pay if she could 60 in my place" sal,
she. "There are too many ready an,
willing to 60"
Let them gOthen!." responded Lione
eagerly.
The signore fOrgets We must hav