The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-10-06
Miscellaneous
II liES.A.

Light, heat, beauty, ife-aiving south !!
The artist seeks it for its glorious depths OF
color thc'poct for It's classic traditions and
dreamy influences the invalid for its balmy
breath and reviving warmth, which stir the
pulses that in northern lands cease to beat.
Lionel Merton, half poet, half artist, and
half invalid, sought it for life both of mind
AMI body and his delicate frame-sheltertd
ft m the chill blasts Of the north-woke to II
NV Icing in the soft Ausonian climate,
delight over luxuriant plains and olive
planted slope, with here AMI there glimpse
of the yellow Tiber flowing majesticaly
along.
lie was just now standing in the doorway
OF the inn, gazing, not ut the landscape or
the skies, hut at n face that had attracted
his attention more than once since his arriv-
al at. lie had seen it first in the
beautiful gardens of the villa, not far from
the inn, pc ring through the parted branches
of myte, whose dark glossy leaves
seemed to form Il fitting framework for the
living picture behind them. But the branch
es had closed hastily, as the girl met the
blue eyes or Lionel fixed steadily upon
her
1--WE must 90 home, Tina" said she to the
child who was watching the doves wash
themselves in the basin Of the fountain, and
she swung itup to her shoulder, where il
wound its tiny hands in her dark hair, loosen.
ing some of the coils that fell heavily down
below her waist. A flush came over the
pale olive skin.
"Thou art a bad child, Tina !" she said
as she hastily twisted up the long tresse>
under the folds OF hcr white head gear.
The long iustrnus eyes had but looked al
Lionel for moment, and yet they seemed
to have told him Il long story that he had
been in the past trying to decipher
Next he had seen her in church, kneel.
ing in iervcnt prayer, and had silently
watched the changes of her countenancc un
tilagain she perceived him, and with a star
tledIook rose and fed away.
To-day Teresa stood leaning against Il
s'one pillar, r,playing with the pink blossom
of II catalpa that stood near her, when sud-
denly she found herself once more face to
face with the English stranger.
lie had dIscoverel her name-Tei esa
daughter of blind Toma, Cecchi and hi,
BID ridden wifi. She was good daughter
and worked hard to support her parents
To-day she seemed To be taking life easily
drinking in the splendor of the purple
mists and golden sheets of sunlight with true
Italian Incidence. ........
"Doice Jar nj meI thought Lionel, as he
looked at the salpcike figure, and the
head thrown back, partly with WEAKNESS,
PARTLY with. an Intense appreciation Of the
| beauty around her
But .Teresas rest was not to be of long
duration. The merednH of the Campagna
had sent for laborers to gatherin the harvest
and men and women were forming iuto
bands to Join in the work. Teresa was 90.
ing, so gossip had told Lionel, and to him
it seemed sacrilege that the beautiful maid-
en- should toll and slave with the common
ihultltuut, Dut What COulu lie 40 Anu
in the midst of his meditations the girl
raised her face, and again their eyes met.
"Teresa% The name burst involuntarily
from his lips.
She started and blushed, but this time
did not flee away. She looked at 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 blossom
into his hand. And so the acquaintance
was made, and the two chattel away in the
sunshine.
Lionel had gone to Tomas Cecchis lodg-
ing, ..
"But your daughter Is not strong enous b
for such work p said he, in conclusion to a
long harangue.
The old man shrugged his shoulders,
Poverty" said be, "is hard master and
Teresa is n good girl" ".
"Too good to endanger her life In the
tolls at the Campagna, Think OF tho risk,
the labor the heat, the f0nl evening Inists %
But Tomas bsoked back beyond the dis
comforts and remembered time when the
plains resoanded with song and laughter,
and the wine was broaohed aud hearts wero