The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
o the old walnut tree where Giovanni

Is it thou, my littlehcart2 p he whispers,
M she comes up close to him.
Yes It is surely J." a little pause,
while the full under Up quivers ouinotislv.
On, Giovanni, what's the mnttOrf Have
be n naughty to anger t1ecY
No, no, b0Wbiud ntiu."
The head with Its autum-tintp1 hair has
found shelter beneath his beard, and lies
on his breast with its inco down turned.
Ii waits for him to speak, but then i'm
patient begins airrsh.
Why dust thou not call mo cnrind, =
and tell mo thar am little mndcap fit to
turn mans hcadf Thou lowest me no
more
Giovanni has made this interview with
firm view to right-dOng, and stll means
to undeceiye the little kitten. lilo stamps
his foot.
"Therel thou vast never used to do 80. ="
she is quite crying now. " rhOu really art
angry. Was 1t because asked this morn
lug Tor the gold earrlngsl Ii was not from
vanity, 1t was because OF what the neigh
bors say. But | Will ask no more. will
not have them. Only kiss mo and tell me
am 'cdrind.' "
Die Thou horrible little witchl As
II thou didSt not know to me thou art al
ways cdrinaI And rs for the kissing-I
don't need to DO biddcn. | can tell thee"
His arm is soon around her waist rs usual,
aud hers finds its way about his neck.
Why n9tY There is no silly .reticonce
about these lovers, no waste of time, no
cOyncss and compliments.
" But now, Mnddnlena, attention. have
TO speak to thee seriously. Poor bdmbind
have been cruel to thee"
"Cruel to mel NeVer-how could that
Der Thou hast kissed me often aud soold-
ell me-nOt much
"Nevertheless have been cruel. Thou
art guileless-thou dost not understand.
what thou sayest about the earrings re-
minds me Of it. Those earrings"
" Bah GiuVanni'-and she puts her hand
over ms mouth" speak not of them. Did
not tell thee love n kiss better-a thou
sand timesp Come, we will speak to-mor-
row by daylight OF those prOsalc things
earrings, and chain, and betrOthal ring
and papers, everything. But now | would
rather thou didst but tell me thou lowest
me-"
Giovanni laughs low, and for single
answer takes the merry little face between
ms hands. What more pleasant for him
than to follow where she leads2 And 50
the moments are not spent in explanation.
Maddalena is stu In his arms. her tran
silent woes forgotten with his kisses sim on
her cheek, when "a tall figure steps into the
gloomy shadow of the old tree; heavy
grip iastens itself ON Giovanuis shoulder,
ana voice he has never yet dared to dis
regard whispers deeply In his ear:
At the falls-in five minutes"
Giovanni mutters some foul imprecation
Maddalena is quaking from head to foot.
ghost, Giovanni Ii looked like
Rosina. But it could not be She for why
should she speak to thee in that ugly
voice.
mo, no, child. Fear nothing. It was
my aunt; she that il mad, thou knowest.
| am used TO her. But good night. bum
btnd.' Giovanni, too Is trembling and
seems as though he would shrink from the
little figure so lately in his embrace Mad
daena has recovered her wits; she peeps
out TO look after the apparition.
1T was nothing-it is quite gone IL
must surely have been thine aunt, as thou
savest.' she turns 10 hun as she speaks.
What, gone without more good-by than
thatF She makes n step forward. Yes,
there surely ne leaps on 10 tie path below,
Maddalena is bewildcrcd. Sne stands "A
moment, her eyes rvcted on the spot
where he has been. The presrntment of
evil is not quite dispellei. But she Is not
much used To pulling out her own
thoughts; where's the goody So back TO
the ring.
"Therell be the devil TO pay with that
woman, mutters the poor Infused lover
ns he walks along, III no hurry TO
reach the meeting point. pa givea ma
rchJo IA gold piecel TO know my ground
hrst, aud how much she has found out. lis
III lighting in the dark. A plague on these
giris! ~ hard | should come III for ali
this, for I'm sure | never ca ed enough for
any gnl to tidget her with jealousy. I've
u great mind 10 speak out and say love
tho other best. If it weren't for the
money -"
The old church clock croaks out slowly
nine feeble strokes. The moon has raised
herself lazily from of the mountains crest,
and Is sailing through the sky. She lends
her pale lgh, to the scene of the festivities
ana looks with full anu CHASTITY stare into |
the glen whore ROslna crouChes, fierce and |
painting. Soothing weird or cruel Is awake |
IN nature, uud yet the heart of the strong |
woman is seething and surging IN terrible |
pillows. Doubt, contempt, fury are struw- |
CLING with pity aud tenderness within her |
81 III; love, III all ITS devotion and passiou- |
atcnc,s, clamors louder than all.
" lie comes not" she murmurs. ais he |
the pttiable coward ! have sometimes |
judged him! But he Shdu near mel"
Asiuw, unsteady step Cruuches the gravel |
of the mountain path. 1t comes To u halt |
besides the fail. R.sna IS sitting I'm the |
deep gloom OF the rock; She cannot be |
seen. He whistles softly-u long, low |
wnisile, beautifully plalntivc. Her heart |
stands stIll Then she steps forth nnd |
stlnds before him, though not near, ma
Jestic rs ever, and paler than death in the |
cold mOoushiue.
Nothing speaks; the seconds seem hours. |
Ihcn liz, ma half sury. hali fearful tone: |
u" ihou dlist summon me. say thy say"
She laughs low aud strangely.
" Giovanni" The voice /, mellow, for
love lorgets anger all too quickly aud love
has conquered now within reach OF his
face.
:" My heartw
The strains of the music fall on her ear;
she remembers.
" Never mOTe!'
Silence again. The clock strikes the
quarter close to them. Giovanni starts
painfully lie Is nervous, aud he Is ex-
cited now.
" ROsina mia" he begins hastily, in de-
precatlng tone, why this cruel MANNER"
aud he makes two steps closer I her side
' Have ! offended theey II am to blame
crave thy pardon, but look not so stern
aud 70 piliess."
I" | am not pitiless, Giovanni" saws the
glrl, shaking her head. Then suddenly
agonized: "Ohl Tor love OF the Virgin
speak truth 10 mel DOst thou love meY
Yes or nor DO no torture me because
thou tearest TO wound me more.
am strong, | can bear much, but
not this. Tell me only thou lowest but me,
and viii ask no questiOns-l Will require
no explanation, VIII be content" But
moment she pauses, scarcely waiting Tor
IN answer. Fool that | am to torment
myself thus! Thou art not so blind ms TO
confuse my love with that bubble. born of
vanity and coquetry, which has pleased
iheo Tor a summers day. Thou art mino
IN All truthy ALI. swear NJ
- The large, strong hands are on his shout
lers, aud The great restless eyes are gazing
INTO his. Time and space are lost TO her;
the moments hurry by. They look with
sad, tender eyes at the great woman's soul,
ana lam would linser IN their flight TO