Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-19
AN ITALIAN STORY.

Light, heat, beauty, life giving South
The artist seeks ii for its glorious depths 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 Merton, half poet,
half artist, and half invalid, sought it for
life both Of mind aud body; and his deli
cate frame-shattered by the chill blasts Cf
the Norlh-woke 10 a new being In the soft
Ansonian climate, whilst his artist eye
glanced with pleased delight over luxu-
RANT plains and olive planted slopes, with
here and there glimpse OF the yellow Ti-
Der flowing majestically along.
lie 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 at
tracted his attention more than once since
his arrival at -. He had seen IL first in
the beautiful gardens OF the villa, not far
from The inn, peering through the parted
branches of a myrtle, whose dark glossy
leaves seemed to form a fitting framework
for the living picture behind them. But
the branches had closed hastily, as the girl
met the blue eyes OF Lionel fixed stead
fa.tly upon her.
ave must go home, Tina" said she TO
The child, who was watching the doves wash
themselves In the basin of tho 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 heavi-
ly down below her waist. A flush came
over the pale olive skin.
"Thou art bad child, TinaW she said,
as she hastily twisted up the long tresses
under the folds of her white head gear.
The large lustrous eyes had but looked at
Lionel for a moment, and yet they seem to
have told him long story that he had been
in the past trying to decipher.
Next he had seen her in the church,
kneeling in fervent prayer, and had silent
ly watched the changes of countenance un-
til 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 blossom
of eaialpa that stood near her, when sud
denly she found herself once more face to
face with the English stranger.
He had discovered her name-Teresa I;
daughter of blind Tomaso Cecchi and his
bed-ridden wife. She was good daughter
and worked hard to support her parents.
To-day she seemed to be taking life easily
drinking in the spl0ndor of the purple
mists and golden sheets OF sunlight with
true Italian indolencea
"Dolce far niente - thought Lionel, as he
looked at the statute-like figure, and the
head thrown back, partly with WEAKNESS,
partly with an intense appreciation of the
beauty around her.
But Teresa's rest was not TO be of long
duration. The Mercdnti of the Campagna
had sent for laborers TO gather in the har-
vest, and men and women were forming
into bands 10 join in the work. Teresa was
| going, so gossip had told Lionel, and 10
him II seemed a saerilege that the beautiful
maiden should toll and slave with the econl-
mon multitude. But what could he do 2
And in the midst of his mediiations the
girl raised her face, and again their eyes
| met.
| "Teresap' The name burst inVoluntarily
from his lips.
| She started and blushed, but this time
did not flee away. She looked up at Lio-
| mel.
"Si, signOre," she answered.
"rhat is a pretty flower" said Lionel
| "Will you give II to me1"