The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-27


which you are the distinguished ornament,
life in our scquestered valley THAT Is only
n literary way OF speaking-we do not. ms
YOU are aware, live in Valley glldeS on
\ anquilly and smoothly, and each day Is
bat the counterpart of that which has pre-
ccdcd IT. Rather will risk theaccusailon
of cgOtisrn. and dctnin your attention TOT
few moments while / speak TO you OF
myself.
Following your wise ard excellent
counsel, SignOrIna, l have ~ late ucNnicd
mNscli 10 the study OF science ana ihcnfts'
aud trust you will not nuousc ne OF van
itv when add that | have not l,horcd
altogether ~ vain. WHAT succrs have
achieved | must us,tibv entirely ~ the in
valuable aud Of Signor Antonio Ba.sauo
YOU remember oil ,BOtti-lia), "a geutl,m man
in reduced circumstances. but OF noble
birth. SO, Mt least, he says; but your Aunt
Marta declares she remembers his father,
who kept "A small wine shop at Naples.
Assisted Ivy his most valuable Instruc-
ton, have become acquainted with both
ancient aud modern literature; ana can
not nut think that the present lettcr-al
unprctcnding rs It is-wll serve to show
you that am no longer the ignorant fish,
erInan from whom you parted nearly
three years ago. | wonder whether you
remember that day rs well us dol IL L.
not three years, but only two yenrs and
two months; but did not say SO for fear
of spelling the sentence,
"And now, Signorina, that | may not
weary YOU with too many words, let me al
once approach The subject that II nearest
10 my heart. You know now passionate,
how deep, how unnltorabe has been the
affection that | have borne you ever since
the time when. In our happy childhood, we
sportcd together on the sandy shores OF
the azure Mediterranean. say. oh say That
the hopes which have buoycd me up for so
long are not to be ru' hlcssly dashed To the
gruundl Break not the faithful heart TINT
beats for you! And believe that among
all the aspiring lovers that doubtless sur
round you, there brcathes none more true
none more impas Toned than
Oh your ladyship
"1hp most obedicnt,
Most humble servant,
"LUIGi RATA.
" Post Scripium.-In truth. Anuunznta,
If you have forgotten Your promise to me.
my life Will be over. The first letter l
wrote contained "a good deal more than
this. but 1t seemed 10 me over long, SO l
cut it short little-espocnliy toward tue
end.-L. r."
II viii Ice seen that Luigi took some lib
critics with Botigna's composition.
week later he received the following
reply:
paris, January, IL.
"DEAREsT LUIGI: l have received your
good, KIND letter. ana rejoice 10 near OF
your welfare; but II you write to me
again, rs hope you WILL you must not let
your friend. Slguor Antonio, compose your
letter Tor YOU. | IKE your own style much
better than his. l suppose all that nom
sense about love and broken hearts was
his, was 1t noti
." do not quite understand what you
mean by the promise you speak OF IN the
postscript, but i hope-ohl dear Luigi, |
do hope-tbat you cannot really think
ever engaged myself 10 marry YOU. Such
n thing would nave been impos,lhle-we
never could have been happy rs man and
wife; aud indeed IL is wrong for me even
IL g
gagged To be married, and the ceremony is
TO Jake place very shortly. My future
husband is the Comte de Chaguy, Il French
gentleman. | know you Will wish me all
good fortune III this new state Of lie. and
J shall be 80 pleas ii il you viii send me u
lcttr-wutten all by yourself this time
to SAY 50.
And now, dear Luigi, must say adieu.
] AN, and always shall be,
our mos afieCtipnatc friend,
"ASNUNZtArA NANNINL"
Luigi received this letter AT the Post
once. ana read II IN the street.. When he
had come To the last words ne ranmed his
haf down ever his eyes, and set on, with
rather an unsteady stcp. TO walk home.
At his own door he met old Antonio, who
nccostcd hun with - pleasant inquiry a. to
whether he mad heard yet from his lady,
love. The next moment BOtugla found
himself lying on his back IN the street,
and, on picking himself up, with much I'M
piety OF language, caught glimpse OF
Luigi entering his own house, the door OF
which lie shut and locked behind him.
And thlt was the last SOrI ento ever saw
OF Luigi Rata.