The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-01-06

little girl were lost at sea.
Ten years afterwards, Kathleen Mori-
son-a childless widow, istless exile
now upon foreign shore-way standing
at her door, where the glowing Italian
sunshine streamed down through bios
soming vines.
"The saints protect us from such a
grim face as yours, Kathlina p cried q
merry neighbor, balancing a basket OF
fish on her head, as she tripped by.
"Don't you want to hear bit of news2''
"I am not so wrapped up in the fine
folk at the castle as you, Ninetta, said
Kathleen.
"It's lovely lady," returned Ninetta,
and she's dying by inches-La Signoro
San Legero."
est. Leger !"
"Ah that the way the English have
it,"
{" Go away I want no more of you1
idle gossip!"
Ninetta retreated, fairly appalled, by
the sharpness of her neighbours tongue
and voice; and Kathleen stood gazing
hxedly into the sunset, with eyes that
saw not shade of the carmine glow.
"I thought once that L should never
pity her," mused Kathleen, "but that
was before my babes died. I have felt
the serpents tooth in my own heart
since. Poor lady! and she is dying of a
broken heart. 1 wish could die l''
The next evening, as Mrs. st. Leger
was lying on the sofa by the open win
dow which led out upon marble terraces
and velvet-smooth lawns, slip of white
paper came futtering down upon her
lap as softly rs the floating petal of an
orange blossom. And, rudely scrawled
upon it with pencil, she deciphered
these words:
" There is one white American flower
among the pomegranate blossoms at
Marco Silvedo's."
Beatrice ST. Leger's cheek turned even
paler than its usual shade of pallor as
she read the mystic lines.
Read, Alfred"
"Nelly was drowned ten long years
ago, Beatrice.
"Nelly is alive, Alfred L know it, L
feel it ! Oh, lose no time--inquire who
and where Marco Silvedo is
"I will inquire" he said "but, Bea-
often we have been deceived before"
"We shall not be deceived again,
Alfred"
Marco Silvedo sat at his cottage door,
smoking short pipe of some dark,
fragrant wood; an OLD, wrinkle-laced
Italian, with a skin as yellow as parch-
ment, iron-gray hair and kee1t black
eyes. Two OF three children, as dark as
himself, were playing around him ard
when Mrs. st. Leger noted the ruddy
crimson hue of health in their checks,
she knew what was meant by the words
''pctnegranate blossoms. ="
Mr.. st. Leger alighted, aud began to
talk to the old man i'll his own language.
Are these all your children, Signor
Silvedo?"
eyes, signor-all. Two are with the
saints i'll glory-three are here.
Beatrice, listening from the carriage,
felt the blood grow chill around her
heart. Was the faint light of hope that
had begun to dawn on her life's horizon
but deceptive mirage, after all.
Mr. st. Leger was about to re-enter
the carriage, when the old Italian rose
politely to his feet.
"The signor and signora would honor
him by partaking of glass of his own
wine? Nay, he would receive no refus-
al. Elena-Nella -
a tall, slender girl of fifteen or there
abouts came to the door-a girl with a
skin as fair as drifted snow, and blue,
serene eyes. She looked wonderingly
at the strangers.
Mrs. st. Leger uttered q low, smoth-
cred cry. All the changes that had
passed over Nelly's head had not al
tered her to the mothers wistful, loving
eyes. She was the "Little Nelly" of
the weary years ago.
"Nelly! Nelly I" she CRIED wildly,
"don't you remember your mothers"
And Nelly st. Leger, with the flood
gates OF memory wide open in her heart,
fell, sobbing on her mothers breast.
81 knew L had mother once, before
l sailed across the sea-" she faltered, in
italian "but thought she had forgot
ten me |"
Marco Silvedo, who had been gazing
in blank astonishment from one to an
other, now came forward and told how
the child had been left at his door one
chill November night, how and bywhom
he did not know, nor could the be-
wildered child tell him.
81 had just buried my youngest
child" he said, land it seemed as if
the good saints meant this one to take
her place. I shall miss her sorely,
though don't grudge her to the signor "
Kathleen, standing at the door as the
carriage rolled by the next day, with
Nelly sitting between her father and
mother, smiled darkly to herself.
81 had meant that my revenge should
have lasted still longer, she said to her
SELF" but the poor lady cannot live long
and, after all, she was not to blame.
Besides, when little Kathleen died, l
buried almost all the bitter smart in heI
grave. Let them be happy while they
can"
For Kathleen knew that she was
amply avenged.