The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20

Wnllo am mere. La ga mas killed FOWL
and is gone out to cut salad for my supper
lis it not silly Of herr Now sit down
there, and tell me all the news from the
beginning to the end. Where is your gui-
tart ! thought you would bring it, and
sing La Bella Sorrentiua rs you used to
do. But perhaps you have found another
bella Sorrentina nowT
Luigi was pleased, happy-perhaps, too
little overpo wered. He had hardly ex-
pected to be greeted so warmly. But he
sat down. rs he was bid, and presently be-
gan to talk in his deep. soft voice. answer.
ing the questions that had been put to him
In order.
There is but one bella Sorrentina," he
said; land as for news, l do not think
there Is any TO tell. You will have heard
that old Giuseppe is dead OF an apoplexy
and that Marco Naldi is betrothed to the
daughter of Masucci, the blacksmith al
Tore del Greco. For myself, have done
pretty well in the way of business, thanks
be to the Saints and that think Is all
except that the sun ceased to shine the
day you left, Signorina, aud that wO have
neither sunshine. nor flowers, nor song OF
birds since then till now"
Annunzinta laughed. what q pretty
compliment" she said. NO one under
stands paying compliments rs we Italian:
do. Tho French are too formal and forced
the Germans are too clumsy; and Us for
the English, they never pay compliment:
90 81, But you are not to call me Sig
noriIa II you please Hove you forgotten
my name already y - ,s-'-j-
% will call you Annunzinia, II may; ]
did not know whether you would like II.
lhey PAID you many compliments, then
those foreign counts and dukes?'
Annunziata burst into one OF her old
hearty laughs. IAN enormous numberl"
she said. Luigi, you are q true Italian
II Is lucky you wore not with me in Paris.
III you get jealous when 1 mention that
strangers have made pretty speeches TO
me, what would you have done II you had
heard them NADER I believe you would
have been capable Of thrusting your knife
into some Of those poor young men"
THAT is quite possible" remarked Luigi
gloomily. Annunzlata," no resumed alb
ruptly, after short pause, g. have IL on
my mind TO say something to you, aud
perhaps II had better be done Mt oncei"
OIL no, dear Luigi-not IL II Is any
thing disngreeablel DO not say lido not
spoil my first day at home."
1T IL not disagreeable that know Of
only suppose II will be of no I'VE. want
you 70 say you will marry me some day
therel"
"Oh, but, Luigi, you know that cannot
Cannot be- do not know that IL cam
not be. Why should IL not hoY Because
am poor, too ignorant, too common for
your You did not always think so. But
l suppose nothing less than duke or n
wan you uOWuuuls.
An! now you want 10 quarrel with
me; but will not quarrel. Listen, Luigi
and try not to be SO hnrd and unjust. My
life is no longer my own to dispose or
SiSnor Sassi has given me money. clothes,
teaching ything; ana / mus 20 on
the stage, II it were only to repay him. /
do not say that would give up 10Y pro-
fesson now II could-T would not. But
you must SEQ that | cannot, and that II Is
cruel and absurd to usk me to do such
thing"
Bat do not ask you to do IL now. l
only ask you to give mo hope. Only say
that in two or three years you will be my
wife, and shall be the happiest man ~ nil
Italy. Annunziata, IL you will not PROMISE
me that, believe shuu so and drown my
self
Aununzlata burst into tears II cannot
promise i'll cannot" she sObbed. Hoy
can tell whether shall be fee in two or
three years 10 leave the stage? VERY like.
ly peoplewilI only then be beginning to li.-
ten to me. don't want TO marry anybody
Oh dear! oh dear l wish there was no
such thing as marrying in the world"
Luigi was very much moved and humil-
lated ut her distress. He dropped on his
knees before her, clasping his hands.
" Forgive me. my dear. forgive mel" he
exclaimed. " was rough and rude; but
you do not know how | have suffered
You may SINS at the Opera to the day
of your death, II you will, n only you will
live where you live. | need very little TO
live upon, us you know. | shall always lie
able TO earn my own living, and no one
need see me or hear or me hut you. |
could pass rs your servant, II you wished
II. God knows YOU could not huve more
devoted one
Annunzata looked up, half smiling
through her tears. AS II | could let my
husband occupy such position as that!
Believe me, dear Luigi, IL IS impossible. 1t
Iva
must be separate. ! cannot come back TO
Tho old lie hore, nor could you be hnDpy
among the people SHAH have ~ associate
with
II know am not NJ to mix with your
friends: bat | can learn. | Will take les
iohs in reading ana wIiting-I viii educate
nysef. Why should | not learn to be
gentleman, since you have become ladyW
Annuuzatu saw loophole OF escape,
and rushed at it, II you really mean
hat, Luigi" she said-"if YOU could do
Ihat-but 1t Will take long time, you
know-still, If you can learn to talk and
behave US gentlemen do, so that You can
associate with them without bong I'M
lappy-l might, in three Years or so-but
no Will make no promises. IL would be
wrong 10 promise. Three years issuch
ong time, and so many things may hap
Dpn-
Is II was, sutficed 10 transform the despon-
lent Luigi INFO radiant and eXuitant
lie started to ms feet, and
paced 10 and fro III the little room, beam
ing with happiness. Now | have some
hing TO live tor,' he shouted. Now |
San face the whole world! And | will
earn quick euough-oh, l am not such a
stupid fellow rs l look! Three years.
What are three years. would wait three
centuries. Oh, Annunziata, dear Annun-
ziata. what II happy day this is"
And he stepped toward her, as II he
would have taken her IN his arms.
But she drew back. Remember, | have
promised nothing" she said. And Luigi,
make one condition-you must speak no
more of this to me so long "a | am here"
Luigi made no protest against the injus-
Iice Of imposing conditions when no en-
gagement had been entered into. Ho
signed, ana yielded; and SO well did he
keep his word that no further expression
Of love escaped his lips during the week
That AnuuuZata spent in her native viii
lage. Some eloquent looks he did indulge
IN; but of these she either was, or Affected
TO be, unconscious.
In spite OF the restriction placed unon
him, Luigi enjoyed TO the full every hour
Of those glorlhed, but alas too swift
footed, seven days. Annunzata was SO
SO kind, 50 merry, SO like her old
self; she seemed 10 take such pleasure in
going over all their old haunts with him,
and III sailing IN his boat under the shadow
Of the cliffs tnat the orange trees and olives
hang over, that the young fisherman felt
himself IN an earthly Paradise. and would