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


Lionel had gone to Tamaso Cecchs lodg
ing.
"But your daughter is not strong enough
for such work - said he in conclusion TO
long harangue.
The old man shrugged his shoulders,
"Poverty," said he, ais a hard master and
Teresa is good girl"
"Too good 10 endanger her life in the
tolls of the Campagna. Think Of tue risk,
the labor, the heat, the foul evening mistsF
But Tomaso looked back beyond the dis
comforts and remembered time when the
plains resouuded with songs and laughter,
and the wine was broached aud hearts were
light.
81 found my wife there" said he, land
Teresa may find husband"
Lionel instinctively drew back. A hus-
band among those laboring peasants i'm
possible; for in his eyes Teresa was worthy
to be the bride Of king.
"Can you not find a substitute for your
dAughter2 l." and then he hesitated, for
Teresa had come into the room.
"How much will it cost to get a substi-
tute, Terasa?'
Teresa laughed. "Giovanetta would pay
If she could go in my place" said she.
"There are too many ready and willing 10
60"
LET them go, then ~ responded Lionel
eagerly.
THE signore forgets we must have mon
ey," returned Teresa
Scarcely thinking of what he was doing,
Lionel had poured out the contents of a
purse full of English gold upon the table.
| The quick ear Of Tomaso caught the sound I;
he stretched out his hand as ir to clutch the
ringing coin, but Teresa sprang between,
turning flashing face upon Lionel.
1--WE are not beggarsv' she exclaimed I;
81 work for my breadr'
"Will you not let me help your asked
Lionel in low tone.
"YOu cannot" she replied in an equally
low voice and the flash died out Of her
face, for Lioners tone was very humble,
and his eyes have spoken something to her
that her heart answered. She gathered the
money together and put it into his hands.
"It must not be-" said she, as he sOrrow-
fully departed.
"Thou art a fool, childv' said Tonaso
Cecchi, when Lionel was out Of hearing.
"These English know not what 10 do with
their gold, and we should have been all the
better for it,
Slowly plodded the large, gray oxen over
the plains of the Campagna; lazly saun-
tered the drivers at their side. Here and
there one heard the sounds of merriment;
there again were silent toilers here worn
out laborers who had crept into the shade
and fallen asleep, and above stretched the
blue heavens, still and coudless, over the
gray and purple sweeps OF far-off landscape,
with here and there patch Of sun gilt wa
| ter.
All this Lionel saw, for he had obtained
u lodging in one of the large stone farm
houses since money will obtain anything;
and the fair, delicate looking, generous
Enslishman was popular among the poor
Italian peasants.
Teresa knew that he was there, but she
avoided him; and he, seeing this, only
watched her from distance, and gave no
token that she was more 10 him than any
other laboTer ON tho vast plains. He had
seen Tomaso and his wife before he had
followed TO the Campagha, and they were
amply provided for during their daughters )
| absence.
Lionel Merton had fallen in love, and he
sat own and took the matter into deliber-
ate consideration. His first thought was
that Teresa was a queen; fit to he the wife
OF any man, was his second; why not of
himselrf was the third; and that she
should be if possible, was the fourth. Yet
how to proceed was the difficulty; he felt,
with all IL @ Keen sensitiveness of an Eng
lishman TO absurd situations, that he was
somewhat absurdly placed at the present
moment; for Teresa, calmly pursuing her
work, gave him no opportunity OF address
ing her without bringing the eyes of the
multitude upon himself and the handsome
maiden.