Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-10
fcontinued from first pase.I

u, and the yarn 10 another.
us 1t your own work.
Yes, Father"
IF remember right, you have learned
also how to weave ribbands
Yes, Father, but nv mother is grow
ing worse, so that cannot go much out
Of the house, and we cannot afford 10 ouy
loom of our own"
lis growing worse oh, oh When
saw her about Easter she was sitting
up"
Spring is always the bad time for her.
Since we had the great storms and 'he
earthquakes. she has been in pain all the
time
'.Do not cease praying and beseeching,
my child, that The holy Mother have mer-
cy. And be brave and industrious, that
your prayers may be heard"
After a pause: when you come
down upon the shore they cried out 10
you. Good morning, La RabbiaIa? Why
do they call you that? lis not pretty
name for Christian, who should be
meek and full OF quiet devotion.
The maiden's brown face grew crimson
and her eyes snapped
They have their sport with me be-
cause will not dance and sing and chat
ter like other girls. They ought to let
me alone; do nothing TO them"
But you might be friendly with every
body. Others, whose lives are brighter,
may dance and sing. But you may give
good word even II you are afflicted. "
She cast her eyes down and drew the
lashes tighter together, a. though she
wished to hide the black eyes under them.
For while they sailed on IN silence.
The sun shone in splendor over the noun
taius, the top OF Vesuvius lowered up
above the belt of clouds which encircled
its base, and the white houses on the
plains of Sorronto blinked out from be-
tween the green orange groves.
Have you not met that artist again,
Lsurella-ihe Neapolltan, | mean, who
wished YOU to be his wife," asked the
Father.
She shook her head.
"He came to paint your picture. Why
have you refusedg'
What does he want of 1t ? There are
others more beautiful than |. Aud then
who knows what he might have been
driven to do with il? He might bewitch
me, or injure me in some way. my mother
said
In not believe such wicked things
said the Father earnestly. art thou not
in Gods hand, without whose will no hair
of thy head shall fall And shall a man
with nothing but portrait be stronger
than Almighty God? Besides, you might
have seen that he wished yeu well. He
has asked you 10 marry him ?"
She was silent.
"And why hast thou rejected him He
is fine young fellow and could take much
better care of you and your mother than
you can with your little spinning and
weaving"
I'VE are poor people" she said passion
ately, land my mother has been i'll now
for a long time. We would only burden
him. am not fit to be great Slgnors
wife. When his friends met him he would
be ashamed of me-"
How you talk tell you he is good
man. And besides he would live quietly
there at Sorrento. 1t is not likely that
there will soon come another, rs though
sent right from Heaven, to help you
81 never will have husband, never,
said she, defiantly.
lis it that you have made vows, or will
you 60 to cloister?"
She shook her head.
1.-The people are right, who call you
headstrung, although the name they use is
not beautiful. Hast thou never thought
that thou art not alone in the world, AMI
that. through thy witulness, thy mothers
illness is made more bitterP What cans
thou have as sufficient reason for casting
off that generous hand which would ieign
support her? Answer me, Laurella ~
IL have, indeed, reason" said she
nyrtotlv and ela.ulv sfbnt I
what"
mot say whatP Not to me-not to thy
Father Confessor, whom thou hast already
trusted, and who is anxious Tor your well
fareP"
She bowed her head.
Then unburden thy heart my child. If
thou art right | will be the first 10 justify
thee. But thou art young yet and knowest
but little OF the world aud. later. you may
sorely repent that childish wbim should
have ruined your future"
She threw hasly. timid glance over
toward the boy, who was working the
boat in silence. and sat with his cap drawn
down over his forehead. He stared out
over the side into the sea and appeared TO
be lost in his own thoughts. Inc lather
saw the glance and bent his head nearer
to her.
You never knew my father" she wills
pered, with a gloomy look in her eyes
''Your father He died, it seems TO me,
when you were about ten Yeas old. WHAT
has your father, whose soul, ipray, is now
in Paradise, to do with your stubborn re
solve Pr
You did not know him, Father. You
did not know that he was the only cause OF
mothers illness"
How =!
because he abused and beat her. ]
remember now the night when he came
home very angry. She said never word
TO him and did just what he asked. And he
beat her, till till my heart nearly broke
pulled the bedclothes over my head and
pretended TO be asleep, but | cried all
night. And when he saw her lying on the
floor, he changed suddenly, raised her up
aud kissed her until she cried that he
would smother her. Nv mother told me
never to speak OF this, but it affected her
50 that she has never been well since he
died. Aud If She should die soon, which
may God forbid. know who is guilty"
The head OF the little priest rocked to
and fro and he appeared TO be undecided