Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-12
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Then. throwing himself. on the bed. he

hand awoke him Ham half sleep. II
sprang up to quiet the throbhing bloc
with water. aud as he did so he heard
voice at his door. He opened it crying
''Who is there ?" Laurella stood befor
him.
Without preliminary talk she stepped in
She tossed OF the kerchief which she ha'
thrown over her head. and put it'll
basket on the table. Then she drew
long breath.
'.You come to get your handkerchief,
he said. You might have spared YOU
self the trouble, for in the morning | wa
going to ask Giuseppe TO bring it to you.
"No-not for that" she replied quickly
Il have been on the mountain after herb
for your hand. There and she raise'
the lid of the basket
Too. much trouble" said he. though
without sullenness. at is already better
much better;. and if worse 1t would be
what deserve. What do you want here
at this time If any one should find you
here You know what would be said
IL don't care" said she in a determined
way. al must see your hand and put on
these things, for you cannot make it well
alone"
II told you do not need them"
''Let me see, then"
She took without resistance the hand
which could not further resist, and un'
bound the rags. When she saw how it
had swollen, she cried, shuddering
Jesus Maria ~
at is nothing" said be. Twill 60 in
day or two" l4a4s aal...
She shook her head: NO. 1t will
be weeks before you can GO on the water.
think ! may day after tomorrow
What Of it?"
In the meanwhile she had brought fresh
water and bathed the wound anew-he
submitted like child. Then she put on
the wholesome leaves, to stop the pain
and bound up the hand with strip of lin
en- which she had brought with her.
When it was all done, he said: "Thanb
you. And if you will do anything else
for me for the madness which came over
my head to-day. and forget all ! said and
did. do not know myself how it came.
You never gave me reason for it, And
now. you shall never hear anything OF me
again which can harm you.'
II am to blame" she commenced. Il
provoked you in my perverse way. And
even your hand r....
'iL'was time that I got back my senses.
And, as said, it is nothing. Thank you,
for what you have done. Go, now, to
sleep. and there-there Is your handker-
chief, that you can take with you"
He reached it out to her; but she still
stood struggling rs 1t were, with herself.
Finally she said "You have lost your
coat, too, on my account, and know that
the money for the oranges was in it.
thought Of it as came. cannot restore
so much, because we haven't it. and if We
had ii would be mothers. But there is
the silver cross which the artist left for
me the last time he was here. have not
looked at it from that day to this, but
think it is here, and il you sell it. it is
worth two piastres, my mother told me
once.--so your loss will be regained; and
ifsnot, / will make it up by spinning while
my mother sleeps"
...I'H take nothing" said be shortly. and
pushed back the glittering cross, which
she had taken out OF her pocket.
''You must take 1t, she said. "Who
knows how long it will be that you can
earn nothing with your handp There it
lies and shall never look AZ it again"
Throw it into the sea-"
"Tis no present. 1t Is only what you
have right to and what belongs to you"
"a right? have no right to anything
Of yours. If ever chance to meet you
again, please do not look at me. 1t will
remind me how guilty | am Now and
for the last time; good night!n
He put her cross and handkerchief in
the basket and fastened the cover down.
Then, as he turned and saw her face, he
was filled with amazement. Great tears
were rolling down her cheeks, and she,
standing there. let them run their course.
"Maria Santissima!" he cried care
yousill? You tremble from head to foot
..No-'tis nothing" she said. II must
Blinded by her tears she struck her
forehead against the casing, as she walked
unsteadily toward the door, and wcpt in
anguish. But before he could reach her.
she stopped, and turning about suddenly,
threw herself on his neck. deg
81 cannot bear it," she cried. clinging to
him as . dying man cliugs to life. ii IN
not hear you say all the good words, and
60 from yeu with all the guilt on my con.
science. Strike me, stamp on me, curse
me !--or, ii il is true, that you have loved
me, still. after all this my wickedness.
then take me and keep me and do with
me what you will. But do not send me
away from you SO p'--and then from pas
sionate weeping she could say no more.
He held her in his arms without word.
do / love you still p cried he at last.
'.Sainted Mother OF God Do you think
that all my hearts blood has gone out
from this little woundP Do you not feel
it there humping in my breast, as though
to break through to you? Ii you only
say it to tempt me, or because youspitv
me, then go, and | will forget il. You
shall not think that you are guilty because
you know what suffer for YOU
NO" she said, in firm way, looking
up from his shoulder fondly with her
moist eyes, II love you, and though | say
1t, / have feared il long and Struggled
against it. And now shall be different ;
for / can no longer keep from looking al
you If you pass me in the street. Now.
4 will even kiss you, that you may say ..it
you should doubt again: She kissed
me, and Laurella kisses none but him
whom she will marry
She kissed him three times, and then.
freeing herself, said Good night. dar.
ling! Sleep now and let your hand heal.
aud go not with me for | am not afraid
OF any one, except of thee.'
With that she had glided through the
IL "A IL. Il Il