The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-12-27

to know-namely, what a padrone is. He
is an old cHtmudgeon, who receives stolen
children from Italy, and makes them go
out into the street to beg, or play, or steal
usually all three. And if they do not
obtain money in some way, he beats them
and packs them off to bed Supperless
What 90 you think Of that, little girl?
But about my street acquaintanoes It
was decided upon next day that JiaoopO
should keep my studio in order, while his
companion would sit for my Christmas
picture. The pair we're placed in charge
of my ianitor's wife, with the strictest
commands tbatdu care shnuld be taken,
lest they might again fall into the hands
of the padrone. In order 10 make my
model as happy looking as possible, pro
vided her with a box of bon bons. and
seated her on a beautiful rug. amidst the
rare and curious little objects ef my studio.
Yes, | shall bring yOu to my studio some
day, only you mus promise not to put
things into a too hopeless confusion, l
was showing her how 10 pose, when, sud
denly, as if some long forgotten thOught
fitted across her mind, she said quickly
'Oh | know how to sit, sir. / had my
picture taken before--rnauy, many years
ago"
"Indeed - I replied. "How was that -
CHIN Rome when | was a bambins,
b0iOIb Hldiiiiud hlGh nC hiGii ohiA
she wa dead. Then came to live with
the padrOne. IT was RiaRy days before
came here. We had to sail on the water in
ship. Oh ! ever so large a shipI -
''And what is your name - / asked.
"Tbe padrone calls me Carnen-Cai men
TortolaDt."
1t was the common story. / thought OF
a child, an orphan, taken frnm Italy to =
hard life in America. 1 could not gather
mora lrno-u LODI q liar life from
Jiacomo, who was sanding by. / turned
! TO my paper, to commence sketching her,
/ when it occurred to me tina: necklace
/ would icus pretty on little Carmen. step
| ped to a cabinet, saying:
Il am going to give you a necklace, Car.
! men. Que of bright beads
'Ohi Huw nice Bat. see, ! have an
old one. Only an ugly penny tied to a
| string"
She removed 1t from her neck. / had
not noticed it before, and, carelessly took it
| in my hand. Never was | so surprised in
my life. The penny, she called it. was
actually the same coin that now hangs
/ from my watch chain, the same that my
early friend, Blanca d Casahianoa had worn.
''Where on earth did you get this?
cried, hardly able to stand still with excite
ment.
81 always wore it, sir.
"What did you say your name was ."
"C armen. Bqt ] know fiTey used to-call
me Blanca when / was a baby
"And do you recollect your mamma S
name ?''
II only called her mamma, sir. ! don't
know that she had any other name"
"Do you, perhaps. remember the name
| of the artist who painted your pic ure ?'
81 don't think l do. It was-like-
| Penn
Pembroke. perhapss''
yes yes! Pembroke Signor Penn
broken
My street -waif then was none other than
! Biamc1 di Casabianca! l catght the little
girl 10 my hearr and kissed her, saying. 81
am Signor Pembroke. Do you know me p
az think | have heard your voice long
ago; but your whiskers are so great.
| asked her few more questions, and
her answers more clearly proved her to b'
the Blanca of nIy srst artist day or days. -
But could eZtEact nOtiiiug frura her q
certify my suspicious Of her Uncle Luigi
Although overioyed To be the means of res
cuing her frufn the cruelest OF lives, | wa
now seriously troubled by the thought tha
Bianca's mother had, perhaps, died in tin
seven years that had elapsed since the be
ginning Of my story. At any rate, / deter
| mined to write % her address in Lombard
and take the steps necessary to have Bian
ca returned to her family. | bade m
model play to ler hearts content, au
| rummaging in my desk for the contessa
, address, / found it, and befnre n:ghtfall
had dispatched long letter TO Italy.
] GiG not explain matters fully to 8iaIfcs
/ preferling to await the results ot my lette
to her mother. Weeks passed quickly b
and my picture was or the verge of bein
, completed. Blanca s face ~yas losing muI
and more of its tan and J iac0@co had b,
I come euIte a fashionable yohng genileEs
aud was showing a marvellous taste e
! drawing. One morning, a few days befui
Christmas there was a great comfnotiu
] | ON my stairway. ] opened the door, anC
J AS live. there was Blanca in her morher
arms, aud the pair hugging and kiSsin
D each other and crying as though the
would never stopl | retreated very qufcl
ly, my my and your Uncle Coventry wa
] actually weeping too. just think of il
e ! C0ven ry Pembroke, artist, in tears An
] believe there wasn't dr. eye in III
D whole buiiaiug when az the artists 3xne
what had transpired.
? In a little while the cOntessa came iR'
7, nv studio. / kissed her 4laIfs ana BOZ
myself Ike a hero. Never was three PEI
e pie so happy.
S Many explanations followed. | inquire
after the health of Count Luigi-Uut
| pure friendliness, You know.
e Luigi is in prison, saId the contessa.
Indeed OulSI Dui bAbu6hA
| would arrive there some time.
e "Hc was convicted of being conceIn ne
D in a conspiracy against the government
D At the time of his trial ihree Roman de
: peradoes, who were being tried for aeag
t crimes in the same court testified to \ pr
e vious crime which he had hired theri
2 perform. And yod wOplG Aot think viii
a this crime was
e had my idea, bnt remained silent.
, ale fsas contracted with them,' col
e tinted the -contessa. ''to steal Blanca frol
k me and hide her forever from the world.
S Nv husbands will declared that, il | die
childless and without marrying again. N
, brother in law, Luigi. wOnld come into "a
a whole foitune. Blanca being my sole hei
, the count calculated Gpou acquiring n
d wealth. when BIZ slI6uld have remove3 h'
V from his path"
n Here was the mystery solved AZ last.
e straight way confessed my eally opinions
sr the CoGnt Luigi tn the cuntesSa, ss1f lik
Al wise the story Of the incident 1T the orfdl
~ of SAINT Angelo. From th0aghts of u
N perfidy df this man, tunls5 TO thar
L. heaven for having thus marveioSsiy ot
ly witted his schemes. lad it not been
ne this ancient coin, wfroSe seeraIfF; vSele
ness had preserved It from the greedin'
I u =. f1aaro ~