Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-04

vet. Inns little one VIII want q mother $
care now; [ will be that mother, for /
love him more than ever, and / wish
more than ever that he belonged to
me-" lisa .ai .rz.G .r
| need hardly say that under other
circumstances | should have entirely
objected to her assuming such maternal
responsibilities; that | should have
pointed out that it was no duty of hers,
a well-born lady, in this fashion to look
after the offspring of an unknown peas
ant woman, and that there were plenty
of neighbors willing and ready to I'M
dertake the task, and who were really
the proper people, etc.
But what could l do? Was it not cher
holidav?' and had | not promised q
hundred times to conform to her every
wish, whim, or caprice? because |
thought she had none, and | never ex-
Dected to be put to this kind of test, for
had [ not married a sensible woman ?
| was puzzled, but | could only con
form, saying to myself, ''They are
strange creatures, women; one never
knows them-no, not after ten years Of
the closest intimacy"
greater part of her time to attendance
upon the sick woman (who still lay I'M
conscious) and her child, whose lisping
and imperfect words had told us too
plainly that it was while stretching over
the precipice to gather blackberries for
him that his mother had lost her foot
ing and fallen headiong down. My
wife would spend hOms by the bedside.
| ventured to demonstrate, and got q
severe snubbing for my pains.
Pro- One evening, about week after the
catastrophe, while [ was waiting for
her at a spot hard by the sanctuary
in the most excited frame Of mind
was really alarmed; | had never seen
her equal temperament 50 disturbed
80, Walter" she exclaimed, 81
have just come from theapoor woman,
and have had such shock She has
regained consciousness, but not her
senses, which the good .fydte Who
watches her always, tells me frequently
happens in such cases. "} niaoo
aa'" But what, Of that? why should it
excite you 50 ?" | asked, quite mysti-
fed at my my wife's words.
"Ah. [ don't know: I can not tell
you; my hopes my beliefs have hardly
taken form yet; only come quickly
with me. up to the house. O, Walter,
it Is all so wonderful. Come, let us get
on faster. / want SO to get back that
you and I may both listen to Lucia
Vianero's broken words: prove eheir
meaning and so clear up q doubt
"What do you mean?o [ cried.
"What can she have said to so strange
ly move you ?" and Iinwardly thought,
Lob thatI had never consented to her
holidayr - %. er5 5-a9 ,TI r..-..a
- | will tell you, if you will only
hurry on as fast as you can. Signs Of
animation set in about an hour ago,
and the first words were, Paolo, Pao-
limo / held the BOY up to her, but she
took no heed of him, and went on
murmuring another name over. and
over again SO often that [ felt quite
Imvsteriously affected. It was" But
here reaching the door Of the chalet,
nay wife hurried me TO the bedside.
The old monk held up a warning
finger as we entered; we hardly dared
to draw a breath as we listened to
Lucia s low, unconscious zones.
---' Giorgio, Giorgio MO-" she was
saying, in Italian. like one who
talks in dream; never tell of our
marriage; ) they will not love me:
they will neglect me. Hide it, and
the little one too; do not let them
see him; they would break his heart
with GOODNESS; they would not even
own. him Yes. perhaps your sister
might, for she loved you, Giorgio
MIC; you have told me 50. She. felt
for you and wept for you, and knew
why you went away and came to live
| in the midst of sunny skies and beauti-
full pictures. All, well, you can tell her
if you like; she would love Paolino for
your sake. Look at him, Giorgio.. Kiss
himi"
Here she seemed once more to lapse
into Inconsistencies, and the good
frate sald:,g .s 5sl, 4. Iawa t..
q All, poor Lucia, her mind Wanders
back to her marriage. and mingling
past and present, she speaks of what
never was; the father never saw the
child" ,sa ssa>'l5 ...a ~aa f.. saaf =
"Did you know her husband. thenT'
inquired my wife in Italian, ...,. +.
The trate Shook his head; -" Only the
circumstance Of the marriage. ''.'.i -,
=, "Tell me what were they?" she ex-
claimed clasping her hands in agony
of excitement. mad; s~ro 81 trfv .,jroo,
T "Simple, very .simple,''. said the holy
man, quite; unm T and Struggling
his am pleshoulders; re young English
man, an artist living in Florence, and
who had made Italy the land of his
adoption, and who took an Italian
name, fell in love with Lucia, who was
his model, and married her. not an
unusual occurrence among your coun-
trymen, I believes" he added, turning
to me. 9t,li. q hss' fsr- sur .a3.sa, rs
:" Twas bewildered; did not know in
the least what to make of all this, and
I have no doubt [ looked as stupidity
helpless as I felt. 80 ~ -.''.. '.5 1.'o.' ''''
"And then?' eagerly inquired my
wife, Selling the frate's arm, and look
ing into his face, after casting q glance
of unutterable scorn upon me. ...-....-.