Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-28
My Wife's Holiday.

AHusBASDs STORY.
Yes, it was TO be her holiday" all fol
her." Nobody else was to have any shar,
in it except myself-that is, if going as hel
courier, paymaster and general factotuu
could be called having share in holiday
We had been married nearly ten years
and what with the cares of home and tn,
training of numerous olive branches, she
had never had any chance for rest. o.
course we had been to the seaside frequently
and all that sort of thing but then, sur
rounded by children and nurses, these trips
had only been continuation of the genera
London responsibilities, plus the worries ant
inconvenience of lodgings or hotels. More
over, within'the last few years there had beer
some trouble in her family, which had acteC
very prejudicially upon her sensitive anc
high-strung nature. So now we were goine
away alone-going to leave all the children
at home i'll the charge of grandmamma-
were going abroad for six weeks together
wherever she liked. Her will was TO bt
paramount was TO be her slave-to pay
the bills and look after the luggage. Hel
affection and untiring devotion to her dutie'
deserved no less. She had thoroughly quail
flied herself for enjoying a holiday; she had
aarned it. Italy" she said, "where there
vas sunlight, beauty and quiet" Good
[ waved my magicians wand, rubbed the
amp, or spread the carpet, or did any one
Of those wonderful things which NEGRO
mancers of yore were wont to do when de
string to be transported to distant places
or, rather, resorted to the modern golden
equivalent for such proceedings-and we
found ourselves certainly, as If by magic, al
Lucerne. Thence we We're to take it easy
md so logged along over the ST. Gothard
Pass, and dropped into Italy at the Locarnc
end of the Lago Maggiore.
By this time she was beginning to enjoy
herself thoroughly she had gotten over the
fatigue, aud already looked much as she did
the day married her. Yes, it was very de
lightful to see her so well and happy.
"Why, it is like a honeymoon over again,
she said "or rather it is as if there had
no break, and that it was only the continue
ton of those early days"
We spent hours and hours upon the lake
beneath the awnings of the flat-bottomed
boats those first inceptons of the gondola
or we wandered up to the picturesque old
convent or sanctuary of the Maudonna de
Sasso, set like jewel amid the blue hills
And there in the soft autumn evenings VT
sat aud watched the glorious sunset aud the
boundless panorama of alp, plain, and lake
while the bell in the campanile hard by
called the peasantry to vespers, and the peal
ing of the deep-toned organ resounded
through the choir.
We selected Locarno as halting place
because it was at that time, and is so partly
still, out of the rush of the tourist-a primi.
tive place, with simple, civil people willing
to serve and oblige honestly, and withou,
having for the first question in their minds
What shall we get by it ?" Thus we came
to know some of them living up there neal
the sanctuary, and to speak or nod when We
met from time to time.
Notably among these was mother anC
child-a sweet little chubby cherub of boy
about four. The Italian folks in the nortt
there are not as a rule handsome, but this
mother was an exception, and the child wa
like her. Superior too, in all respects, she
looked better born bred, and nurtured; nay
there was even a look of culture and refine
nent about her.
Immensely attracted by this pair, my wifi
particularly would lose no opportunity o
giving the little one pat aud a kiss, and o
exchanging pleasant word or two in th'
best Italian she could muster with the mo
ther, who by degrees on her part began tt
speak little English, and to take us int
her confidence She explained that she haC
married an Englishman, a gentleman, sh
declared, who had died suddenly, more thar
four years ago, and just before the litt
one was born. His family never knew o
the marriage; he had intended, she said, t.
proclaim it, and face the consequence o
the mesdliiance, as it would be called; bu
his sudden end prevented this, and to thi
day she believed her existence even was un
known to her husbands people. But sh
did not care; he had left her just enough t.
live upon and she had come to dwell a
Locarno, where her aged father lived, an'
whose last days she desired to soothe. Sh
was contented with the humble life she le'
there in yonder little wooden chalet-a
least, until the good God should take him b
his rest.
Would we enter the abode and speak h
her father2 He was very handsome ol,
man, native of Tuscany who had seen bel
ter days. Mai it mattered little that, o
why, he had come so far north.
Her name, we asked.
All, her maiden name was one that il
past times had struck terror to the foes O
liberty; she would rather not mention il
| Her father, even, had considered it wise b
| drop it, and had adopted her surname, he
married name, the name of her husband
that is
What, had he taken an English name
No, not an English name; her husban
had been naturalized as an Italian, ha
changed his name for reasons-they did nc
signify; and he was known as Giorgio Viz
nero she was Lucia.
OF course we went in and spoke to tn
old farmer-like man, who, partially paralyzet
always sat by the window of his neat littl
house. lie received us with the grace of
prince, regretted that his infirmities pr,
vented him from doing the honors of tn
neighborhood, so beautiful as it was.
Naturally we looked in upon him MOI
than once, but still it was his grandchil
that was the attraction my wife declarin
that little Paolo was the veriest darling sh
had ever seen, that he reminded her of OF
youngest, and that she would like TO carr
him off, probably because we had nj
enough of our own.
Now she was q woman not given to mo
bid fancies, thoroughly healthy, with plent
of common sense So | was little su
prised at this extravagant admiration, an
TO hear her say that the child bore any r
semblance TO ours. could see none bl
it was :" her holiday" and she was not to /
crossed
Well, il was surprised by this, judl
how much more SO was when she sudden
one morning announced her wish to r
turn home.
awe have not been away three weeks
| mildly protested.
"No," she said "but have got a stranl
longing to see the children; can't bear
be away from them any longer, / new,
have been away from them two days. muc
less two weeks, before, and can't bear il
| must go back"
"And leave thus suddenly your pretty Ii
tie protege on the hill up there :" vel
tured 10 say.
"Yes," she answered, /" that is the reasol