The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-31
UMIl4TA.

One summer dawn down in Florence,
on the steps of the Little Bigallo, a new
born child was found by one of the city
guards, and as no one claimed it, it was
sent to the Innocent. At fourteen she was
almost woman, and, being deemed old
enough to gain her own living, was put
out as a servant on the hills with farm
er's wife. She proved clever, could do
more in one hour than other maidens in
six, was strong, clearly, and beasts and
poultry came to her naturally.
Umilta was always weaving marvellous
histories Of herself. and would sit aloof,
dreaming OF a golden crown, and OF peo-
pie on their knees to her. She was too
richly lowered by nature to be looked
well on by her female companions; she
was really beautiful, with classic grace
about her that made her ''more like
queen,' and to see her standing with bare
feet amongst the yellow corn of the
threshing floor, you would acknowledge
she was royal creature in the fullest
sense of those old majestic words. She
was proud and disconnected, and the
noise and jangle of the workers about her
disturbed her day dreaming, so she often
would take her portion of the work to be
done with her, and 60 up into her loft
and open the wooden shutters, and shell
her maize or walnuts by the light of the
moon.
One night, as she sat thus, having tax
en- up peas to shell, she heard loud, JOY
Gus uproar, and the voice of the good
Signora Rosa shrieklng out above them
all.
W
ut is Virginia come home at last, :"
thought Umilta, as she cracked the pods.
An hour or more went by, then Donna
Rosa called to her: .-..
"Umilta, come down." ........-.
Umilta went down the wooden ladder
silently.
"Umilta, here is my son vlrginio-
come home at last-and corporal
Umilta looked sulleply under her long
lashes and gave him chill welcome.
"What princess in disguise have you
here, mothers" he murmured, little lat
or.
Umllta heard, and the sullen look died
out of her starry eyes. The soldier had
some sense. ,
Virginia Donald was very handsome
man, slender but strong, cool, daring. in
telligent, and keenly valued by his Off
GERS. Naturally he was the hero of his
native hills, and chief Jewel of his moth
er's treasures.
Umilta soon slipped away to her loft
again. rs*
''Where is that golden haired girl
gone, mother?'' he asked as they sat
at the supper table. a
"She has gone up to the loft, I dare
say"
"Does she sleep in the loft9'' asked
Virginia. ... 1s
SAY, why not2 A good wholesome
place." ...
"But who is she? never saw her be-
fore when came home.''
mo! took her out of good-nature
ane for good luck.
"a founding, is she?'
Eyes; base-born, no doubt But one
keeps her for good luck, as say, and be-
sides she has a wonderful way with tie
cattle. She likes dumb things better
than she does u.s.
"Do you think she would come downY''
He felt desire to see that beautiful,
naughty head once more.
"Not she,' SAID mis- sisters, but to humor
I'LL luey Cdlltu ucT. 1uey got no an
swer, though she heard them well enough.
Meta Sari, who was there, looked
angry. She was pretty girl who always
looked longlngly for the return OF Vir-
ginio.
And now he had come home and was
only thinking of the trovatella.
The next morning when the first gray
CLEAN of day, Umilta went down to her
work with the cattle. She MIXED her
three COWS, then she took her sickle and
went to cut fodder for her charges; for it
was broad summer time, and the poor
cattle hereabouts are never allowed to
leave their stalls in summer time, lest
they should crop the grown corn or
MUNICH TIE yet green grapes.
Umilta did her best to soften their i'm
prisonment by bringing them all she
could rifle from the fields.
Umilta went out of the light into the
darkness; the cattle were loving after
her.
81 will soon be back, my darlings. My
poor little creatures, be quiet; I will soon
be back" she called to them in wistful,
tender tones from the heights she was
mounting.
Viginio, who had been silent, unsus.