The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-31
pected witness to this scene, said to him

II love yOu," SID Virginia TO ner on
the seventh evening. 81 love you! Can
not you hasten and love me back again a
little?"
Umilta trowned darkly, then she
laughed cruelty.
''Go and say that to the girls in Turin.
May be they will hear for such nonsense;
I do not"
'Nonsense!' It is all my life, I say,
that Offer" But, plead as he would.
Umilta's face did not change; a little
paler, little colder, that was all.
II am only your mothers cow-maid, ;"
she said at last, with curl OF her proud
mouth. "But am too proud for you,
for all that. Go! I hate you!''
''Hate me? Is that your last. word?"
Umilta nodded, looked cold, unruly,
fierce, Indifferent, all in one.
In the morning she heard that Vir-
glnio had left in the middle Of the night.
His mother was sobbing angrlly he had
told her his colonel had summoned him
suddenly.
"Just when I had killed my lamb for
him. ss9a Ea,s
Umilta smiled; the mother saw the
smile and guessed all; but she kept
her counsel and Umilta kept hers like
wise. r.
Time passed. It was just after vintage
and there were suppers everywhere, and
dancing and singing.
When the turn to feast came round to
Signora Rosa's the stout-hearted, stern
mother, though her heat was sore for her
absent son, would not give any sign of
sorrow. She prepared a grander supper
than usual, and pade all to come. In her
soul she said it never should be guessed
that her darling had been rejected by a
founding.
She ordered Umilta to be present and
she obeyed, but when they were all at
supper she got away to her loft and went
to bed. -... ..-...-.
There was not man amongst them
able to hold candle to Virginia, she
thought-so tall, so pale, SO full of grace,
like any count or cavalier, and she had
cast him away like pine cone.
Meanwhile down below Meta Sari had
lost her pearl necklace, the gift of her
great-uncle.
The house was searched, but it was of
no avail. =n. .t..
eve have looked everywhere, except
in the loft,' she cried, in despair.
"Come, then, we will look there" said
Rosa, "though it's stuff and nonsense"
The shining of the light on Umilta's
eyes awoke her. y. ...
"What is it9" she murmured.
"Netta has lost her necklace. OF course
it cannot here, bu: to satisfy her"
The phrase was never finished, for as
Umlta rose, startled and confused, a
pearl rolled to the foor
Meta darted on it. *.-.
cit is mine," she shouted.
| Donna Rosa's face grew thin and ash
en- gray in turn. She plunged her hand
into the hay, and drew out the necklace
of Metals.
ooh, you thief" screamed Meta.
ut isn't possible, muttered Rosa,
''Umilta, 10 you understands The pearls
were in your bed and Meta says you
stole them" w..
GIL" she cried aloud. 81 stole these
pearls2 Donna Rosa, are you and that
girl both mad?'' r-
! ''Oh, the thief the liar! Donna Rosa.
you must give her to the guards
GAS you will, Meta, it must never be
said that I refused to deal justly by a
guest; but, Umilta, speak to me. Say
something. Are you innocent? I don'1
believe you guilty."
"You may think what you like'' she
said with superb disdain.
| So the guards were sent for and Until
ia proudly erect between them was tax
en- to the place of justice.
The interrogations began.
All they could make her say was, eli
is lie! I never took the pearls.''
She would say nothing more and the
just soul of the good judge grew sad and
perplexed. With reluctance he aban.
doned all hope of saving one who would
not or could not save herself, so in tones
full OF pity he consigned her to prison te
await her trial.
Umilta, who bad stood four morta
hours erect as one of the pines upon the
hills, fell straightway to the ground. The
guard lifted the inanlmate form and bore
it away. Meta turned pale, and the cru
ell light Of Triumph began. to fade out o.
her eyes.
Donna Rosa broke down and sobbec
aloud, and when she reached home she
sat on her wooden settee and moaned
"Oh, never knew loved the girl be-
fore.''
On the morrow Meta asked her faith
Their to take her to the city. The ole
man stared, but Meta was the pet and ii
the cad he took her down. She slipped
away to letter writer in the market.
write this for me-" she whispered tt
the scribbler: your fine Umilta has
stolen some pearls, and IS in prison.
weliwisher thinks you were in luck to b.
refused you: suit y
Meta dropped the letter in the pos1
with her own hands. Now she did begi1
to taste her vengeance.
The letter came to Virginia as he was
cleaning his sword in his barrack cham
Der.
When he glanced over the brief Letter
he sprang to his feet with a great oath
Then he went straightway to his com
handing officer and asked for leave Of
absence.
"You have been back with your corps
only three months. Is your need ur.
gent9''
| fooo a. ,Jo.Jx1-