The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-19
aYou have said nothing at u. villa Of

huu YOU Will SlFo all tuiS ulOACy w WV ASAAS
lishmanY
1T is only just, uncle Baldelli."
"And your poor uncle will remain IN
Pausilipo, and work, work for his little
plate of macaroni, and his dear little Teres-
ina will be quite proud and ashamed OF
himP' and Ethere was sneer IN the oid
man's tones, and dark look IN his eyes,
that belied thesoftness of his speech.
hope. But you will go about this Tor me
tomorrow, will you not?"
eyes. | will Sc to it. And now we will
take cup of wine in honor of my Teresina's
good fortune. See here, it is ready" and
he took from side table two tumblers al
ready turned out.
'Ah, this is very kind Of you, my father.
But how bitter it is?"
Finish it, finish it," he said fiercely; "a
bumper to the lucky numberP and she, not
caring to irreta him, complied.
She shortly after retired to rest, drowsy
and tired.
half an hour afterwards the old man
crept towards her room, muttering:
'iLa Sonnambula, La Sonnsmbula! Luigi
said that the opera at San Carlo was like
real life. Sonnambuists do strange things
And he passed into her room.
Frank Lloyd was sitting in boat waiting
for his employer at the steps OF the villa
Santa cello. He was surprised to see
LIGHT burning in the Gardeners house at so
late an hour; but he knew that Teresina Of
ten sat up late after her uncle had retired;
indeed, he had had many sweet stolen in
terview with her at the window when wait
ing as he waited now At this moment he
heard the voice of Lord Ardley joining in a
duet with his farce at the villa. he won't
come away just yet" said the sailor to him
self; SO, taking clean jump over strip OF
water that separated the two easements, he
cambered up to the gardeners window.
He had placed his hands on the window
sill. and was drawing himself up and about
to give the usual signal, when. to his intense
astonishment, he saw old Baldeli stagger-
ing from the opposite room, half dragging,
half carving his niece What could itmean?
Was she i'll? Was it fresh air she required?
| He had not much time for thought, for the
I window opened suddenly outward by Bald
ELI, struck his hands from their hold, and
| he had only time to drop lightly into the
water beneath As he came to the surface
great heaven he could neither shout nor
prevent it the light form of his sweetheart
was hurled from the window into the black
water below; and the old man, not daring to
look upon his handiwork, closed the window
abruptly and disappeared. 1t was the work
of moment for the young sailor to reach
the body of his sweetheart, and to place her
was he now to do with his precious burden
which lay safe, but still unconscious, near
MIN? He might. Indeed, place her under
the care of the ladies at the villa; but then
he feared the chatter of the servants, nor
did he know what power her uncle might
have to claim her from them, for Italian
courts are slow to recognize the interference
of foreigners in domestic difficulties. While
he was still in doubt he was joined by Lord
ALL Ia 70 wrhn ho ralQfad hio adynpfurQ
The nobleman listened to the agitated voice
of the poor lad, and making shrewd guess
at their relation, he said:
'sYour sweetheart, Ell, Lloyd?'
eyes, sir; not doubi of it"
SAN you're going to marry herr"
'sNow more than ever, sir. All, my lord,
YOU don't know what difficulties we've had
| to fight against, nor yet how dear she is to
me-" and then he told the whole story of
his attachment as they rowed vigorously,
each at an oar, toward Santa Lucia, where
| Teresina was placed on board the yacht.
| On the following day Baldelli, hsggard
and anxious, at an early hour presented
himself at the bdnc0 di lotto.
81 have come as the guardian of my niece
Terisina. to claim the money she has gained
in the lottery"
Every good, signore. And first the ticket
if YOU please"
He eagerly presented it.
"All right and in ORDER" said the clerk.
| 'She presented herself here yesterday"
'.She did,"
| The clerk took out lar ge roll of notes
which he began deliberately and without
haste TO count.
'.What stroke of fortune for one so
| youngw
Baidell nodded his head impatiently
The clerk tied up the bundle of notes,
and began to whistle. "Apnol mia bella
Napoli.'
Gam | to wait much longer?o
'sBut, signore. you seem to be in a greater
hurry than the signorna."
''Wnat do you mean?'
''Why, we wait the arrival of Teresina
| Baldelli, of course" ts'Stupid old imbecile,''
muttered the clerk to himself.)
| Badelli looked aghast, and then clustered
out:
ssDon't tell you she has told me to get
the money? Have you not got the ticket?
What more do you want? Am not her
guardian? Do you doubt that?'
''Not for moment; but this money
will be paid in her presence alone
sfBut how can she come here? She is
ill., The excitement was too much for
her.
"Ah, then we must wait until she has
| recovered
0But this is too much. Am not re-
spectacle citizen? Am not :"
'.BastaI That will do, signore," and
the clerk replaced the notes in his desk.
| Old Baldelli fumed and swore, whined
| and entreated with no effect.
'sGive me back the ticket then. | will
report you to your superiorsW
''The ticket! Certainly. Here it is?'
And then the gardener left the office.
The clerk has seen good number of
| strange things in his time, and was given
| to the observation of the countenances
| and emotions of his fellow-men; so he
wrote a note to the chief office, where in due
| time Baldelli presented himself And the
| official at this place was altogether polite
and amable, and much regretted that it was
against the rules to comply with Baldelli's
request; but if the signorina was unable to
attend, but still anxious for the settlement
of her claim, why, he weuld accompany
| the gardener himself to the house for the
| purpose. To which the gardener strongly
| objected, and retired with face so worn and
| anxious and frightened that this amiable Off
| calthought it as well to send detective Off
| Ger to look after the old man, and, ii possible,
| to get to the bottom of the mystery-for
| queer things often happen with these lotter-
| les.
| The result was that nobody had seen or
| heard anything of Teresina, and old Bal
deli was unable to account for her disap-
peara ce, aud maintained dogged silence
| in the subject, for the disappointment OF
his hopes and the consciousness of guilt had
| completely unnerved him. All the circum
stances were SO suspicious that the police
felt justified in connecting him with her
disappearance, and accordingly he was
brought before the head of the police to
| answer for himself.
| In the meantime Teresina having recov-
| cred consciousness, was gradually brought
| IT, by the assistance of the stewardess.
On being questioned by Lord Ardley she
gave truthful account If the events of the
previous night, but said that, from the time
she retired to her room her mind was COM
pete blank She related with some blush
ing and hesitation her conversation with
her uncle about the lottery ticket, not for
getting his unaccustomed liberality in giving
her wine to drink to her good luck.
pretty clear, my 10 d, l think-drug-
ged.' said Lloyd.
Very likely. Horrid old villainl But
what's to be done now?"
with your permission, sir, l will go into