The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-10-14
TERESINA'S PRIZE,


stretching along the western side of the
beautiful bay, about which so much has
has been said and written. Along the
steep banks that descend abruptly to the
sea are many charming villas facing di-
rectly on the water, and reached from
the main road by zigzag paths, through
gardens rich in all the luxuriant growth
of Southern Italy. With the deep-blue
water washing the rocks upon which
these houses stand, and beyond the sea
the mountains behind Sorrento, Gastel-
lamare and Vico standing out in bold
outline with Vesuvius rearing his head
solemn and threatening to the left
there is here to be found about as fine a
view as the heart of man could desire.
And when the eye, as it is apt to do,
tires of these grander beauties, it is only
necessary to turn round to regale ones
senses with the soft greens of the fig
tree, olive, chestnut and lemon, the odors
of the Orange-blossoms and roses, and
the varied hues of the many flowers
with which nature supplies this land
with SO liberal hand.
In one of the prettiest of these villas
lived an English family; and at the
time of the present story some tender
passages were taking place between the
eldest daughter Of the house and Lord
Ardley, whose yacht was in harbor at
Santa Lucia, whence it was his FREQUENT
custom to sail across in the dingey when
the wind was favorable, both as short
cut, and to avoid the dust, jolting and
evil odors along the Chiaja. The usual
companion of these journeys was lad
of Is years, an Englishman, who, some
few years previously, had been cast
adrift at Naples by one of those strange
chances which are liable to befall o
young sailor who finds himself with a
brutal Captain and drunken crew.
After many shifts and much misery, by
dint of sheer honesty and industry
virtues at considerable premium in this
city-and aided by quick intelligence,
he had acquired fair knowledge of the
language, and a decent position as guide,
courier or commissionaire, as occasion
offered. His name was Frank Lloyd.
Lord Ardiey had taken q fancy to him,
and attached him to his special sarvice
during his stay in the neighborhood,
finding him both useful and discreet.
Now it happened that adjoining the
Villa Santangelo was an untonanted
house, placed under the care of gar
dener, named Baldelli, who occupied a
small house close to the waters edge.
which served for bathing apartments
when the main building was 'tenarted.
With old Baldelli lived his niece Tere.
sina, an exceptionally beautiful girl of
10, who had rather hard time Of it to
make things comfortable for her surly
and avaricious uncle, to whom the ex-
penditure of every soldo for household
necessities was an agony. Teresina was
q great favorite at the villa, where she
was often required to assist the ladies
with her needle and there some of her
happiest days were spent, much indeed
TO her own advantage for, taking an
interest in her, they had taught her
habits and modes of life which raised
her considerably above her country
women of the same class. Deprived
early of her parents, she mixed little in
the society Of her own class for Baldelli
was strongly averse to anything in the
nature of sutings or iunketings, as in
volving expense, and his miserlY habits
made him unpopular among his neigh
bors.
Teresina had been for some time at
tached to Frank Lloyd, much to the
displeasure of old Baldelli, who hated
him very cordially for the way in which
Lloyd steadily set his face against the
monstrous impositions attempted by the
old man, though he frequently put little
commissions IN his way for flowers, fruit,
poultry and the rest. Baldelli's son,
Luigi, was also thorn in the sides Of
the lovers. He was typical specimen
of those Neapolitans," term of con-
tempt used specifically for loafng set
In Naples by the surrounding towns.
just shade above the lazzaroni, who
are fast disappearing, they are as idle
and worthless set of cubs as are to be
found In Europe. Work is hateful to
them; they would sooner fi1ch a shilling
than earn ten any day; their time is
spent round the doors of cafes. in the
piaEzas, on board the bay steamers, in
the gardens of the Chiaia; always in
gangs, gambling, idling, smoking, sing
ing sometimes-but rarely-fghting,
but never working. Where they find
means to dress their unclean bodies in
the tawdry pseudo-respectabl clothes
they wear, and for the lavish display of
collars and cuffs-the less said about
their under attire the better-is mys-
terry. Luigi had graduated highly in
this set; but, having notion to settle
down into less precarious mode of life,
had thought that Teresina might prove
useful appendage, and, perhaps, by
her cleverness and industry, supply him
with means for his own particular pleas
ures.
Affairs thus stood when stroke of
fortune, which befell Teresina, gave
rise to the trouble of which this story
tells. Like many wiser and better peo-
pie than herself, she occasionally
dreamed dreams, and often threw away
her small savings in the public lotteries
upon some lucky number which was to
make her fortune. One day, however,
she found herself to be one in thou
sand upon whom fortune smiles. She
was the winner of 9500. 1t is needless
to say with what a1acrity she presented
herself at the bGacO ID lotto, and her
disappointment on finding it was impos-
sible to pay the money over to her.
She was too young. She must bring
her parents or guardian. With heavy
heart she returned to Pausilipo. no
longer thinking of the joyful surprise
she had in store for her darling Frank.
when she should place the money in his
hands, and tell him to take her with it:
but with q presentiment of some mis-
fortune that must arise from her uncle's
greed or her cousins envy. But she
had been taught a courage and indie
pendence from her association with the
English, which determined her to make
a stand for her rights.
"Chutl What do you do so late ?"
growled her uncle as she entered the
house.
81 have been to the banco 81 lotto,
my father"
"Lottol What have you to do with
lotto? 0, little devil ! it is not enough
that you should beggar me by giving
macaronl to any blind beggar who passes,
but you must play lotto, Ell while
Luigi sleeps all day; and drinks anisette
like Prince! Curse you both r
"But have gained, my father. And
it was not with your money, but some
that earned from the English ladies'