The true northerner., 1881-10-07
TERESINA'S PRIZE.

Pausilipo is suburb of Naples,
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 dl-
rectly on the water, and reached from
the main road by zigzag paths, through
gardens rich In all .he 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, 1T isonly
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 a hand.
In one OF the pretties5 OF those villas
lived an English family and Mt 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 a
young sailor who finds himself with q
brutal Captain and q 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 a fair knowledge of the
language, and decent position as guide,
courier or commissionaire, as occasion
offered. His name was Frank Lloyd.
Lord Ardiey had taken "a fancy to him,
and at ached him TO his special sarvice
during his stay i'll the neighborhood,
finding him both useful and discreet.
Now it happened that adjoining the
Villa Santangelo was an untenanted
house, placed under the care OF q gar
dener, named Baldelli, who occupied Il
smali house close 80 the waters edge.
which served for bathing apartments
when the main building was tenauted.
With old Baldelli lived his niece Tere-
.sina, an exceptionally beautiful girl of
IL. Who hai rather q hard time CT it to
mase things comfortable for her surly
ana agariclous uncle, 10 whom the eX-
pendisure of every soldo for household
necessities was an agony. Teresina was
great favorite at the villa, where she
was eft required TO n sist the ladies
with her needle and IT, ce some of her
happiest days were spe.y, much indeed
TO her own advantage for, taking an
interest in her, theF 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 III
the society OF her own class for Baldelli
was strongly averse to anything in the
nature OF sutings or junketines, as i'll
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 loafing 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 f,ch shilling
than earn ten any day; their time is
spent round the doors of cafes, in the
piazzas, on board the bay steamers, in
the gardens of the Chiaja; 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-respectable clothes
they wear, and for the lavish display oi
collars and cuffs-the less said about
their under attire the better-is mys
terry. Luigi had graduated highly il
this set; but, having a notion to settle
down into less precarious mode of life
had thought that Teresina might prove
a useful appendage, and, perhaps, by
her cleverness and industry, supply hin
with means for his own particular pleas
ures.
Affairs thus stood when a stroke o
fortune, which befell Teresina, gave
rise TO the trouble of which this stor,
tells. Like many wiser and better peo
Pile than herself, she OCCASIONAL,
dreamed dreams, and often threw ava,
her small savings in the public lotteries
upon sJme lucky number which was t.
make her fortune. One day, however
she found herself to be one in thou
sand upon whom fortune smiles. Sh
was the winner OF f500. II is needles
to say with what aIacrity she preseute,
herself at the banco I'd tott1, and he