The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-10-06


side, fell back in lis chair, and, with
open mouth and staring eyes, he seemed
to have lost all power Of ltterance.
1T is true, Uncle Baldelli, and yon
are glad Of my fortune are Won not p
"Twclye thousand Why, we shall
be rich, my little Tercsina. But where
is the money? Let me look Mt 1t, let
me feel it, and his lean fingers trcmblcd
with excitement.
II have not yet received it. They
said you must apply for it. But here. is
the ticket"
Old Baldelli seemed lost i'll thought.
"Yes, yes will apply for it." he
said, "and then what gay doings shall
we have! And You shall have the
brightest silk scarf in Naples, and
silver necklet worth 40 francs, if can't
get it cheaper. And when you marry
Luigi"
But am not going to marry Luigi.
"Ah, but that will all come in time.
And we will buy the little orchard on
the hill above, and your old uncle
your loving, kind old nncle-shall do MI
the work, and Luigi shall play ut moro
and 60 to the theater, and the little Ter
esina shall look after the house and be
as extravagant as she pleases. And
the old man chuckled over this pleasant
arrangement. But Teresina's spirit rose
ut this.
II will never marry Luigi, Uncle
Baldelli, for | have rlightel myself to
Frank Lloyd"
Her uncle looked black at this; hut
any care about his niece's marriage was,
Mt present, absorbed in thoughts about
tho money. He saw no connection be-
tween the two at the time, he took it for
granted that what was hers was his, and
II she would not have Luigi-well, it was
very desirable, certainly, but Luigi must
look to himself.
''Anl you will take 5000 francs for
yourself, uncle for, although my father,
believe, left you sufficient for my sup
port, | would not appear ungratefnl.
For the rest, wish it to be given to my
future husband"
Baldelli stopped in the middle Of some
calculations he was making, looked fix
eddy for few moments Mt his niece, and
over his face came look that fright.
ened her.
Bah, little fool, You know not what
you say ! Will you sacrifice your family
to this accursed fairfaced foreigner
"The foreigner loves me. My fami.
ly's kindness is but small"
At this moment servant from the
Villa Santangelo appeared to request
Teresina's presence at the house.
"Say no word Of this to the English
people," was her uncle's injunction as
she left.
81 will say no word, but I will do as I
have said :" and there was determina-
ton in her voice that there was no mis-
taking.
Baldelli sat for long time, never NOV
ing but to make gesture Of anger, or
to utter an oath. Presently he went to
cupboard, took from it bottle Of wine
that had laid there many month, and
drank ii at dranght. Aud then, rs the
unaccustomed fumes mounted to his
brain-for he rarely took stimulants-he
paced the chamber to and fro, excited
and restless.
1t was late when Tercsina returned,
and it was with surprise she found her.
self accosted by her nncle in amiable
tones.
"You have said nothing at the villa OF
your fortune, child?"
Nothing, my father"
And you will not marry that poor
Luigi, aud you will give all this money
to the Englishman p
.It is only inst, Uncle Baldelli."
And your poor uncle will remain in
Pausilipo, and work, work for his little
plate Of macaroni, and his dear little
Teresina will be quite proud, and
ashamed Of him |" and there was sheer
in the old mans tones, and n dark look
in his eyes, that belied the sofiness OF
his speech.
mo, no." replied his niece, "never
that, l hope. But You will 60 about
this for me tomorrow, will you not ?''
"Yes, will see to it. And now we
will take 4 cup Of wine in honor Of my
reresina's good fortune. See here, it Is
ready" and he took from side table
two tumblers already poured ont.
''Ah, this is very kind Of you, my
father. But how bitter it is I"
"Finish it, finish it," he said fiercely
"a bumper to the lucky number .
and she, not caring to irritate him,
complied.
She shortly after retired to rest,
drowsy and tired.
Half an hour afterward the old man
crept toward her room, muttering:
La Sonnambula, La Sonnambula
Luigi said that the opera at San Carlo
was like real life. Somnambuiists 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 Sant-angelo. He was surprised
to see a light burning i'll the gardeners
house Mt SO late an hour; but he knew
that Teresina often sat up late after her
uncle had retired; indeed, he had had
many n sweet stolen interview with her
ut the window, when waiting as he wait
ed now. At this moment he heard the
voice of Lord Ardley joining in duet
| with his fiancee ut the villa. tile
won't come away just yet," said the
sailor to himself SO, taking clean jung
over strip Of water that separated tho
two Easements, he clambered up to the
gardeners window. He had placed his
L .NssANo MA SAN WAAoOWeSnls ullu Wuo uIdW
ing himself up, and about to give the
usual signal, when, to his intense aston
iehment, he saw old Baldelli staggering
from the opposite room, half dragging.
halt carving his niece. What could it
mean? Was she ill? Was it fresh air
she required? He had not much
time for thought, for the window, opened
suddenly outward by Baldelh, struck
his hands from their hold, and he had
only time to drop quietly into the water
beneath. Az he came to the surface
great heavens he could neither shout
nor prevent 1.-THE slight form Of his
sweetheart was hurled from the window
into the black water below and the old
man, not daring to look upon his handi-
work, closed the window abruptly and
disappeared. 1t was the work Of mo-
ment for the young sailor to reach the
body Of his sweetheart, and to place her
in his boat nnder cover Of a sail. But
what was he now to do with his precious
burden, which lay safe, but still uncon.
scious, near him? He might indeed
Il