The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-09-30
Select Story.
IERESINA'S PRIZE.


stretching along the western side of the
beautiful bay, about which so much has
been said and written Along the steep
banks that descend abruptly to the sea
are many charming villas facing directly
on the water, and reached from the
main road by zigzag paths, through gar
dens rich in all the luXuriant growth OF
Southern Italy. With the deep-blue wa
ter washing the rocks upon Which these
houses stand, and beyond the sea the
mountains behind Sorrento, Castellamare
and Nico standing out in bold outline /;
with Vesuvius rearing his head solemn
and threatening to the left-lhere is here
to be found about as fine u 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 aud lemon, the odors of the
orange blossoms and roses, and the varied
huss of the many flowers with which
nature supplies this land with so liberal
a hand.
In one of the prcttiest 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
Arlley, whose yacht was in harbor at
Santa Lucia, whence it was his frequent
custom to sail across in tue dingy when
! the wind was favorable, both as n short
cut, and TO avoid the dust, jolting and
evil odors along the Chiaja. The usual
companion of these journeys was lad
of eighteen, an Englshman 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 a
| brutal captain and drunken crew. AT
ter many shifts and much misery, by
dint of sheer honesty and industry-yir-
tues at a considerable premium in this
city-and aided by quick intelligence
he had acquired fair knowledge Of the
language, and decent position as guide
offered. His name was Frank Lloyd
Lord Ardley had taken fancy to him
and attached him to his special servic,
during his stay in the neighborhood
finding him both useful and discreet.
Now it happened that adjoining the
| Villa Santangelo was an untenanteC
house, placed under the care of garden
er, named Baldclli, who occupied {
small house close to the waters edge
which served for bathing apartments
when the main building was tenanted
With old Baldeli lived his niece Teresini
an exceptionally beautiful girl of fifteen
who had rather hard time Of it to mak'
things comfortable for her surly anC
aVaricious uncle, to whom the eXpeudi
ture of every soldO for household nCces
stiles was an agony. Teresna was
great favorite at the villa, where she wa
often required to assist the ladies will
her needle and there some of her hap
piest days We're spent, much indeed t
her own advantage for, taking an in
terest in her, they had taught her habit
and modes of life which raised her con
siderably above her countrywomen o
the same class. Deprived early of he
parents, she mixed little in the society o
| her own class for Baldelli was strong
| " dNcIsc W ANY gtIllhS III INC nature u
outings or junketings, as involving ex
penses, and his miserly habits made hin
unpopular amongst his heighbors
Teresina had been for some time at
! tached to Frank Lloyd, much to the dis
pleasure of old Baldclli, who hated hin
very cordially for the way in whicl
Lloyd steadily set his face against tn
monstrous impositions attempted by tn
: old man, though he frequently put littl
. commissions in his way for flowers, fruit'
poultry and the rest. Baldelli's sol
Luigi, was also thorn in the sides c
the lovers. He was typical specime
Of ''those Neapolitans," term of col
tempt used specifically for loafing s,
in Naples by the surrounding town
just a shade above the lazzaroni, wi
are fast disappearing, they are as id
and worthless set of cubs as are to
found in Europe Work is hateful
tn EN- they would sooner filch shilliI
than earn ten any day; their time
spent round the doors of cafes, in 4
piazza, on board the bay steamers,
the gardens OF the Chiaja always