Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-29
TBRESTNA'S PRIZE.

ing along the western side of the beauti-
fal 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 gardens rich in all the
luxuriant growth of Southern Italy. With
the deep-blue water washing the rocks
upon which these houses stand, and be-
yond-the sea the mountains behind Sor-
rento, Castellamare and Vico standing out
in bold outline with Vesuyius 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 neces-
sary to turn round to regale ones senses
with tine soft green's of the tg-tree, olive,
chestnut and lemon, the odors of the
orange-blossoms and roses, and the varied
hnes of the many flowers with which ma
ture supplies this land with SO liberal a
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 eighteen, an English
man 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 bru.
tai captain and drunken crew. After
many shifts and much misery, by dint of
sheer honesty and industry virtues at a
considerable premium in this city-and
aided by quick intelligence he had ac-
quired fair knowledge of the language,
and decent position as guide, courier or
commissionaire, as occasion offered. His
name was Frank Lloyd. Lord Ardley had
taken fancy to him, and attached him
to his special service during his stay in 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 gardener,
named Baldelli, who occupied small
house close to the waters edge, which
served for bathing apartments when the
main building was tenanted. With old
Baldelli lived his niece Teresina, an excep-
tionallY beautiful girl of fifteen, who had
rather hard time of it to make things
comfortable for her surly and avaricious
uncle, to whom the expenditure of every
soldo for household necessities was an ago
ny. Teresina was a great favorite at the
villa, where she was often required to
assist the ladies with Ter 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 countrywomen
of the same class. Deprived early of her
parents, she mixed little in the society of
her own class for Baldelli was strongly
ayerse to anything in the nature of outings
or iunketings, as involving expense, and
his misery habits made him unpopular
among his neighbors.
Teresina had been for some time attached
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 at
tempted by the old man, though he fire.
quently put little commissions in his way
for flowers, fruits, 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 contempt 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 fitch 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, smok-
ing, singing, sometimes-but rarely-fght-
ing, never working. Where they find means
to dress their unclean bodies in the tawdry
pseudo-respectable clothes they wear. and
for the lavish display of collars and cuffs
the less said about their under attire the
better--is mystery. 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 a stroke of for
tune, which befell Teresina, gave rise to
many wiser and better people than herself.
she occasionally dreamed dreams, and often
threw away her small savings in the public
lotteries upon some 'slucky number
which was to make her fortune. One day,
however, she found herself one in thou
sand on whom Fortune smiles She was
the winner OF FIVE hundred pounds 1t is
needless to say with what alacrity she pre-
scented herself at the bdnco di lotto and her
disappointment on finding it was impossi-
BILE to pay the money over to her. She
was too young. She must bring her
parents OF guardian. With heavy heart
she returned to Pausilipo, no longer think
ing 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 a presenti-
ment of some misfortune that must arise
from her uncle's greed or her cousins envy.
But she had been taught courage and in
dependence from her associations with the
English, which determined her to make a
stand for her rights.
"Chut What do you do so late p
growled her uncle, as she entered the
house.
81 have been to the banco di lotto, my
father"
"Lottoi What have you to do with
lotto? 0, little devil 1t is not enough
that you should beggar me by giving maca-
roni 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.
But 1 have gained, my father. And
it was not with your money, but some
that / earned from the English ladies.
Gained Humph Nine or ten Ira
for your trenta centesimi, suppose"
81 have won twelve thousand five hun.
bred francs.